Assimilation of the Philippines into the Spanish Rule

The beginning of the 16th century marked the political and scientific advancements in
Europe and brought tremendous changes in many parts of the world. As a matter of fact, the
continuous political stability and the growth and development of trade and industry,
improvements in military technology and navigation, the awakening in Europe of the interest in
the Orient, consequently led to the territorial expansion. The Philippines fell because of the
powerful Spanish military skill superiority, and experience. Gradually, the independence of
barangays could no longer maintain their freedom and slowly and unsteadily succumbed to the
superior force of the Spanish power. This eventually loss of undue restrictions and the
opportunity to exercise their rights and powers transformed every facet of the Filipino primitive
way of live political, social, economic and cultural.

Major Events before the Discovery of the Philippines

Long before Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator, came to the Philippines shores
in 1521, the archipelago had already been discovered by the Filipino ancestors. The issue on
who discovered the Philippines has been a ticklish and intriguing question that stirred
discussion among students in history classes. For the occidental people it was a discovery, bu
for the Filipinos, it was more of a rediscovery. Evidently, the West came to know the island
because of early Portuguese and Magellans voyages. The Portuguese were ahead of the
Spaniards in search for new trade routes. In 1487, the Portuguese navigators rounded the Cape
of Good Hope, and a few years later, Vasco de Gama discovered a route to India by sailing
eastward from the Cape. Christopher Columbus failed to convince the King of Portugal that he
could reach the east by sailing westward. He sailed into the Atlantic Ocean with three ships in
October 12, 1492, and he discovered America or the New World.

This discovery began the rivalry between the Portuguese and Spain because of their
interestin colonizing new lands. On May 3, 1493, Pope Alexander VI issued a papal bull, a formal
document, which divided the world into Portuguese and Spanish spheres to reconcile their
conflicting interests. The decree contained all non-Christian lands lying west of the Azores and
Cape Verde Islands should belong to Spain. On the other hand, all lands lying east of the
demarcation line should belong to Portugal. A year later, Portugal and Spain agreed in the
Treaty of Tordessillas on June 7, 1494 to move the demarcation line 370 leagues west of Cape
Verde Islands for the maintenance and promotion of their interest
Magellans Expedition
Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator and widely known for his achievement
during the age of geographical exploration and discoveries, had curved a name history. He was
rewarded for his service to the crown as an officer and soldier. He persuaded Charles I of Spain
that the Moluccas (Spice Islands) could be reached by sailing west through Atlantic Ocean.
Magellan received the approval of the king to head the expedition. On September 20, 1519,
with five ships and a fleet of 237 men, began their voyage. Sailing the eastern coast of South
America, they headed on a passage and discovered a place, which how bears his name, the
Straight of Magellan in 1520. After four months of hardships that seemed insurmountable, the
three ships finally crossed the Pacific Ocean. On March 17, 1521, the Spaniards sighted a group
of islands. The first meeting between natives and the Spaniards took place in a very small island
of Homonhon.

The Spaniards left Homonhon and sailed to Limasawa, an islet south of leyte. This small
island was ruled by a native king. Rajah Kolambo. Magellan and his men were welcomed
warmly by Kolambo and eventually, made a blood compact on March 29, 1521 as a testimony
of their friendship and brotherhood.

On March 31, 1521, on Easter Sunday, the first Catholic mass in the Philippines was
celebrated on Limasawas shore. After the mass on the same day, Magellan planted a big
wooden cross on top of a hill overlooking the sea. Taking possession of the land in the name of
Spain, he named the island the Archipelago of Saint Lazarus.

On April 1, 1521, Magellan sailed for cebu and on the same day; he made a blood
compact with Rajah Humabon to establish friendship relations and converted about 800
natives, with Humabon, his wife and a daughter to Christianity. A mass was celebrated. After
the mass, Magellan had a wooden crosserected on the very spot where the first Filipinos, Rajah
Humabon, Queen Juana, and about four hundred of their followers were baptized. The natives
venerated the cross believing it has miraculous power. This Magellans cross still exist and can
be found on the corner of Magallanes and Burgos Strees, Cebus most famous landmarks.
Magellan gave Queen Juana a statue of the child Jesus as a gift and preserved up to now and is
venerated as the patron of Cebu.

The Battle of Mactan

Lapu-lapu, chief of Mactan and enemy of Rajah Humabon was hostile to the Spaniards.
Magellan went to Mactan to force Lapu-lapu to submit to Spanish sovereignty and to pay
tribute. This fearless chieftain vehemently refused and Magellan was irked and the ensuing
hostility consequently resulted in a fierce battle. Magellan was wounded with a poisonous
arrow in his right leg; his iron helmet knocked off and bamboo spear struck him fatally. Lying
with face down on the ground that caused him embarrassment and humiliation, Lapu-lapus
valiant fighters pounced and killed him. His men, demoralized, finally left the place. Magellan
died, and Antonio Pigafetta, official chronicle of the expedition, recorded the event and wrote:
our mirror, our light, our comfort, our true guide. By vanquishing Magellan, Lapu-lapu has
been considered the first Filipino to have successfully defended his territory against Spanish
aggression.

Significant Results of Magellans Expedition

Magellans expedition could be considered as one of the greatest maritime exploits of
mankind, because it proved that the East could be reached by sailing westward from Europe.
His expedition completed the first circumnavigation of the world. His discovery of the
Philippines, virtually brought the archipelago and the people the awareness of Europe. It also
paved the way to Spanish colonization, and as a result, Christianization of the Philippines.

It may be interesting to note that, the triumph and glory of the journey, which should be
bestowed on Magellan, was reaped by Sebastian del Cano who commanded the ship Victoria
that reach the Port Seville.

The Treaty of Zaragoza (1529)

The Treaty of Zaragoza was purportedly held to define the respective territorial
jurisdiction of Portugal and Spain in the Pacific and to solve the problems of ownership of the
islands of Moluccas. The treaty stipulated that the King of Spain will sell the rights over
Moluccas to Portugal for 350,000 gold ducats (630,000.00 Dollars), and a new demarcation line
was fixed at 297 leagues east of the Moluccas. Portugal gained the rights of ownership over
all the lands found east of the line. Because of the scant knowledge of the exact position of the
demarcation line which determined the marking of the boundaries, Spain sold the Moluccas
which lay within the Portuguese sphere of influence and claimed ownership over the
Philippines.

The Villalobos Expedition

The primary purpose of the Villalobos expedition headed by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos
was to establish permanent settlements in the Philippines. After sailing across the Pacific, he
reached the island of Saranggani, South of Mindanao and was tempted to establish a
settlement. With the acute scarcity of the provisions, and hostility of the natives, in addition to
the impending mutiny of his men, Villalobos sailed to the Moluccas where he was forced,
unconditionally, to surrender to the Portugees.
 Before his death on April 4, 1546, he was able to land in the islet of Leyte. Bernardo dela
Torre, a member of the expedition, gave to the Samar-Leyte Region the name Felipinas, in
honor of Philip, the Spanish crown prince and latter Phillip II

The Legaspi Expedition (1564)

The primary objective of the Legaspi Expedition was to establish Spanish sovereignty
over the archipelago. Phillip II, who succeeded to the throne, upon renunciation of Charles I,
decided to forego all claims to the Moluccas. He wrote to the Mexican Viceroy to prepare an
expedition to the Philippine Islands and establish a permanent settlement that could be used
for spice trade.

Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, a Spanish-born soldier and lawyer with chief adviser and
navigator was Fray Andres de Urdaneta, a noted scholar, and a priest of high moral character
and integrity, sailed from Mexico in November 1564. The expedition sailed westward across the
Pacific and stopped at Guam to obtain supplies and other provisions. The voyage arrived in
Cebu in April 27, 1565. Because the Spaniards found the natives hostile, they decided to sail to
the neighboring islands and landed in Limsawa on March 9, 1566, and a few days later, they
landed at Bohol where the chieftain and Legaspi made a blood compact. While in Cebu, Legaspi
had also a treaty with the chieftain, Rajah Tupas to seal friendship and goodwill. The treaty
heralded the conquest of the archipelago.

The provision of the treaty was one-sided on the ground that the prosecution of the
Filipinos who committed crimes against the Spaniards with no corresponding reciprocity, a
similar penalty imposed to the Spaniards committing crimes against natives. This treaty, in
effect, signified the virtual loss of freedom of the Filipinos.

The first permanent settlement in the Philippines was establish by Legaspi in 1565 and
called the settlement in cebu, San Miguel, but later renamed it Santisimo Nombre de Jesus in
honor of the sacred statue, the Holy Child Jesus, Cebu, Which Legaspi founded, is the oldest city
in the Philippines.

Legaspi and his men moved to Panay because of the continuous attack and hostility of
the natives and the shortage of supplies. In 1570, Legaspi instructed Martin de Goite to explore
the region and consequently, found a fortified place, Maynilad. Thereafter, a blood compact
with Rajah Sulayman, a Muslim chieftain was concluded. The pact of friendship did not ward off
the suspicion of the muslims that the Spaniards had come to impose their rule among the
natives and exact tribute. Sulayman refused to submit to the Spanish condition, owing homage
to them as a subject or subordinate. Tension, as a result of the hostilities ensued, and de Goite
and his soldiers burned the town to the ground.
The Conquest of Manila
De Goite left Maynilad after the victory and returned to Panay and informed Legaspi of
the existence of the Muslim Kingdom along the shore. It was rich kingdom because trade and
commerce flourished with Chinese, Borneans, Siamese, and other neighboring countries
engaged in business transactions every day.

Legaspis intense desire to colonize Maynilad, made him gather strong expedition
consisting of 27 ships, 280 Spaniards and some Visayan allies, which left Panay and reached
Maynilad Bay in May, 1571.

The conquest of Maynilad by the powerful force of the Spaniards was a bloodless event.
Lakan Dula, the last king of Tondo, realized that it was virtually useless to repeal the superior
power of the colonizers, so instead of starting a fight which will be an exercise of futility, he
welcomed Legaspi and his men. He also persuaded Rajah Sulayman, his nephew, and Rajah
Matanda to surrender peacefully to Legaspi. Thus, Legaspi and his men landed at Maynilad
without resistance.

Even if Lakandula and Sulayman gave up their fight against the foreign invaders of
Maynilad, Filipinos in Central Luzon defied Spain. A fearless Pampango by the name of
Bambalito rallied the warriors of Macabebe, Betis and other neighboring barangays to carry on
the resistance against the Spaniards. The Show of high powered firearms of the Spaniards and
the death toll among the fiipinos, demoralized Bambalitos forces and they finally gave up their
cause.