What were the revolts that happened during the Spanish era?

Filipinos naturally have a big desire to preserve freedom even before the Spanish era and they wanted
to be the kings of their own land and property, and not the intruders. I believe that this is the reason why they
resisted to be colonized by the Spaniards and which have resulted to such uprisings. They revolted for their
own reasons. Some revolted for their personal motives (to regain freedom they formerly enjoyed as people and
to revert to their own culture), religious motives (to revert to their old beliefs instead of embracing the new
religion), resistance to Spanish- Imposed Institutions (revolts due to the Spanish institutions of taxation, forced
labor, galleon trade, indulto de commercio and monopolies which irritated the Filipinos) and many more.
Many uprisings burst within the 333 years of the Philippines being under Spain and below are the revolts that
happened during the Spanish era:

During 16th century:

1. Tagalog Revolt (1574). Led by Lakandula and Soliman and was cause by them losing their kingdom
when they were defeated by Legazpi to accept Spanish sovereignty and Lavezaris (Legazpi’s successor
when he died in 1572) revoking their exemptions from paying tribute and sequestered their land
properties.
2. Pampanga Revolt (1585). Uprising of some native leaders in Pampanga who resented the Spanish
landowners or encomenderos who had deprived them of their historical land inheritances as tribal
chiefs / datus.

3. Conspiracy of the Maharlikas / Tondo Conspiracy (1587-1588). Led by Agustin de Legazpi,

nephew of Lakandula, and his first cousin, Martin Pangan and was a plot against the Spanish
colonial rule by the kin-related noblemen, or datus, of Manila and some towns of Bulacan and
Pampanga.
4. Cagayan Revolt (1589). Ilocanos, Ibanags and other Filipinos revolted against alleged abuses by the
tax collectors, including the collection of high taxes. The rebels were eventually pardoned and the
Philippine tax system reformed.
5. Magalat Revolt (1596). Led by Magalat of Cagayan and together with his brother, he urged the
entire country to revolt. He soon controlled the countryside, and the Spanish eventually found
themselves besieged. Magalat himself was assassinated within his fortified headquarters by his
own men.

During 17th century:

1. Igorot Revolt (1601). The Igorots killed Padre Esteban Marin, the curate of Ilocos at that time,
who tried to initially convince the Igorots to convert peacefully to Catholicism and the Governor-
General sent Captain Aranda with Spanish and Lumad foot soldiers, who used brute force and
had the Igorot villages cooled in his rage for the gain of the friar.
 2. Chinese Revolt (1603). Led by the Chinese inhabitants of Manila, setting fire to Legarda and
Binondo and threatened to capture the Moro stronghold in Intramuros after 30,000 of Chinese
merchants were slaughtered and Luzon Chinese officials and civilians were killed.
3. Tamblot Revolt (1621-1622). Led by Tamblot, a native priest urged his fello Boholanos to return
to the old belief of their forefathers.
4. Bankaw Revolt (1621-1622). A religious uprising against Spanish colonial rule led by Bankaw,
the datu of Carigara (Leyte) and with a babaylan, Pagali, he built a temple for a diwata or local
goddess, and pressed six towns to rise up in revolt.
5. Itneg Revolt/ Mandaya Revolt (1625- 1627). Religius uprising against Spanish colonial rule led
by Miguel Lanab and Alababan who murdered and mutilated two Dominican missionaries.
6. Ladia Revolt (1643). Led by Pedro Ladia, a Moro Bornean and self-claimed descendant of
Lakandula, caused by the confiscation of his land by the Spanish and thought that is what about
time that they stage an uprising and put himself as King of the Tagalogs.
7. Sumuroy Revolt (1649-1650). Led by Agustin Sumuroy, a Waray, resulted after the Warays have
been sent to the shipyards of Cavite to do their polo y servicio.
8. Maniago/ Pampanga Revolt (1660-1661). Led by Francisco Maniago because of their unpaid
labour and products, burden of tribute, forced labor and exploitation. He succeeded not only in
the attempt of having his natives believe in his speeches but also the Pangasineses, Cagayanons
and the Ilocanos.
9. Laong Revolt (1660-1661). Led by Don Andres Malong, a native of San Carlos, Pangasinan, who
had heeded the call of Maniago to revolt against the Spaniards.
10. Almazan Revolt (1661). Led by Don Pedro Almazan, leader of San Nicolas, Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
This was a part of the chain to the Malong Revolt.
11. Chinese Revolt (1662). Led by Koxinga, a Chinese famous pirate.
12. Panay Revolt (1663). Led by Tapar, a native of Panay who wanted to establish a religious cult in
the town of Oton. He attracted some followers with his stories about his frequent conversations
with a demon. Tapar and his men were killed in a bloody skirmish against Spanish and colonial
foot soldier troops and their corpses were impaled on stakes.
13. Zambal Revolt (1681-1683). A group of chieftains from Zambales had refused to accept the
authority of the Crown over their realm and staged a revolt. After 2 years of conflict, the Spanish
had pacified the entire area of Zambales and all of the chieftains who participated in the revolt
were executed.
During 18th century:
1. Agrarian Revolt (1745). Led by the indigenous landowners in CALABARZON and Bulacan who
rose in arms over the land-grabbing of Spanish friars and Catholic religious orders, with native
landowners demanding that Spanish priests return their lands on the basis of ancestral domain.
 The refusal of the Spanish priests resulted in much rioting, resulting in massive looting of
convents and arson of churches and ranches.
2. Dagohoy Rebellion (1744-1829). Led by Francisco Dagohoyof Bohol abd his followers. This
revolt is unique since it is the only revolt completely related to matters of religious customs,
although unAfter a duel in which Dagohoy's brother died, the local parish priest refused to give
his brother a proper Catholic burial, since dueling is a mortal sin. The refusal of the priest
eventually led to the longest revolt ever held in Philippine history: 85 years. It also led to the
establishment of a free Boholano government. like the Tamblot Uprising before it, it is not a
complete religious rebellion.
3. Silang Revolt (1762- 1763). Led by the couple Diego Silang and Gabriela Silang. Unlike the
other revolts, this revolt took place during the British invasion of Manila. On December 14,
1762, Diego Silang declared the independence of Ilocandia, naming the state "Free Ilocos" and
proclaimed Vigan the capital of this newly independent state. The British heard about this revolt
in Manila and even asked the help of Silang in fighting the Spanish. However, Silang was killed
on May 28, 1763 by Miguel Vicos, a friend of Silang. The Spanish authorities paid for his
murder, leading to his death in the arms of his wife, Gabriela. She continued her husband's
struggle, earning the title "Joan of Arc of the Ilocos" because of her many victories in battle. The
battles of the Silang revolt are a prime examples of the use of divide et impera, since Spanish
troops largely used Kampampangan soldiers to fight the Ilocanos.
4. Palaris Revolt (1762- 1764). Led by Juan Dela Cruz / Palaris, along with his brother Colet,
Andrés López, and Juan de Vera Oncantin, of Pangasinan. It was during the British Invasion of
the Philippines during the Seven Years' War, the Spanish colonial government, including
Villacorta, had relocated to Bacolor in the province of Pampanga, which was then adjacent to
Pangasinan. It was at this time that the principalia of Binalatongan protested the abuses
committed by the provincial governor. The town leaders demanded that the governor be removed
and that the colonial government stop collecting taxes since the islands were already under the
British at that time.

During 19th century:

1. Basi/ Ambaristo Revolt (1807). Ledy by Pedro Mateo and Salarogo Ambaristo in Ilocos Norte.
This revolt is unique as it revolves around the Ilocanos' love forbasi, or sugarcane wine. In 1786,
the Spanish colonial government expropriated the manufacture and sale of basi, effectively
banning private manufacture of the wine, which was done before expropriation. Ilocanos were
forced to buy from government stores. However, wine-loving Ilocanos in Piddig rose in revolt.
2. Novales Revolt (1823). Novales later grew discontented with the way Spanish authorities treated
the Creoles. His discontent climaxed when peninsulares were shipped to the Philippines to
replace Creole officers. He found sympathy of many Creoles, including Luis Rodriguez Varela,
the Conde Indio. As punishment to the rising sense of discontentment, many military officers and
 public officials were exiled. One of them was Novales, who was exiled to Mindanao to fight
the Moro. However, Novales was not stopped to secretly return to Manila.
3. Palmero Conspiracy (1828). Led by the Marcelo Azcarraga Palmero, one of the famous
descendants of the Palmeros. It is a failed plot to overthrow the Spanish colonial government in
the Philippines.
4. Pule Revolt (1840-1843). A religious revolt led by Hermano Pule (Apolinario de la Cruz) who
started his own religious order the Confraternity of Saint Joseph (Spanish: Confradia de San José)
in Lucban which was banned by the Spanish governmentdue to its deviation from original
Catholic rituals and teachings, such as prayers and rituals suited for Filipinos.
5. Cavite Mutiny (1872). An uprising of military personnel of Fort San Felipe, the Spanish arsenal
in Cavite, Philippines on January 20, 1872. Around 200 soldiers and laborers rose up in the belief
that it would elevate to a national uprising.

Failure of Revolts:

The revolts were unsuccessful because there was no sense of national unity among the Filipinos
since the barangays or places were scattered and there were various and diverse languages which became
the reason to the lack of communication and understanding between them. Having no good leaders may
be added up to the reason why revolts ended up unsuccessful. And else, Spanish bureaucrats refused to
teach and promote their language because of their fear that a Filipino who knew Castilian language
became better educated, therefore, a future subversive or a filibustero.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_revolts_against_Spain
Teodoro Agoncillo’s History of the Filipino People (Eight Edition)