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Spanish King Charles I (better known as Emperor Charles V, commissioned Magellan to find a passage through the Americas to the Spice Islands. Magellan sailed from Seville (1519) and explored the Plate estuary (1520) before crossing into the Pacific through the straits at the tip of South America now named for him. He claimed the Philippines for Spain, but was killed there (1521). One of his ships managed to return to Seville, completing the first circimnavigation of the world (1522). A series of Spanish expeditions followed. The exploers named the Islands the Filipinas, in honor of Philip II, Spain's fervent Catholic monarch commited to spreading the faith. Spanish conquistadors fonded a Spanish colony. Unlike the Americas, they found no native empires with gold nd silver. pain's colonial empire in the Paific which included the Philippine Islands and the East Indies (the Moluccas and Malaca) as wel as the Marianas. The Spanish ruled Philipines from Manila. Manila before the Spanish arrived had for centuries been an important trading center. The Spanssh made Manila the seat of their colonial government after gainig contol over the Islands (1565). The Spanish government was situated within the fortified walls of Old Manila which we now know as Intramuros (within the walls). The massive fortified walls were constructed to defend agaist Chinese pirates and native uprisings. Intramuros became the center of the Captaincy General of the Philippines, the Pacific oceanic part of the Spanish Empire. It housed the colony's governor-general from its founding (1571) until 1865, and the Real Audiencia of Manila until the end of Spanish with arrical of the Ameriucans (1898). Intramuros also became the religious and educational center of Spain's Pacific empire. SOMe schools were foubded. The Vurch played an imprtnt role in eduction. Intramuros was also the Spanish economic center, the Asian hub of the Manila galleon trade, transporting silver to China and goods to Acapulco. Itramurosenclosed the entire City of Manila. Ttowns and arrabales (suburbs) eventually gfew beyond the walls that became neigborhoods of modern Manila now known as extramuros (outside the walls). Three centuries of Spanish rule made the Philippines the most Christian country in Asia. Roman Catholics became a majority. While the Spanish encountered considerable resistance in the 16th century, a Filipino independence movement unlike the movements in Latin America did not rise to question Spanish rule again until the late-19th century. Then we begin to see a Filipino struggle against Spanish colonial rule. We note a blding desire for freedom and independence. There were complaints about civil liberty abuses, high taxation, forced labor, and lack of religious freedom. Various revolts flared up against Spanish rule, some were of some significance such as Dagohoy and Silang's revolts.
The European Voyages of Discovery had an Iberian genesis. They led to conflict btween Spain and Portugal. This was settled by the Pope with the Treary of Treaty of Tordesillas (1494). This was primarily to settled issues in the Atlantc. Nut soon issues developed in the Pacific and drawing the line in the Pacific proved much more difficult when Spain n Portugal began founding cilonies half way around the globe. Spanish King Charles I (better known as Emperor Charles V, commissioned Magellan to find a passage through the Americas to the Spice Islands. Magellan sailed from Seville (1519) and explored the Plate estuary (1520) before crossing into the Pacific through the straits at the tip of South America now named for him. He claimed the Philippines for Spain, but was killed there (1521). One of his ships managed to return to Seville, completing the first circumnavigation of the world (1522). A series of Spanish expeditions followed. The explorers named the Islands the Phillipnes in honor of Philip II, Spain's fervent Catholic monarch committed to spreading the faith.
Spanish conquistadors founded a Spanish colony. Unlike the Americas, they found no native empires with gold and silver. Spain's colonial empire in the Pacific which included the Philippine Islands and the East Indies (the Moluccas and Malaca) as well as the Marianas. The Spanish ruled Philippines from Manila. Manila before the Spanish arrived had for centuries been an important trading center. The Spanish made Manila the seat of their colonial government after gaining control over the Islands (1565). The Spanish government was situated within the fortified walls of Old Manila which we now know as Intramuros (within the walls). The massive fortified walls were constructed to defend against Chinese pirates and native uprisings. Intramuros became the center of the Captaincy General of the Philippines, the Pacific oceanic part of the Spanish Empire. It housed the colony's governor-general from its founding (1571) until 1865, and the Real Audiencia of Manila until the end of Spanish rule with the arrival of the Americans (1898).
Intramuros was the seat of government of the Captaincy General of the Philippines, a component of the Spanish Empire. It housing the colony's governor-general from its founding (1571) until 1865 and the Real Audiencia of Manila until the end of Spanish rule as a result of Spamish Amican War (1898-99). The Spanish government was situated within the fortified walls of Old Manila which we now know as Intramuros (within the walls). The massive fortified walls were constructed to defend agaist Chinese pirates and native uprisings. The walled city was also considered the religious and educational center of the Spanish East Indiescreated after the Mexican independence. Intramuros was also an economic center as the Asian hub of the Manila galleon trade, carrying goods to and from Acapulco in what is now Mexico and on to China. Itramuros enclosed the entire City of Manila. Intramuros also became the religious and educational center of Spain's Pacific empire. Some schools were founded. The Church played an important role in education. Intramuros was also the Spanish economic center. Towns and arrabales (suburbs) eventually grew beyond the walls that became neighborhoods of modern Manila now known as extramuros (outside the walls).
Manila was the Asian hub of the Manila galleon trade, transporting silver to China and Chinese goods to Acapulco. Manila galleons were Spanish ships that made annual round trip voyages crossing the Pacific. Spanish conquistadors found fabulous gold and sliver riches in the Americas. Galleons were the same ships as the better known treasure ships that brought gold, silver, and other products in the Atlantic/Caribbean from the American colonies to Spain, some of which were intercepted by the English sea dogs. The Manila Galleons sailed from Acapulco where silver was accumulated from Mexico and Peruvian mines for transport to Manila and then on to China. Spanish silver solved a major European problem. 【Flynn and Giraldez】 One author writes, "... to the people of Spanish America, they were the China Ships or Manila Galleons that brought them the cargoes of silks and spices and other precious merchandise of the East. To those of the Orient, they were silver argosies, laden with the Mexican and Peruvian pesos...." There was huge demand in Europe for Chinese products. And the valuable Spanish silver did not outweigh the insatiable demand for Chinese goods. 【Baker, p.1.】 Silk was the most coveted product. Other Chinese products included porcine, perfumes, tea, and other items. There were also cotton textiles from India. The Europeans had, however, little to offer the Chinese. Spanish silver solved that problem. The galleons also carried Spanish administrators and church men. They were the only method of communication between the Royal Government in Spain and the Philippine colony. The galleons were the economic lifeline for the Spanish in Manila. The Philippines were not nearly as productive as the American colonies. As a result of the Galleon trade, Manila for a time became one of the world's great ports. It was a key cog of the important trade between China and Europe. After being landed in Acapulco, merchants made profits of anywhere from 100–300 percent. 【Chuan, p. 113.] The galleon trading ships carried Spanish settlers and and military reinforcements. The voyages occurred once or twice annually crossing the Pacific. The trade made Manila the hub of the silver-based trade. And Manila one of the major global cities in the world, the impact on the wider Filipino economy is a more difficult question. Manila functioned as a trade entrepôt and not just between China and Mexico, but rather for Southeast and South Asia as well and the the other Spanish colonies in South America as well. Silks, porcelain, tea, perfumes, paper, and various manufactured goods came from China. Spices, aromatics, specialty woods, herbs, medicines, pearls, and cinnamon originated in the East Indies which the Dutch seized from the Portuguese. And slaves, jewelry, cotton textiles, iron, and gunpowder found its way from India.
Both Mexico and the Philippines were part of the the Spanish province of New Spain. The Philippines was added to New Spain a half a century after the conquest of Mexico. Mexican independence separated Mexico from the Philippines. The Philippines when the Spanish made first contact had an extremely diverse polities (1521). They constituted entities representing a wide range of social and economic structures, ranging from stone-age bands to advances tribal entices on Luzon and other islands. We see endemic warfare (Lapulapu), piracy and slavery. 【Nadeau, pp. 23–24.】 The Spanish as they began gaining control, modified or change, disrupted the local practices they encountered. 【Nadeau, p. 24.】 Conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, with an army of Spaniards, Criollos, Mestizos and Amero-Indians (Tlaxcaltecs) landed from Mexico (1565). By this time Mexico was pacified part of New Spain (1565). He and their successors conquered the Philippines creating for the first time a unified island polity. The Spanish conquest was accelerated by Augustinian friar Andrés de Urdaneta who discovered ocean currents creating trade routes enabling ships to return to Mexico. The Spanish
established the Captaincy General of the Philippines (Capitanía general de Filipinas) as part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain centered in Mexico City. The colonial economy of the Philippines received a huge boost because of the Manila Galleon Trade connecting China to Mexico with Manila as a hub. The galleons were merchant cargo vessels to carry the Chinese products in high demand by Europeans. Mexico was important because it was the shortest route back to Spain. Mexico was also important because silver from Mexican and Peruvian mines was shipped to Acapulco and would provide payment for the Chinese goods coveted by Europeans. Spain and Mexico produced very little of interest to the Chinese. Silver was, however, just what the Chinese wanted. Mexico and Spain had advanced agricultural economies. As a result, the Philippines became part of the Colombian Exchange. The Manila Galleonsm operated until Mexico achieved its independence (1815). As a result, the Philippines was governed directly by the King of Spain and the Captaincy General of the Philippines while the Pacific islands of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Micronesia and Palau was governed by the Real Audiencia of Manila which was part of the Philippine territorial governance. In the era before radio and under sea cables. This meant that the Philippines was isolated as never before. This actually created new opportunities for the Philippines as the ability of Spain to control he economy slackened. The Philippines continued to be a largely agricultural producer. It became the largest producer of coffee in Asia as well as an important producer of tobacco. This introduced new ideas about culture and society that the Inquisition controlled Spanish Church had kept from the Philippines. Ideas generated by the French and American Revolutions began reaching the Philippines. There was also the development of Spanish liberalism. The new immigrants along with new idea, providing the capital and technology for new economic activity. We also see the arrival of Chinese immigrants.
Geography made the Philippines the farthest extent of the spread of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Islam came later (mid-12th century) andwas cnfined mostly to he southern ilands. Arab traders and Malay missionaries. intriduced Islam. There was only a faint trace reaching the animist peoples further north.
There were no large urban setkements, entralized states, or monument archecture on the islabds. Before the Spanish claimed las islas Filipinas, the inhabitants of the islands were free from such vicissitudes. Three centuries of Spanish rule made the Philippines the most Christian country in Asia. Roman Catholics became a majority. Except in the south there was no oppoition from any of the major major great religions.
The Spanish encountered resistance from the very beginning of their arrival in the Philippines. As in Latin America, indigenous people resisted along three lines: There were three major areas: 1) personal and religious, 2) economic an religious institutions, and 3) land ownership. Unlike Latin America there were no major empires in the Philippines and there was no concept of Filipino nationality among the people of the many islands.
Spanish institutions was seen as oppressive imposing heavy taxes and forced labor. Opposition included the Sumuroy and Maniango revolts.
Religious revolts included the Tamblot and Hermano Pule revolts. Religious issues declined over time as the Spanish successfully Christianized much of the population. This combined to be a problem mostly in the Islamicized southern islands.
A major issue was land ownership. Under Spanish rule, native Filipinos lost their ancestral lands. There were land in Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna (1745-46).
Revolts against Spain occurred through out Spanish rule, but were localized. Spain never faced a mass national revolt against a people with modern weaponry. .
There is a long list of Filipino revolts. Miguel López de Legazpi, the Basque Spanish conquistador who played a major role in conquring (1565). Sulayman, the tribal chief of Manila, and Tondo, the tribal chief of Lakandula were forced to recognize the authority of the Spanish monarchy. This was important because it gave the Spanish control of much of Luzon, the most important island in the Philippines archipelago. Legazpi promised to treat their people justly. We are unsure just how well he kept his promise, but after his death (1572), his successor, Guido Lavezares, did not. This led to the Sulaman and Lakandula Revolt (1574). This led to major fighting, only stopped when Cpt. Salcedo, Legazpi's grandson, persuaded the chiefs to end he revolt. The next major uprising was Tamblot's Revolt (1621-22). Tamblot was a native priest who convinced people on Bohol to reject Christianity and embrace their traditional religion. Bohol is an island in Vizcaya.
Agustín (Juan) Sumuroy was a Waray leader in the Viscayas who led the Palapag Revolt (1649). They opposed the Polo forced labor system. Viscay men were being transported to Cavite on Luzon to build galleons. The rebels killed the parish priest. It took a year of fighting to suppress the rebels. Sumroy was captured and defeated.
Francisco Maniago was another Filipino revolutionary leader, in this case a mestizo.. He led a revolt in Pampanga (1660). Maniago opposed the bandala system which require the sale of agricultural products at artificially low prices He also opposed polo y servicio, a form of forced labor. Locals, primarily lumber men, had to work on government projects without any pay. In this case Maniago succeeded and the Spanish Government made concessions.
The Dagohoy Revolt showcased the power of the Church in the Spanish Phillipines and proved to be the longest of the many revolts. It helps explain why the Church was such an issue in Latin America during the 19th century. Jesuit priest Fr Gaspar Morales ordered Sagsrino Dagohoy, a policeman, to arrest an apostate (1744). The man resisted and in a duel, Sagarino was killed. Fr. Morales denied Sagarino a Christian burial. Sagarino's brother Franciso was banned from the Church. Dagahoy launched a revolt. It sounds like a religious revolt, but forced labor was probably more important. Fr. Morales and other priests were killed. Dagohoy et up an independent government in the interior mountains. The rebellion continued for decades and was finally ended (1829). The remaining rebels were pardoned.
The Silang Revolt occurred during a war with Britain (1762-63). Diego Silang a mail carrier, after the British captured Manila, saw that Spanish power was declining an decided to challenge Spanish authorities. He joined the British forces. Spanish authorities bribed friends to assassinate him (1763). His wife Gabriela took over leadership of the revolt--the first Filipina to emerge in a leadership role. The Spanish then captured and hanged her.
Another revolt was organized by Apolinario de la Cruz, Hermano Pule. Because the existing Catholic orders refused to accept native Filipinos, he founded the Cofradia de San José. He attracted widespread support. Spanish authorities attempted to suppress he movement (1840). This was not achieved until a year of fighting (1841). Pule was arrested and executed. His group was disbanded.
While the Spanish encountered considerable resistance in the (16th and 17th century). There was not any concept of Filipino nationality. A Filipino independence movement unlike the movements in Latin America did not rise to question Spanish rule again until the late-19th century.
The was one area in which there was continuing resistance to Spanish colonial rule. That was in the Muslim south, especially Mindanao (Zambonaga and Sulu). The Muslim south was never completely conquered, only the coastal towns were controlled by the Spanish. The Spanish launched many different militay expeditious. None many to destroy Muslim resistance. 【Canete-Trinidad】.
We see continued resistance to Spanish colonial rule (19th century). We note a building desire for freedom and independence. There were complaints about civil liberty abuses, high taxation, forced labor, and lack of religious freedom. The major revolt was the Cavite Mutiny (1872). This was a brief uprising of 200 Filipino troops and workers at the Cavite naval arsenal. Spanish authorities cracked down harshly on the embryonic Philippine nationalist movement. The Philippines was still deeply divided, divided culturally, geographically, linguistically, and religiously. For the first time in history we begin to see a nationalist movement, and not just a reaction to Spanish abuses. The harsh Spanish respoise to the Cavite Mutiny seems to have fueled nationalist sentiment. There was growing opposition. José Rizal was a popular Filipino writer and reformer who wrote about the corruption of Spanish rule promoted the independence movement. Andrés Bonifacio founded the Katipunan, a secret revolutionary society that sought to prepare the Filipino people for revolution and independence (1892). Spanish authorities discovered the organization (1896). Soon after, the Katipunan, led by Bonifacio, openly declared war on the the Spanish government, beginning a 3-year revolution, which organized some attacks on the Spanish regimes. Like similar evolutionary movements in Cuba was unable to over throw Spanish authorities. A major problem was the inability to obtain modern arms. 【Hirama】 Emilio Aguinaldo was a Katipunan commander, Spanish authorities decided to buy him off. He agree to the Pact of Biac-na-Bató with the Spanish governor general (1897). Aguinaldo agreed to go into exile in exchange for money payments and the promise of liberal reforms. He went to Hong Kong and then in Singapore. Where he made contact with the U.S,. Consulate which included representatives of Commodore George Dewey to return to the Philippines and assist the United States which was about to go to war with Spain.
Barker, Tom. "Silver, silk and Manila: Factors leading to the Manila Galleon trade," cholar works-calstate.
Canete-Trinidad, Marcy. "Filipino revolts" Slideshare.
Chuan, Hang-sheng. “The Chinese silk trade with Spanish-America from the Late Ming to the mid- Ch’ing Period,"” in Studia Asiatica Essays in Asian Studies in Felicitation to the Seventy-fifth Anniversary of Professor Ch’en Shou-yi, ed. Laurence G. Thompson (San Francisco: Chinese Material Center, 1975).
Eang, Cheong Weng. (1970). "Changing the Rules of the Game: The India-Manila Trade: 1785–1809) Journal of Southeast Asian Studies Vol. 1, No. 2 (1970), pp. 1–19.
Wickberg, Edgar. The Chinese in Philippine Life, 1850–1898 (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1965).
Flynn, Dennis O. and Arturo Giraldez. "Silk for Silver: Manila-Macao trade in the 17th century," Philippine Studies Vol. 44, No. 1 (First Quarter 1996), pp. 52-68.
Hirama, Yoichi (1994). "The Philippine Independence War (1896–98) and Japan" XX International Colloquium of Military History Warsaw Poland, (October 22, 2021), pp. 197–99.
Nadeau, Kathleen (April 3, 2020). "The Islands before Spanish Colonization (Pre-1521)" The History of the Philippines . The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations (2nd ed.). (Santa Barbara, California: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020), pp. 23–24.
Schurz, William Lytle. The Manila Galleon (New York: E.P. Dutton, 1959).
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