Lesson 4:

Philippine
Indigenous
Communities
during the Spanish
Colonial Period

GEE 2- Philippine Indigenous Communities

 The First Encounter between the Native People of the
Philippines and the Spanish Explorers-1

a.) The Magellan Expedition (1521)

• Originally aiming for Moluccas or the Spice Island located in
Indonesia, the Magellan’s Expedition accidentally explored the
Philippine archipelago on 16 March 1521. Speaking of the
ethnolinguistic groups encountered by the expedition, the Warays
were the first group of Filipinos sighted by Magellan’s crew as the
latter passed by the Samar Island. After passing by Samar, the crew
landed on Homonhon Island, also in Samar to obtain provisions.
During their stay in Homonhon, the men of Rajah Kolambu (from
Limasawa Island) spotted Magellan and his crew.
 The First Encounter between the Native People of the
Philippines and the Spanish Explorers-2

Rajah Kolambu’s men were Visayans or Cebuanos. Upon seeing

them, they invited Magellan and their crew to Limasawa Island. In the
island, they met Rajah Kolambu, chief of Limasawa, and Rajah Siagu,
chief of Butuan. In this island, Fr. Pedro Valderrama, the chaplain of
Magellan’s crew presided the first holy mass in the Philippine soil. The
event happened on 31 March and was attended by the natives of
Limasawa island. The first mass in Limasawa signaled the entry of
Christianity in the country.
 The First Encounter between the Native People of the
Philippines and the Spanish Explorers-3

After their stay in Limasawa Island, Magellan proceeded to the island

of Cebu on April 7, 1521. In this island he met Rajah Humabon, who
welcomed the expedition with hospitality. As Magellan exhibited
diplomacy with the natives of Cebu, Rajah Humabon welcomed them
into their settlement without hostility. Afterwards, on April 14, due to
the generally pleasant encounter with Magellan’s crew, Rajah
Humabon, his wife, and their followers were converted into
Christianity. Rajah Humabon was renamed Carlos while his wife was
named Juana. Moreover, they were given the image of the Santo
Nino that signified the establishment of Christianity in the country.
The First Encounter
between the Native
People of the
Philippines and the The Pintados
of the Visayas
Spanish Explorers-4
 The First Encounter between the Native People of the
Philippines and the Spanish Explorers-5

Nonetheless, after their peaceful Cebu, Magellan’s crew proceeded to

Mactan in order to meet Lapulapu, one of the rulers of the island.
However when they approached Mactan, Magellan’s crew were met
with hostility. The reason behind Lapulapu’s hostility was because he
was not in good terms with Humabon, chief of Cebu; and Zula,
another chief in Mactan, which worsened when they allied themselves
with Magellan. Moreover, he was also not in favor with Magellan’s
presence in the environs of Cebu. Therefore, the Battle of Mactan
commenced, with Lapulapu’s victory due to his men’s huge number
(as compared to the Spaniards) and familiarity over the geography of
Mactan Island. Magellan died in the battle and his crew suffered a
great loss.
The First Encounter between the Native People of the
Philippines and the Spanish Explorers-6

The battle of Mactan

 The First Encounter between the Native People of the
Philippines and the Spanish Explorers-7

b.) The Saavedra (1527-1529), Villalobos (1541-1546), and Legazpi

Expedition (1564)
After news of Magellan’s sighting of the Philippines and his crew’s
successful circumnavigation of the world, other Spanish expeditions
followed suit. Generally, three succeeding expeditions became fruitful
as they were able to reach the Philippines. The Saavedra Expedition
(1527) under Alonso de Saavedra Ceron reached the Lanuza Bay in
Tandag, Surigao del Sur in 1528. During this travel, the expedition was
able to observe the surroundings of Northern Mindanao. The following
were their observations: Northeastern Mindanao was rich in gold, pigs,
chickens, coconut. Moreover, women in the area were of fair
complexion.
 The First Encounter between the Native People of the
Philippines and the Spanish Explorers-8

• The Villalobos Expedition followed Saavedra’s Expedition to the

Philippines. In 1543 the expedition reached Mindanao. The expedition’s
leader, Ruy Lopez de Villalobos was responsible for the naming the
archipelago as Felipinas, named after the then crown-prince of Spain,
Don Felipe which later became King Felipe II. Originally, the term Felipina
was used only to refer to the islands near Leyte which later on was
extended to the whole archipelago. When they arrived in Sarangani,
Villalobos planned to establish a colony in the area. He ordered his men
to cultivate corn in the area, the first time that the crop was introduced on
the Philippine soil. However, food shortage later on resulted to their
abandonment of the plan. Due to the difficulties encountered, Villalobos
later on retreated from the Portuguese who were already establishing
their colony in the nearby Moluccas (south of Mindanao).
 The First Encounter between the Native
People of the Philippines and the Spanish
Explorers-9
• The most successful of the
expeditions was that of Legazpi
(1564). When Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi reached the island of
Bohol, he interacted with the
Visayans and was able to forge
alliance with Rajah Sikatuna
through blood compact. After his
allegiance with Sikatuna,
Legazpi went to Cebu and
engaged into battle with Rajah
Tupas (chief of Cebu).
Miguel Lopez de Legaspi
 The First Encounter between the Native People of the
Philippines and the Spanish Explorers-10
Tupas loses the battle and thus, entered into an agreement with
Legazpi that Cebu will be under the control of the Spanish crown. Cebu
became the first capital of the Philippine Islands in 1565. Legazpi’s
arrival in the country signaled the actual colonization of the country.

In 1570, Legazpi sent Martin de Goiti to Manila, after hearing the news
that a flourishing community up north can be found. When De Goiti
arrived in Manila he encountered the Tagalog people. Maynila was
then headed by three leaders: Rajah Matanda and Sulayman(who
ruled the areas south of Pasig River, such as the present day
Intramuros), and Lakandula (who controlled the areas north of Pasig
River such as Tondo).
 The First Encounter between the Native People of the
Philippines and the Spanish Explorers-11

In order to establish a Spanish outpost in Manila, De Goiti forged

alliance with Rajah Matanda. However, Rajah Sulayman, another
leader of the place did not approve of the Spaniard’s advance in
Manila. Sulayman declared war against De Goiti. In this year, De Goiti
retreated back to Cebu but was able to burn several native houses. In
1571, De Goiti returned to Manila with Legazpi, bringing with him a
huge force of 280 Spaniards and 600 Visayan people.
 The First Encounter between the Native People of the
Philippines and the Spanish Explorers-12

Unfortunately, Sulayman’s ally was defeated in the Battle of

Bangkusay. Thus, the Spaniards were able to claim Manila, making it
as the new capital of the Spanish Philippines after Cebu. This event
will later on permanently alter the day to day lives of the native
peoples of the Philippines.
 Responses of the Native Filipinos during their initial
encounter with the Spaniards-1

The reaction of the Filipino natives to Spanish Expeditions can be

classified into two types: one, acts of Hospitality, and the other, acts
of Hostility. Acts of hospitality were extended by the many natives
during their initial encounter with the Spaniards as they were
deceived by the latter that the main purpose of their visit was to
establish trading relations.
 Responses of the Native Filipinos during their initial
encounter with the Spaniards-2

Since native Filipinos were already doing trade with the Chinese,
Japanese, and other Asian neighbors, they reciprocated the
seemingly friendly attitude of the Spaniards with goodwill. Meanwhile,
the acts of Hostility was a result of the Spaniards’ unauthorized
advance to certain chiefdoms such as in the case of Mactan (under
Lapulapu) and Manila (Rajah Sulayman). They were not receptive of
the Spaniard’s arrival, thus engaging into conflict with the latter.
 Responses of the Native Filipinos during their initial
encounter with the Spaniards-2

Since native Filipinos were already doing trade with the Chinese,
Japanese, and other Asian neighbors, they reciprocated the
seemingly friendly attitude of the Spaniards with goodwill. Meanwhile,
the acts of Hostility was a result of the Spaniards’ unauthorized
advance to certain chiefdoms such as in the case of Mactan (under
Lapulapu) and Manila (Rajah Sulayman). They were not receptive of
the Spaniard’s arrival, thus engaging into conflict with the latter.
 Responses of the Native Filipinos during their initial
encounter with the Spaniards-3
a.) Acts of Hospitality:
 The men of Rajah Kolambu gave provisions (food supplies) to
Magellan’s crew upon learning the latter’s stay in Homonhon Island,
in exchange they were given glass beads and mirror by Magellan’s
crew.
 Rajah Kolambu of Mazaua (Limasawa) entered into a blood
compact with Magellan. The former allowed the conduct of the First
Holy Mass in the country which was attended by the natives of
Limasawa.
 Responses of the Native Filipinos during their initial
encounter with the Spaniards-4

 Rajah Humabon received Magellan’s crew in Cebu pleasantly. He

and his wife were convinced by the Spaniards to convert to
Christianity, thus becoming Carlos and Juana. Their followers in
Cebu also converted to Christianity.
 Juana openly received the statue of the Santo Nino, which depicts
the young Christ in the Christian religion.
 Responses of the Native Filipinos during their initial
encounter with the Spaniards-4

 Rajah Sikatuna welcomed Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in Bohol, and

the two entered into allegiance as signified by the blood compact.
 Rajah Matanda of Maynila was receptive to the idea of forging
alliance with Martin de Goiti
 Responses of the Native Filipinos during their initial
encounter with the Spaniards-5
b.) Acts of Hostility:
 Lapulapu disapproved Magellan’s presence in Mactan, thus the
former engaged the latter in a battle in Mactan in 1521. His men
were able to kill Magellan and defeat their crew.
 Rajah Tupas of Cebu entered into a battle with Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi in 1565. However, he lost in the battle with Legazpi, which
resulted to Spain’s official colonization of Cebu.
 Rajah Sulayman of Manila rejected Martin de Goiti’s proposal of
establishing a Spanish colonial outpost in Manila. He spearheaded
the battle against De Goiti and Legazpi. Unfortunately, he lost the
battle which resulted to Manila’s colonization.
 Effects of the Spanish Colonization to the
life of Native Filipinos-1

• Miguel Lopez de Legazpi’s success in the establishing Spanish

presence in the country such as in Cebu and Manila resulted to the
official Spanish colonization in the country. Thus, political, economic,
and social policies were introduced by the Spaniards in the country.
Native peoples adjusted to the new policies imposed upon them.
Some of the policies imposed were the following:
 Effects of the Spanish Colonization to the
life of Native Filipinos-2

a.) Encomienda system- which entrusted portions of land in the

country to conquistadores (or those military who helped in colonizing
the Philippines) in promise that they will be in-charge of the native’s
protection and evangelization as well as the collection of their taxes.

b.) Tributo- refers to the tax that must be paid by able-bodied natives.

c.) bandala- the forced sale of crops to the Spanish colonial

government.
 Effects of the Spanish Colonization to the
life of Native Filipinos-3

d.) polo y servicio- forced labor that must be render by able-bodied

men in a period of 40 days, annually. Aside from these policies, the
lives of native Filipinos were greatly changed with their conversion
under the Christian faith. Religion became one of the prime tool of
the Spaniards in colonizing the country. Religious orders such as the
Augustinians, Franciscans, Dominicans, Jesuits, and the
Augustinian Recollects were deployed in different parts of the
country to convert souls under the fold of Christianity.