Hindi alam ni Lapu Lapu “dat hi diskoberd” Magellan ni Ka Tony

“Among the famous of the early local inhabitants who demonstrated his love for his country was Lapu Lapu, the chief of the island of Mactan at the time of Ferdinand Magellan came to these islands. He is considered the first warlord who repel western aggression in southeast Asia and acclaimed by Asian historians as the “conqueror” of a world conqueror, Ferdinand Magellan”

Mala “Blockbuster Movie” ang dating ng karamihang manunulat ng ating mga aklat pangkasaysayan. Palibhasa’y karamihan sa mga naturang mga aklat paaralan, na nabasa at itinuro sa atin, ay dinikta ng mga naging mananakop ng ating bayan. Kanilang rin pinili kung sino ang tatanghalin mga bayani at sino ang mga “Tulisan.” Saganito, mapagtakpan ang kanilang pansariling kapakanang pakay sa ating bansa. Upang ikubli ang mga malagim na krimen na kanilang ginawa. Upang huwag natin tularan ang mga tunay na bayaning ipinagpatuloy ang rebolusyon, na kanilang inagaw ang tagumpay. Upang maihulma sa ating isipan ang kanilang ipinilit at diniktang kultura, pinalit sa ating katutubong kultura na kanilang pinababa ang uri at hindi nirespeto.

Tama, si Lapu Lapu ay “Among the most famous of the early inhabitants who demonstrate his love for his country”…subalit hindi ganap na tama, sapagkat hindi batid ni Lapu Lapu na magkakaroong bansang Pilipinas.Hindi rin niya alam na may pakay ang mga Kastila na gawing kolonya ang buong kapuluan. Wala sa mga ulat na siya nga ang personal na pumatay kay Magellanes. Ang pagpaslang sa mga Kastila ay hindi sa sanhi na mahal niya ang Pilipinas. Mahal niya ang sakop niyang isla ng Mactan, ipinaglaban niya ang kanilang prinsipyo, paniniwala, tumutol na magbayad ng buwis sa mga dayuhan at tatanghalin niyang kaaway ang sino mang kumampi sa kanilang mortal na kaaway na sina Rajah Humabon at Datu Zula. Sa madalit salita, hindi batid ng simpleng taong si Lapu Lapu hangang sa huling araw ng kaniyang buhay, na ang kaniyang kabayanihan, kanilang tagumpay laban sa mga Kastila, ito’y naitala at pagaaralan kasama ang kaniyang pangalan sa aklat ng kasaysayan. Siguro kung ang pangyayaring ito ay kung kailan lang na dekada, si Lapu Lapu ay nagpa “interview” kay Antonio Pigaffeta at nagpakuha nang litrato!

Marami sa atin ay nais malaman ang buhay ni Lapu Lapu at naging buhay niya pagkatapos nang digmaang naganap sa Mactan. Karamihan sa mga ulat ayon sa buhay niya ay ‘di malaman kung ito’y alamat o tunay nga bang nangyari

…sina Kusgano at Inday Puti ay may dalawang anak, sina Mingming at ang bunsong lalaki na si Lapu Lapu. Ipinasa kay Kusgano ang kahariang Mactan mula sa kaniyang Ina, Reyna Matang Mantaunas na pinangalingan nang pangalan Mactan. Nang ipasa ni Kusgano kay Lapu Lapu ang kaharian ng Mactan, siya ay nagkaroon ng kabiyak na prisesang si Bulakna, na anak ni Datu Sabtano. Pagkaraan nang isang taong pagaalay at pagdarasal, ang kahilingan ni Lapu Lapu sa Diyos ay natupad. Ipinagkalooban sila ng anak na lalaki, na pinangalanan nilang si Sawili.

Lumaking katulad ng matapang niyang ama si Sawili. Ang mag ama ay magkapiling na nagsasanay sa pagamit nang sandata at pakikipagdigmaan. Ito’y isang naging ritual ng mga kalalakihang taga Mactan, paghahanda sa paulit-ulit na tangkang pananakop ng mga Cebuano. Bago dumating ang mga Kastila sa Cebu at magkaroon ng sabuwatan ang dalawang panig laban sa Mactan, nabihag si Sawili ng mga Cebuano at sa kanila ay doon nakapiit. Sa pagkakataon ito, nakita at nabatid ni Sawili ang pananandata, kasuotang pangproteksyon at ang isasagawa ni Magallanes na pagsalakay sa Mactan, habang pinaliliwanag kay Haring Humabon. Sa pagkakabatid ni Sawili sa pagsasalakay na gagawin sa Mactan, siya’y nagpumilit at nagkapalad na makatakas. Sa pagagambang madakip at ang mahalagang babala na ibabalita sa amang Hari, si Sawili ay nilangoy ang makitid na dagat na naghihiwalay sa Cebu at Mactan.

Tulad ng isang “Athenian” na tagapagbalita, na si Pheidippides, na tinakbo ang malayong daan mula sa lugar na pinangyarihan ng “Battle of Marathon” hangang sa kapital ng “Athens” na may layong 35.5 kilometro, upang ibalita ang kanilang pagkapanalo laban kay Haring Darius ng “Persia”. Si Sawili ay halos malagutan ng hininga ng siya ay makarating sa amang Haring Lapu Lapu at ibinalita ang binabalak na pagsalakay sa kanilang kaharian. Hindi lang ito ang inihayag ni Sawili sa Haring ama, kung hindi ang kasuotang pangproteksyon ng mga Kastila, ang mga mahihinang pagitan na hindi maiawasang malantad; ang mga tuhod, mukha, siko, leeg at kung saan-saan pang bahagi ng katawan. Sinabi rin niya ang mga kakaibang mga sandatang ngayon lang niya nakita, na walang kalaban-laban naman ang kanilang; kampilan, pana at palaso, bato at sibat. Nagamba ang Haring Lapu lapu sa narinig, kaya siya ay tumahik at nagisip ng malalim.

…palabas na ang araw sa silangan ng 27 ng Abril,1521, samantalang ang mga Kastila sa pamumuno ni Magallanes ay lumulusong papunta sa kuta ni Lapu Lapu, kanilang nakikita na ang mga tauhan ni Lapu Lapu ay naghati sa dalawang pangkat. Ang kanang pangkat ay pinagugunahan ng beteranong pinagkakatiwalaan ni Lapu Lapu na si Bitadlok. Ang nasa kaliwa namang pangkat ay sa panguguna ni Sawali. Habang naghahati ang dalawang pangkat, natatanaw nila ang pangkat na pinagugunahan ni Lapu Lapu, na nasa likod naman nito ang pangkat ni Sampung Baha at Datu Umindig. Ang pinagtataka ng mga Kastila, ayon kay Pigaffeta ay ang hindi paglusob at tila naghihintay ng kung ano, ang mga taga Mactan. Nang pasimulan ni Magallanes ang paglusob at pagsunog sa mga bahay ng Mactan, biglang nagiba ang tension ng labanan. Ang mga taga Mactan ay nagsisigaw at sila ay pinaligiran, at sanhi ng kapansinpansin na si Magallanes ang namumuno sa mga Kastila, siya ang binalingan ng nakakarami. Tumusok ang isang palaso sa mukha ni Magallanes, isang sibat naman ang dumapo sa kaniyang katawan, isang palaso pa rin ang tumama sa kaniyang kanang siko, kaya nahirapan siyang hugutin ang kaniyang espada. Tinaga ng isang matipunong lalaking ang tuhod na nakalandad ni Magallanes, at ang lalaki ay dahandahang lumisan na tila ito na ang huling sandali ng Kapitan. Ito nga ang ikinatumba ng Kapitan sa tubig dagat ng Mactan na ubod ng pula, dahilan sa dumanak na dugo ng mga Kastila. Sa pagkakahiga ni Magallanes sa tubig, doon siya pinagtutusok nang mga kawayang pinatigas sa apoy na sintibay ng bakal. Ito ang huling larawan ni Magallanes na naiwan sa isip ng mga tumatakas na mga Kastila.

Ayon sa mga nakasaksi, ang matipunong lalaki na tumaga sa tuhod ng kapitan ay si Lapu Lapu. Kasawiang palad walang nagtala kung ano ang nangyari kay Lapu Lapu, pagkalipas nang digmaan sa Mactan. Ang alamat ni Lapu Lapu ay nagsasaad na siya ay nabuhay at naghari ng matagal sa Mactan. Siya ay naglaho na lamang isang araw na wala man lang paalam na ginawa sa kaniyang kaharian. Ang mga nakakatandang mamamayan ng Mactan ay nagsasabi, na si Lapu Lapu ay naging isang Dagat Bato na kung tawagin nila ay “Malingin” Isang “pipa” na pang hitit, ang inihandog sa Pangulong Sergio Osmena, at ito ay ipinalagay ng Pangulo sa Philippine National Museum. Ang “pipa” ay nangaling sa isang mananaliksik sa buhay ni Lapu Lapu, na kaapo-apohan ni Lapu Lapu na si…Canuto Baring.

ka tony

the 17th of March, 2007

'March 15, 1521 Magellan "discovered" the Philippines' ni ka tony

...or the Pilipinos discovered Magellan and suffered 400 years of cruelty under Spain’s colonization. Instead of losing to the revolution initiated both by Cuba and the Philippines, Spain sold her four remaining island colonies, including Guam and Puerto Rico for $20,000,000. to the Americans - in 1898 Treaty of Paris. The church and the colonial government of Spain, positioned and glued in our mind, that the reason for their colonization is to “save our soul.” A lot of people really don't know much about Magellan...he was a great explorer, "discovered the Philippines" he was Portuguese and the rest we don’t really know.

Just like Columbus’ past and remains which still a big unsolved mystery. Most history books stated that Columbus was born in the coastal town of Genoa, Italy. Some researchers now are saying that he was Catalan from Catalonia, Spain after a long investigation and research basing on his choice of words, style of writing in Spanish of the day to day accounts he wrote in his diary. Was he Italian, Spanish or Catalan? His remains is more mysterious than his origin, a lighthouse called “Faro a Colon” (Lighthouse of Columbus), in Hispaniola now the Island of Santo Domingo house a box said to contain his bones. Santo Domingo’s government claimed that this box came from Seville, Spain in 1542, was requested by Don Diego, son of Columbus who was the Governor during that time. There are also Columbus’ bones in a box inside a tomb made of ornate bronze, in Seville’s Cathedral, Spain, claiming his remains.

Why do most of these "great explorers" have questionable or little known past? Simple, most of them were mercenaries, criminals, ex-convicts, pirates, thieves or treasure hunters. By bringing looted goods, treasures and new colonies to their King, their past were forgiven or covered. Instead they were given titles and power by the King or Queen who sponsored their exploration. Sir Francis Drake was a pirate, his ship “The Golden Hind” was the second ship in history that sailed around the globe, looting Dutch, French cargos, Spanish galleons, even English ships. Drake was responsible for the ignominious slave trade. Trading rum (which was part of crew's ship compensation) and sugar from Cuba, selling the goods in Europe, using the profit to purchase African slaves in slave markets of West Africa, then sold and traded slaves in Cuba! He and his crew were fugitive by The English Navy, until he brought gold from Spanish colonies and looted goods to the Throne of England, Sir Francis Drake was knighted.

Before Magellan, the China Sea functioned as a Mediterranean. The people along its littoral were long in contact with each other, which had of course, cultural consequences. It was possible that the Philippines was visited and traded with the famous Chinese-Muslim Admiral Zheng He, a great sailor historians credited that he was the first person to reach the Americas. The Philippines was one of the most important centers of Chinese commerce. Chinese chronicles and old maps refer to the country as MA-I ("The Three Islands") that may well refer to the three big islands. Pasig River was a long stretch highway used in trading between the Taga Ilog (Tagalog) and the Chinese. Arabs traded with the natives of Mindanao and shared their Muslim faith. The Hindus from India traded in southern Philippines and shared their titles “Raja” with us. All these exchanged of goods, faith, culture and ideology happened before the time of Magellan and none of these traders claimed they “Discovered the Philippines”

Magellan having lived in India and the Portuguese colony Malacca or Moluccas, must have heard or knew the Philippines from Hindu, Chinese and Malay traders. Magellan was in Cochin in 1512, participated in the attack on Goa, India, sailed as far as Moluccas in Malaya, where he purchased a 13 year old slave latter, named him ENRIQUE or “Enrique de Malacca.” Magellan is like a father to Enrique and Magellan was fond of his page. Magellan wrote in his will that when he dies, Enrique would be a freeman. Magellan and Enrique took part in fighting the Moors in Morocco, fighting English pirates at sea which made Enrique famous for his courage, pirates called him "BLACK HENRY" Enrique or HENRY in English, BLACK - because of his skin color. At the battle of Azamor, Magellan received wounds, slashes of sword left him scars on his face and a deadly cut in his knee that left him permanently lame. Afterwards, he entered the customary claim for a larger allowance from the king of Portugal. It was refused, with the imputation that Magellan was entirely cured. His honor was insulted; he not only left his country but published a formal renunciation of his Portuguese citizenship.

Took his page Enrique, his friend Ruy Faleiro, a geographer and astronomer of Lisbon, whom from him, Magellan learned his navigational skills all went to Spain in 1517 and became Spanish citizens. While in Seville Magellan married Beatriz Barbosa and fathered a son Rodrigo.

With Magellan's experience in Malacca, courage, and his navigational skills, the king of Spain was impressed by Magellan's qualities and agreed in 1518 to supply him with men, supplies and 5 ships, Trinidad, Magellan’s flagship, San Antonio, Concepcion, Victoria and Santiago. In return, over half the profits from any products Magellan might bring back were reserved for the Crown. Juan de Cathergena – captain of San Antonio, Luis Mendoza – captain of Victoria, Gaspar Quesada – captain of Concepcion and Magellan’s Portuguese cousin, Joao Serrao – captain of Santiago. Luckily Magellan had a passenger, a civilian tourist, going along simply for the adventure of the trip. He was the 28 year old ANTONIO PIGAFFETA, a native of Vicenza, Italy. The only person who documented the trip, which the journal he wrote was the only basis of the first circumnavigation of the world of the ship "VICTORIA." August 10, 1519 the crewmen, all 270 or so assembled at dawn for a solemn Mass. Before reaching the Pacific, the smallest ship Santiago having been wrecked on a scouting mission. The ship San Antonio, sailed behind one of the islands in South America, turned back to Spain. The 3 remaining ships left South America on November 28, 1520, entered an unknown ocean to continue the voyage that answered the question "is the world round?" Discovered unknown countries, territories, straights, International Date Line and the world largest body of water the "Pacific Ocean."

After 3 months of sailing an endless but calm ocean, Magellan named it “Pacifico” meaning peaceful. Dying of hunger and thirst, the crew ate their last worm-filled biscuits and went hunting for rats. Luckily they came across a small island, where they landed get food and water. The natives of the island traded with the crew, but stole one of their life boat and goods. Magellan being mad with what happened, ordered his crew to burn the village and named the island “LADRONES” or Island of Thieves. March 6, 1521, ten days after leaving Ladrones, now Guam, Magellan landed in Limasawa held thanks giving mass. He named the place "San Lazaro", for it was St Lazarus day. The crew was amazed with Magellan's page ENRIQUE, the natives were able to communicate with him and acted as an interpreter.

Six weeks later, sailed to the island of Cebu, where they were welcomed by the natives lead by their king Raja Humabon. Being the first two Pilipino collaborator/balimbing in Philippine history, Raja Humabon and Datu Zula convinced Magellan joined them in battle with the neighboring island, Mactan ruled by Lapu Lapu. Magellan to show the power of “modern weapon and warfare” promised to lead the raid himself taking only 60 men. Being low tide during the time of the battle of Mactan, Magellan’s ships failed to be close to shore to be able to fire and reach Lapu Lapu’s village.

*from Pigaffeta’s diary…

“When morning came, forty-nine of us leaped into the water up to our thighs, and walked through water for more than two cross-bow flights before we could reach the shore. The boats could not approach nearer because of certain rocks in the water. The other eleven men remained behind to guard the boats. When we reached land, [the natives] had formed in three divisions to the number of more than one thousand five hundred people. When they saw us, they charged down upon us with exceeding loud cries... The musketeers and crossbow-men shot from a distance for about a half-hour, but uselessly... Recognizing the captain, so many turned upon him that they knocked his helmet off his head twice... A native hurled a bamboo spear into the captain's face, but the latter immediately killed him with his lance, which he left in the native's body. Then, trying to lay hand on sword, he could draw it out but halfway, because he had been wounded in the arm with a bamboo spear. When the natives saw that, they all hurled themselves upon him. One of them wounded him on the left leg with a large cutlass, which resembles a scimitar, only being larger. That caused the captain to fall face downward, when immediately they rushed upon him with iron and bamboo spears and with their cutlasses, until they killed our mirror, our light, our comfort, and our true guide. When they wounded him, he turned back many times to see whether we were all in the boats. Thereupon, beholding him dead, we, wounded, retreated, as best we could, to the boats, which were already pulling off.”

Magellan lost his life along with forty of his crew on April 27, 1521. After Enrique’s master, Magellan’s death, the remaining Spanish Captain refused to give Enrique his freedom. Enrique sought out the disillusioned Raja Humabon and Datu Zula, convinced the two “balimbing” about his plot to get the Spanish goods and kill the crew, which the two agreed. Enrique told the Spanish crew that Raja Humabon is giving them a farewell banquet and gift of jewels. Greedy, 29 officers came ashore for the party for food, wine and favors from Humabon’s women. Enrique’s vengeance was completed in the massacre that followed. The remaining crew, scared, confused and not knowing what to do, sail southward. Enrique was left behind by the 3 remaining ships; one of them was leaking and was destroyed.

The Victoria and Trinidad set out for Borneo. In November reached the Moluccas-Tadores. In December, they sailed southwest and separated. The Trinidad tried to recross the Pacific, but was forced back by headwinds to the Moluccas, where she was captured by a Portuguese squadron. Victoria with her valuable cargo, under a Basques captain Sebastian Del Cano, had touched Timor, and then crossed the Indian Ocean early in 1522. She rounded Cape of Good Hope in May. In a final run to Spain the Victoria anchored in Seville on September 8, 1522, after 3 years at sea. The cargo of the Victoria was sold for enough money to pay for the expedition! Del Cano was rewarded with a pension. Pigaffeta presented to Charles V his diary, or a copy of it, whereabouts is not known today. He visited Portugal, where he gave the king a manuscript, then to France and gave it to Marie Louise, regent and mother of Francis I.

ENRIQUE, Enrique de Malacca or Black Henry as he was called, was the first man to circumnavigate the world. Magellan's journal described Enrique's origin, as not a native of Malaya, but from somewhere else. According to Tome Pires's "Summa Oriental", people from Luzon and other parts of the islands, was living in the Malay Peninsula when the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511. Enrique was a captive warrior in Malaya and was sold as a slave, possibly a victim of the practice of slave-raiding. Was the knowledge of Enrique about the area made Magellan confident, convinced King Charles I of Spain and was sure of the expedition? Was this the reason why Magellan “knew the area” so well? Not like Columbus who sailed west to reach India failed, reached America instead, and still believing he made it to India called the Native Americans “Indians.” Like Columbus, Magellan sailed west and reached Asia, as he expected. Was it with the help of Enrique, like his people from Asia who sailed east on their simple and small boat and reached tiny islands of Micronesia and Polynesia? Was Enrique then a Pilipino? Pigaffeta, the Italian scribe of Magellan's expedition was quite explicit in his observation that Enrique spoke and understood Visayan, had familiarity of the geography, rejoined the natives after the battle of Mactan. With the Cebuanos he led a plot to kill more Spaniards, stayed in Cebu and blended with his roots. Pilipino? I really think he was.

ka tony

the 16th of March, 2007

MAYNILA na WALA nang NILAD!

When The Best Mayor of Manila ever had, Gat Arcenio Lacson in 1958, proclaimed June 24 as Manila's "Foundation Day", he was criticized for exalting a colonial event; since Manila already existed way long before 1571, it could have not founded by Legaspi. But The Great Mayor acted on Faustian man's obsession with definite data; an invented "nationalist" date to mark the foundation old pre-1571 Manila would be pure myth-making, an activity repellent to the man of history.

Great cities came in existence because of their river, the rich delta of the river made it possible the practice of agriculture and settlement by which its residents use the river for their source of food, water, construction and transportation. Mesopotamia - “land between two rivers” now Baghdad, without her twin rivers Tigris & Euphrates' mud, construction of their Ziggurats and their cuneiform writing on clay tablets would not have been possible. Egypt without her Nile River, there will not be no great pyramids. Without the longest underground river in the world in the Yucatan peninsula, there will be no contribution to science, math, astronomy and a perfect calendar form the Mayans. There will be no China without her Yellow river, India without her Indus river, Anatolia (modern Turkey) without her Carsamba river. There will be no three major religions in the world from Judea without the Jordan river and there will be no Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia without the longest river in the world - the Amazon. Like these great cities and countries Manila was born because of Pasig River.

Pasig – an old Malayan word pertaining to the coast or strand, it connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay. Pasig gave birth to three kingdoms; The first and the oldest was the Kingdom of Namayan - also called Kingdom of Sapa later be called "Maysapan" and Christianised into Santa Ana de Sapa. It is known today simply as Santa Ana, a district of the City of Manila. The kingdom of Namayan was ruled by Lakan Tagkan that embraced ancient; Bonges - now Paco, Dibag - now Ermita, Panakawan - now Malate, Yamagtogan - Pasay and Maysapang - Quiapo/Sampaloc. Lakan Tagkan and his wife Buwan had five sons, one of whom a descendant named Martin, which was the first and the last Christian name traceable to the family registry. The chieftain also had a daughter by a slave of Bornean origin, named Pasay who inherited a place bearing the same name. Pasay was Christianized Dominga Custodio, whence Pasay City's main street was named Calle Dominga. Spanish military forced a treaty with Lakan Tagkan in 1578, the Franciscans established a parish at Sapa - the capital of Namayan. Dedicated to St. Anne. The parish acquired the name "Santa Ana de Sapa."

The second was the Kingdom of Tundo - also referred to as Tondo, Tundun, Tundok and Lusung. Tundo was a province of Pampanga or Ka Pampang (meaning of the same river), Kapampangan was the second dialect of Tundo back then. The kingdom had diplomatic ties with China during the Ming Dynasty. Before the arrival of the Spaniards in the late 16th century, the Kapampangan people made up the bulk of the population of what the Ming Dynasty texts referred to as the Luzon Empire or "Lusong Guo" in Chinese. Tundo was also in trade and alliance with Brunei's Sultan Bolkiah in 1500 merged it by a royal marriage of Gat Lontok, who later became Rajah of Namayan and Dayang Kaylangitan to establish a city with the Malay name of Selurong, later to become the kingdom of Maynilad or Manila. Tundo was ruled by Raja Lakandula a mixed Tagalog and Kapampangan descent. Tundo replaced Namayan as the main port of entry on Manila Bay because Tundo was right on the seaside, an advantage over Namayan. The merchant ships that came into the bay preferred to unload their goods to a closer Tundo. This made Tundo a distribution center or trading post on Pasig River, made Raja Lakandula's kingdom of Tundo a very progressive place. Raja Lakandula's present-day descendants are the Carmelos, the Puyats and the Macapagals.

At the height of the Luzon Empire's importance in the China trade in the 16th century, maritime trading and even piracy, became the main source of profit. As one of the "Lucues" (people of Luzon), many Tondenos and Kapampangans worked as mercenaries for the various states and kingdoms in Southeast Asia. The Luzon Empire became such an important center in Chinese trade that the Kingdom of Brunei was forced to invade it in 1500. The kingdom of Maynilad was created by the Bruneians to oversee the trade in Brunei's interest. Japanese records show that important traders like Luzon Sukezaemon and Shimai Soshitsu opened up shop in Luzon. At a time when the Ming Dynasty banned its citizens from leaving China, the Kapampangan traders from Luzon who brought Chinese goods all across Southeast Asia were thought of as Chinese. As late as the 17th century, the Sultanate of Sulu still commissioned Kapampangans to act as trade ambassadors to China.

Manila is the best strategic military location and was used as "Kuta" or Fort (now Fort Santiago) by Raja Matanda and his nephew, the first king of Manila, Rajah Sulayman. The long stretch of Pasig River was the first commercial street of Manila, the same route Chinese, Hindu, Japanese, Annamese, Malay and Arab merchants rowed up with their porcelains and silks for trading with the villagers’ produce. Riverine route dotted with settlements, came towns, hence the resident was called "Taga-Ilog" (meaning "from the river") also later became the dialect the Taga-Ilog speak, "Tagalog". With its towns and cities on the banks of Pasig river, there was a place where white flower bearing plants abundantly multiplied, braced, just refused to grow elsewhere, but only where Rajah Sulayman's kingdom, plant called "Nilad" (Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea). During that time when a Taga-ilog asked another Taga-ilog..."What part of Pasig are you from?" The Taga-ilog from Rajah Sulayman's fort reply..."Sa May-NILAD" ("I'm from where NILADs are"), hence the name of MAYNILA.

Rajah Sulayman, was aware of the importance of his strategically sited domain. Sulayman was the River Lord, dominating river traffic and exacting tolls from traders as they came and went. To show his power, he built a palisades of his “Kuta” dozens of cannons, made by the famous Panday Pira from Tondo. The great maritime empire of Sri Vijaya had based its power on control of the trade. Manila’s location along these vital sea lanes assured it a successful trade role, in which the famous Spanish Galleon Trade, Manila - Acapulco was based.

Governor-General Miguel López de Legazpi, searching for a suitable place to establish his capital after being compelled to move from Cebu to Panay by Portuguese pirates and hearing of the existence of a prosperous sultanate in Luzon, sent an expedition under Marshall Martin de Goiti and Captain Juan de Salcedo to discover its location and potentials. De Goiti anchored at Cavite and tried to establish his authority peaceably by sending a message of friendship to Maynilad and Tundo. Since Tundo is still a province of Pampanga, the chief of Macabebe, refusing to ally with the Spanish as Raja Lakandula of Tundo had done, decided to mount an attack at Bankusay Channel. His forces were defeated and he himself was killed. The Spanish victory at Bankusay and Legaspi's friendship with Rajah Lakandula, enabled the Spaniards to establish themselves throughout the city and its neighboring towns.

Peace in Rajah Sulayman’s kingdom of Maynilad was shattered upon the arrival of the Spaniards led by Martin de Goiti and latter by conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. The Kuta was burned twice, first by Goiti’s instruction and later by the Manilenos under the direction of Rajah Sulayman before it was completely left to the Spanish colonizers. Replacing Raja Sulayman's palisade of hard wood, logs and bamboos, the first Spanish construction was the fort that would bear the Apostle's name; and July 25 is the Feast of Fuerte Santiago. Acute angle at the mouth of Pasig river contained quarters for the artillery, large house for Legaspi and Augustinian friars. The shape of the city (pentagon) and its perimeter (about four kilometers) were determined by the tongue of land inherited from Sulayman's kingdom. High walls and moat were built for protection around the city, fear of invasion from hostile forces which can no longer trade with Manila, Muslims and Chinese pirates, like Limahong. Thus arose the Walled City, called "Intramuros" (within the walls) a medieval town with moats and five gates with drawbridges. The gates were closed at night and the drawbridges drawn up to prevent unwanted persons from entering the city. Only "Peninsulares" - Spaniards born in Spain were only ones allowed to reside in Intarmuros. "Insulares" - Spaniards born in the Philippines (also called Pilipino or Creoles), Peninsulares parents, foreigners, Mestizos (Spanish half breed), Indios (Tagalog) and Sangleys (Chinese), all lived "Extramuros" (outside the walls), were then simply called "Arrabales" or suburbs. People had to rush back to Intramuros or out of it because all gates would be closed at 11:00 at night to be opened only at 5:00 o'clock the following morning. The "curfew" was then in effect.

The Manila/Acapulco Gallon Trade, made Manila center of commerce in Asia & the Americas, though the city was only used as “warehouse for Asian goods” specially products from China to be shipped to Acapulco, Mexico while some to Spain. Attracted by the economic opportunities, the Chinese began to come in greater numbers. In the seventeenth century, more than 20,000 Chinese resided in Manila, outnumbering the Spanish settlers. Since the Spaniards started the gallon trade, made the colonial government profitable, but artisan, production and sourcing was dominated and monopolized by the Chinese. The native (Indios) could offer no competition for they had no capital and little experience in trading ventures. The Chinese therefore became an indispensable and established institution in Philippine economic life.

The Chinese barter activities for the purpose of securing goods that they could ship out, developed the production of Philippine produce like; abaca, sugar, resin and tobacco. The Philippine social transformation began; “Peninsular" (Spaniards born in Spain) still at the top of the social pyramid. Next were creoles or “Insulares” Spaniards born in the Philippines – the original “Filipinos” and together with them the “Mestizos.” Then came the “Mestizo Sangleys” or Chinese Mestizos, who occupied a higher position than the natives “Indios.” While “Sangleys” or Chinese at the bottom of the social scale. These distinct and separate classes did occur, unions between Chinese men and native women which produce Chinese mestizos. When the Chinese mestizo became rich landowners and merchants, they too intermarried with wealth-seeking Spaniards.

By 1750, the mestizos were already a recognized and distinct element in Philippine society and had become the elite of society. They took over commerce, haciendas, produce, trading and economy of the Philippines. In Central Luzon, members of old principalia were either absorbed by the new rising elite through intermarriage or depressed to the status of tenants. Old native names gradually disappeared and were partially displaced by Chinese mestizo surnames. Many mestizos dropped their Chinese names and assumed Spanish last names. Other mestizos Hispanized their surnames by combining the names of their fathers; viz. Lichuaco, Cojuanco, Yaptinchay, Tanbunting, Limhap, Tuason.

Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok is called the “Venice of Asia” because of its canals, so as China's Suzhou is often dubbed the "Venice of the East." In fact The City of Manila should be called “Venice of Asia” for the city has more canals or esteros than Bangkok and Suzhou. Perhaps the title Venice of Asia was not given to Manila because Intramuros, then was the Manila they knew, minus the districts that are now part of Metro Manila.

Ermita have Estero Balete. San Nicolas and Binondo have Estero de Binondo extends to Estero de la Reina, Ongpin, Gandara,Estero de la Industria, crosses Soler street ends at Reina Regente. Tondo have the wide Estero de Vitas, Ampioco, Patria, Estero Sunog Apog, Herbosa, Moriones, Estero Teneria, Abukay, Molave, Bambang, Estero de San Lazaro, and Estero de Magdalena. Quiapo have Estero de Quiapo and Estero de San Sebastian. Sampaloc have the San Juan River and Estero de Valencia. San Miquel, where The Malacanang Palace is located is surrounded by The Pasig River. Paco have Estero de Paco, Estero Concordia, Estero Balete and Estero Provisor. Santa Cruz have Estero de la Reina and Estero de San Lazaro. Pandacan have two esteros named Estero de Pandacan. Malate have Estero San Antonio Abad. Lastly, Santa Ana have Estero de Santa Clara and Estero Tripa de Gallina. These canals or esteros, I mentioned are located in the City of Manila, not counting the rivers, esteros and canals of the now Metro Manila. Basically Manila is surrounded by water, which flows to the main artery, Pasig River, that meets Manila Bay.

With the expanding towns around Intramuros "old Manila", like Binondo, Santa Cruz, Quiapo, and San Miguel, where business and commerce were booming and with the occupation of the Philippines by America, Manila expanded to these towns. Adding Tondo (old kingdom of Lakan Dula), San Nicolas, Sampaloc, Ermita, Malate, Paco, Pandacan and Santa Ana. Intramuros was literally a sitting duck when destroyed during the liberation of Manila. The Japanese didn't destroy the city, the Americans burned The famous "Distinguished And Ever Loyal City" called by King Philip II, to the ground!!! Manila was second to Warsaw among the cities devastated by the second World War. While during the Reign of Greed of the Dictator MARCOS, added more towns; Makati, Malabon, Pateros, Navotas, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Taquig, Las Pinas, Muntinglupa, Paranaque, Marikina, Pasig, Valenzuela. Expanded the city…hence called Metro Manila, appointed his shoe shopping wife imelda marcos control a bigger configuration as the "Governadora."

ka tony

the 24th of June, 2007

...about the photograph - "Intramuros - a city within a city"

I shot this photograph of "The Parian Gate" in Intramuros, in 1986 with my 35mm, Nikon F, in Black & White film, had it printed on mat photo paper, blown up by 50%. Retouched and colored some images with water color, after which I shot the "artwork" using a Sinar Camera with a 4"x 5" transparency format film. Had the 4"X 5" film processed, then interneg the finished 4"x 5" transparency. Lastly using the interneg, printed it on glossy photo paper. The result was this surreal picture, I titled..."City Within A City."