Tondo Conspiracy of 1587-1588

According to the earliest known written document found in the Philippines, the Laguna Copperplate - a legal document written in "Kawi," the former region of Tondo has already existed in the year 900 AD; hence, it is over eleven hundred years old. This document now at the National Museum of the Philippines claims that Tondo was ruled by a man called "Jayadeva" who holds the Sanskrit title "Senapati" or admiral.

Tondo was a rich region that in 1500 AD, the Kingdom of Brunei attacked the place and established a city called "Maynilad" on the opposite bank of the Pasig River. The traditional Lakandulas ruler of Tondo retained their titles and property, but the real political power was the River Lord Rajah Sulayman, the Rajahs of Maynilad dominating river traffic and exacting tolls from traders as they came and went. To show his power, Rajah Sulayman built a palisades of his “Kuta” the same spot where Intramuros is located.

When the Spaniards conquered Luzon in 1571, Tondo was part of the Province of Pampanga which at that time was the first colonial province. According to a census that was made by Miguel de Loarca in 1583, the people of Tondo reportedly spoke the same dialect as that spoken by the Kapampangans. The dividing line between Kapampangan (ka pampang) and Tagalog (taga-ilog) was the Pasig River, Pasig - an old Malayan word pertaining to the coast or strand. Tondo became a separate province in the later half of the Spanish colonial era and today's Tondo exists as the first district of the City of Manila.

The first provinces to rebel against Spain in 1896 was Tondo, about three hundred years earlier than Gat Andres Bonifacio and Gat Emilio Jacinto's KATIPUNAN, a prominent Filipinos conspired to overthrow the Spanish rule, though it was a failed attempt. It was mastermind by AGUSTIN DE LEGAZPI, nephew of Lakan Dula, son-in-law of the Sultan of Brunei and the grandson of conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, with his first cousin MARTIN PANGAN, who was then the Gobernadorcillo of Tondo. It was to be known as the Tondo Conspiracy of 1587-1588 or "The Conspiracy of The Maharlikas." It was a 19th-century Spanish civil servant, colonial administrator, biographer and a Filipiniana collector Wenceslao Retana relates in his, "La primera Conjuracion Separatista" in the country. The other conspirators were MAGAT SALAMAT - son of Lakan Dula and Chief of Tondo; JUAN BANAL - another Tondo chief and Salamat’s brother-in-law; GERONIMO BASI and GABRIEL TUAMBACAR - brothers of Agustin de Legazpi; PEDRO BALINGUIT - chief of Pandacan; FELIPE SALONGA - chief of Polo; DIONISIO CAPOLO (Kapulong) - chief of Candaba and brother of Felipe Salonga; JUAN BASI - chief of Taguig; ESTEBAN TAES (Tasi) - chief of Bulacan; FELIPE SALALILA - chief of Misil; AGUSTIN MANUGUIT - son of Felipe Salalila; LUIS AMANICALOA - chief of Tondo; FELIPE AMARLANGAGUI - chief of Caranglan; OMAGHICON - chief of Navotas and PITONGATAN - chief of Tondo.

The cause of conspiracy was the injustice committed by the Spanish Encomendieros against the people of the kingdom and their lack of respect to treaty obligations with the local aristocracy which reserved them the right to still exercise nominal suzerainty over the kingdom, being vassal kings of the king of Spain but still the Generals of Conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi refused to listen. These Maharlika chieftains in their environs who willed to give up their land property for the noble purpose.

In 1857, Augustin de Legazpi enlisted the help and had made contact with a Japanese sea captain Juan Gayo, through a Japanese Christian and interpreter, Dionisio Fernandez who had also joined the conspiracy in the house of Legazpi in Tondo. A secret agreement was concluded in which Captain Gayo would supply arms and recruited soldiers from Japan to help the Filipino rebellion and recognize Augustin de Legazpi as king of the Philippine kingdom. In reciprocity, Captain Gayo and the Japanese samurais would receive one-half of the tribute to be collected from the natives after they have defeated the Spaniards. They all swore solemnly according to licentiate Ayala in a letter to Philip II, "according to their custom to keep and fulfill the agreement." Choosing after the "Sandugo - a King, captains and officers at war." Before Goyo's departure, he gave several weapons to Legazpi to be distributed to his men.

Later, a secret meeting that lasted for three days was called in Tambobong (now Malabon) by Magat Salamat. Those who attended where chiefs of Pandacan, Tondo, Candaba, Polo, Catangalan, Navotas with "other Indian timagwas, servants and slaves." The final plan of the uprising was to become completely enforceable. First - a secret delegation would travel to Borneo to secure combat troops and ships from the Sultan of Borneo. Second - obtain the support and participation of the natives of Laguna and Komintang (now Batangas) in this struggle for freedom. Once a full commitment was received from Borneo, Komintang and Laguna, the armed rebellion would begin upon the arrival at the Manila Bay of the Sultan of Borneo’s warships with warriors on board. The conspirators and their armed warriors would then launch a ferocious attack to completely annihilate the Spaniards and then set the city on fire.

By 1588, no word yet received from Japanese Goyo, But when the Maharlikas heard the news of the capture Spanish galleon Santa Ana in February, they again prepared for battle. This time aiming to attack swiftly the moment the Spanish guns in Maynilad were turned toward the sea, waiting to fire at the arrival of the English privateer Cavendish, that never came. Few days later, the chiefs of Bulacan, Esteban Taes and Martin Pangan agreed to call another meeting. Taes was to call all the Maharlikas from Tondo to Bulacan, rally the men of Laguna and Komintang. All the conspirators agreed to send Magat Salamat to the Calamianes (islands north of Palawan) to invite the Sultan of Brunei to send a fleet that would join the Sulus and launch an attack against Maynilad from the sea in conjunction with the Filipino chiefs' assault on land. It would have been a good plan climaxed by an epic battle had it not been for a turncoat who betrayed the conspiracy and reported it to the Spanish authorities.

"The plan was that when the Spanish enemy fleet Burney reached the port of Cavite and the Spaniards trustfully called the Maharlikas to their aid, they would all immediately enter the houses of the Spaniards with their men, fortify themselves in them and thus take possession of them one by one. If the Spaniards took refuge in the fortress, Indian soldiers would follow them and being two to one, they would surely kill the Spaniards."

By November 1588, on the way to meet with the Sultan of Brunei, Magat Salamat, Juan Banal and Augustin Manuguit stopped at Cuyo, Calamianes, to meet with its native chief Sumaclob. The chief was swayed to join the conspiracy and pledge to contribute 2,000 of his men for the cause. However, Magat Salamat made an error in judgment by soliciting the participation of another Cuyo native Antonio Surabao, chief of the encomienda of the Spanish captain Pedro Sarmiento. Upon learning of the secret plan, Surabao rushed to expose it to his master Captain Sarmiento, the Spanish encomendero of Calamianes. Magat Salamat, Banal and Manuguit were apprehended, Captain Sarmiento hastily traveled to Manila and informed Governor Santiago de Vera on October 26, 1588 of a brewing conspiracy against Spanish rule. The governor immediately ordered the arrest of all persons implicated in the revolutionary plot. Everyone was thoroughly investigated, tried in court, and made to suffer cruel punishments. To the Spanish authorities, the conspirators were nothing more than traitors, but to the Filipino people, they were brave liberators, martyrs of a lost cause.

Augustin de Legazpi and Martin Pangan were brutally hanged, their heads cut off and exposed on the gibbet in iron cages; their properties, assets were seized by the Spanish authorities and the sites of their homes plowed and sown with salt so that they would remain barren. Magat Salamat was also hanged, his goods were to be employed for the erection of the new fortress of Maynilad. Before he was hanged, Salamat appeled to the Royal Audiencia, but his case was remitted to the governor in order that justice might be done - except that the goods were to be set aside for the treasury. The sentence was executed.

The Japanese Christian interpreter, Dionisio Fernandez was also hanged and his property confiscated. Dionisio Capolo (Kapulong), chief of Candaba (Pampanga) was sentenced to exile from his town and made to pay a heavy fine. Governor Santiago de Vera pardoned him. Later he served as a guide and interpreter for two Spanish expeditions to the Igorot country in 1591 and 1594. The other five leading members of the Tondo Conspiracy were exiled to Mexico - Pedro Balinguit (chief of Pandacan), Pitongatan (chief of Tondo), Felipe Salonga (chief of Polo), Calao (chief of Tondo), and Agustin Manuguit (chief of Tondo). They were the very first Filipinos to reside in Mexico.

And so the first rebels from Tondo died, it wasn’t until during the late nineteenth-century when their martyrdom be duplicated. However, unlike the Maharlika Conspiracy of 1587-1588, this time it was the members of Manila’s working class and not the heads of prominent families who were mainly the mind and force behind it. Three of their district-mates Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto and Macario Sakay followed their footsteps.

The significance of the Tondo Conspiracy, aside from its purely political motivation, lay in the fact that it was not just the conspiracy of Tondo, but practically all the Datus, Lakans and Rajahs in the Tagalog region from Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Bulacan, besides the Pampangos, who were involved owing to the participation of Dionisio Capolong of Candaba. In 1587-1588 therefore, the old lines of contact of "ka pampang" and "taga ilog" Maharlikas by Pasig River Valley which had made the ethnic state of Manila possible, were still unbroken, were in fact extended down to Sulus and Brunei. It was evidently only in moment of crisis of this nature that the Spaniards became aware of the extent of the political inter-connection.

ka tony
the 13th of January, 2012

Marka Demonyo "Ginebra San Miguel"

...Ginebra San Miguel originally owned by the Recoletos' Fathers like "Cervesa San Miguel" (San Miguel Beer). The Ayalas who were part owners needed a label for their "Ginebra" (Gin) line. They commissioned a young fine arts student from UP to design a label that will neutralize the "strong" alcohol content of their product. One of our country’s national artists, in his effort to put food on his family’s table, as well as earn enough money to afford the materials he needed to pursue his passion for painting, took on other jobs, including that as a commercial illustrator. The artist came up with a design "Marca Demonyo" by then unknown artist Fernando Amorsolo.

When Enrique Zobel de Ayala took notice of this label, he summoned the young man and funded his advanced studies in Madrid. Thus, this particular creation of his done during his day job as an illustrator, also gave him the opportunity to further develop his skills as a fine artist. Amorsolo grew up in the carefree setting of the province although he was born in Manila. When his father died, the family moved back to the city to stay with his maternal uncle, Fabian de la Rosa, one of the country’s distinguished painters and who was to become one of his early teachers in the realm of fine arts, along with Miguel Zaragoza and Rafael Enriquez. He would also become one of the first graduates of the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts.

Later Ginebra San Miguel, because of its high alcohol content that gave a bad image to their religious order, the Recoletos' Fathers and the Ayalas sold the brand to Carlos Palanca, of Tondo. Carlos Palanca after obtaining Ginebra San Miguel, also bought "Distelleria La Locomotera" from the Ubedas, in 1902. He introduced an industrial innovation by switching to molasses and deriving alcohol from it. During those days molasses was considered a waste by-product of sugar cane. Don Carlos Palanca, established his distillery in Velasquez, Tondo and named his corporation "La Tondena Incorporada" (The Incorporation from Tondo). Don Carlos Palanca was a philanthropist, benefactor founder of the "Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature." Don Carlos Palanca's real name was TAN GUIN LAY originally from Amoy, Fukien who went to the wealthy city of Manila. He was looking for a job and connection, he went to Chinese Gobernadorcillo of Manila's China Town for help. Once established, TAN GUIN LAY was baptist to Catholicism, made his baptismal sponsor the Gobernadorcillo and also adopted the name of his Godfather "Carlos Palanca."

Like TAN GUIN LAY (Don Carlos Palanca of La Tondena), his Godfather - the Chinese Gobernadorcillo of Manila's China Town - "Carlos Palanca" adopted his Godfather's name when he was baptist to Catholicism. The real Colonel Carlos Palanca y Gutierrez, was a Spanish leader in the Franco-Spanish war of 1858-62 in Cohin, China, later assigned in Manila. The former TAN QUIEN-SIEN born in T’ung-an hsien, migrated to the Philippines in 1844. "Carlos Palanca" (fr;Tan Quien-sien), attained the position of Gobernadorcillo from 1875-89, he obtain a Chinese consulate in Manila because of the growing wealth from the Manila/Acapulco, Galleon Trade. He was the "Al Capone" of the first and the biggest "China Town" in the world Ongpin.

Gobernadorcillo "Carlos Palanca was only twenty years old when arrived in Manila, he had risen as a powerful leader in the Chinese community. His wealth stemmed from importing enterprises, which included sugar and rice. He was also involved in coolie brokerage. Besides the businesses that he presided over, there were many commercial ventures in which his investments raked in enormous profits.

He played a major role in the community’s efforts to obtain a Chinese consulate in Manila during the 1880s and 1890s. When the Americans took control of the country in 1898, he provided the American troops with temporary lodging arrangements, as well as furnished them with coolies to build their barracks. Subsequently, he urged the Ch’ing government to negotiate with the United States for a Chinese consulate in Manila. When the consulate was established in 1899, the Ch’ing government appointed his son, Ignacio Palanca Tan Chueco, to the position of first consul.

When the Philippine Revolution broke out he chose to keep distance; not committing to either side. When the Spanish government charged a number of mestizos with conspiracy, he argued in behalf of some of them and helped secure their release, though his attitude toward the Chinese mestizos was one of contempt. Not a believer of inter-racial marriage, he sent his son to a school in China to thwart his Filipinization.

The Spanish and Filipinos on the other hand, regarded "Carlos Palanca" with mixed sentiments. Their pervasive perception of him was that of a master corrupter; one who would resort to extreme measures just to get what he wanted.

He was thought of as a man obsessed with becoming the Chinese consul. He did assume the interim role of which when his son’s return from China was delayed for several months; unable to immediately fulfill his appointment as consul.

There were speculations among the Filipino intellectuals that Jose Rizal modeled after Don Carlos Palanca his character of Chinaman "Quiroga" in "El Filibusterismo." Jose Alejandrino, a friend of Rizal, confirmed that it was indeed the case. Alejandrino further claimed that Don Carlos Palanca approached Aguinaldo, when he was forming his revolutionary government about the possibility of creating an opium monopoly, but Aquinaldo refused. Despite such controversies, he was, undoubtedly, a powerful force in the Chinese community during the late nineteenth century. When he died in 1901, a statue was erected in the Chinese cemetery as a tribute to his community service and philanthropy.

ka tony
revised 8th of Jan., 2012

January 10, 1893 - The Trial of Filipino/Creole Painter Juan Luna y Novicio.

Juan Luna was tried before the criminal court for the murder of his wife Maria de la Paz Pardo de Tavera & his mother in law, in Paris, France. On December 8, 1886, Luna married Paz, a sister of his friends Felix & Trinidad Pardo de Tavera. The couple traveled to Europe and settled in Paris in a rented house called Villa Dupont. The mother of Paz, Dona Juana paid half of the rent and household expenses. Living with them was also Juan's younger brother Antonio, who was studying pharmacy. They had one son, whom they named Andres and a daughter nicknamed Bibi who died in infancy & this started the rift between Paz and Luna because he was extremely fond of the baby girl. He believe that Bibi's death was due to Paz's indifference and neglect.

Paz had remarked to her mother that she no longer loved her husband and that she actually hated him. As she was suffering from asthma and was poor in health, Paz left for a month's vacation in the thermal baths of Mont Dore. There she met a Frenchman named Dussag with whom she allegedly began an affair, the liaison continued after her return to Paris. Paz marriage to Juan Luna has become more problematic when Luna in a fit of jealousy or anger would physically harm Paz. Trinidad Hermenegildo, her brother Felix and their mother Dona Juliana combined all their efforts in preserving the marriage, but due to the increased physical abuse suffered by Paz, they decided that divorce was the only choice left. The very jealous Luna frequently accused his wife Paz of having an affair with Monsieur Dussaq.

About a fortnight later Luna followed his wife to a house of assignation at 25 Mont Thabor. He failed to find her there and questioned the porter, who denied that any woman had been in the house. While there Luna met Dussaq, he shook hands with him even if he knew the Frenchman was his wife's lover. He quarreled with his wife often and three days before the tragedy, Luna bought a large-caliber revolver and the same night threatened Paz with death unless she signed a confession of her infidelity. When she refused to acknowledge that she had carnal relations with another man he fired the gun in the air. Tearful Dona Juliana begged her daughter to sign the confession.

Dona Juliana was scared of the brothers Luna and once said "When Juan gets angry, he becomes frenetic and not himself; in other words he becomes a brute!" She noted the temper of the two Lunas "who have the character of madmen" She related that Antonio, for three days after a quarrel with Jose Rizal, wanted to fight the latter and "only God and his friends could appease him for he simply wanted to kill Rizal. They are rancorous and vengeful!"

Because of the two women's complains about Luna's outbursts Trinidad called Filipino barrister Antonio Regidor in London to come to Paris and to find a solution to the matter. He wired his brother Felix vacationing in Berck-sur-mer, to return. Trinidad consulted a lawyer friend, Monsieur Toulouse. At nine o'clock the following morning, Thursday, September 22, 1892, Trinidad and his brother Felix were taking coffee in nearby cafe, when a housemaid came running to them with the news that Luna was threatening to shoot his wife and his mother in law.

Felix arrived at Villa Dupont ahead of Trinidad, refused to embrace his sister "unless she first told him the truth." Trinidad arrived saw Luna was downstairs talking to Antonio Rigedor, who had just got there. After several minutes they left, but until they had advised the two women to lock themselves in the room. The Pardo brothers had barely sat down in the cafe with Rigedor when the housemaid again came running to tell them she heard shouting from the second floor. The two rushed to the house, they saw Dona Juliana at the window screaming for help and upon seeing them shouted, "don't enter my sons he is armed with a revolver!"

Luna appeared at the window of the salon and warned, "I'll kill the first one who enters!" Holding a revolver in the first floor while Paz, their son Andres and Dona Juliana are in a room in the second floor. When Felix started to approach, Luna fired a shot that hit him in the chest. Luna then entered the bedroom, whose door the women forgot to lock. He pointed the gun at the mother's head, she had covered her ears with her hands and Luna pulled the trigger. Paz ran to the window, but Luna caught her and shot her in the head. When Trinidad entered the second floor room, he found his mother and sister shot in the head, his mother dead and his sister barely alive but unconscious. Paz died on October 8 at 6:15 pm without regaining consciousness. Several accounts have related that both Paz and Juliana had been shot through the doorknob as they tried to block Luna’s jabs and kicks. However, the big gaping gunshot wounds in the heads of Paz and Juliana could only have been achieved at point blank range.

Police arrived minutes later and from the window Luna told them, "Come up I won't harm you." The revolver was on top of the table and when the porter picked it up, Luna said, "Careful porter, it is still loaded." On February 7,1893 - Luna was acquitted of charges on the grounds of temporary insanity and since he was born in Asia and a Malay he had a "Juramentado" tendency and could not be held responsible for his violent action. He was ordered to pay the Pardo de Taveras a sum of one thousand six hundred fifty one francs and eighty three cents, in addition to the interest of damages. Five days later, Luna went to Madrid with his brother Antonio Luna and his son, Andres. Luna suffered some depression while in Europe. He went back to the Philippines a broken man in 1896.

Juan & Paz, son Andres Luna was later to win fame in Manila as an architect. Famous buildings on the Escolta, Manila's most elegant thoroughfare after the war, was considered his masterpieces. Parisian Regina Building, Art deco Perez - Samanillo building and the edifice known as Crystal Arcade. Andres also was the designer of the Arlegui House, the residence of former president Corazon Aquino during her term, was married to Grace Mcrae. The couple didn’t have a child.

ka tony
revised the 7th of January, 2012