Book: The Philippine Islands, 1493 1898

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I was particularly inclined to send this despatch by one who, besides
the high esteem in which he is held by me, is a member of the holy
order of St. Francis, as Faranda requested this in his memorial
addressed to me, wherein he said that it would greatly please you
to see there fathers of this blessed order. This man is one of most
strict and holy life, which alone would make him worthy of veneration.



Two Letters from Gomez Perez Dasmarinas to Felipe II


Sire:

Last year, 1592, I gave your Majesty an account, in various letters
(written in duplicate), of the condition of matters in this country,
and of everything that had occurred up to that time of which I should
advise you, and at greater length. Now I repeat that information
sending with the present letter a brief summary or memorandum of the
various points about which I wrote, so that, being thus reminded of
what required deliberation, your Majesty may be pleased to order that
all these matters be examined and suitable action taken. But lately
(April 27), on the arrival at this port of a vessel from Mexico,
I received no letter from your Majesty or your councils, because no
fleet went hence to Mexico this year. Consequently I shall note here
only what has happened since last year. Since I have had, this year,
no news of your Majesty's health, may it please His Divine Majesty,
that when this letter reaches you, it will find your Majesty enjoying
the health needed by the interests of Christendom, and the prosperity
for which we, your Majesty's vassals and servants, pray; and may this
continue so for many long and happy years, so that the disturbed and
embarrassed condition of affairs which now generally prevails may be
reduced to order.

As I have written to your Majesty of our need here of ministers to give
Christian instruction, I have great hopes that your Majesty has done us
the favor to send a great force of missionaries to this vineyard and
to this new field of Christendom, which so sorely needs them. I hope,
too, that these laborers will not come from Mexico, but from Espana,
and that they will be among those who are most needed there; for this
land, so new and so distant from your Majesty's royal sight, demands
such men. Likewise they should be humble, peaceful subjects, loving God
and your Majesty, and attentive to their ministry of preaching the holy
gospel and the salvation of souls. They should not be men with selfish
interests, or have special objects or pretensions in view which would
divert them from their chief aim. I am hoping for them chiefly because
of the great need for them in the province of Tuy. This province was
rendered obedient to your Majesty without bloodshed and voluntarily,
by means of the fathers. At that time they paid some beads, and rice,
and some small articles of little or no value, only as a slight token
of recognition. I thought it better, according to our promises to them,
not to collect any tribute from them inside of one year; and although
this time has expired, still I have not thought it proper to collect
the tribute, because of our lack of ministers to instruct them, and
because I am thinking of founding a Spanish settlement there. This
latter I propose doing, on account of the fertility of that region,
and its superior climate, as well as the robustness of the Indians,
and their great vigor and intelligence. They have large villages
and houses, abundance of rice, cattle, fruit, cotton, anise, ginger,
and other products. In that region fifteen thousand tributarios are
subject to your Majesty's obedience. When the year, as above stated,
had expired, I sent to Tuy, about five months ago, thirty soldiers
under their leader, for the sole purpose of visiting those villages
and ascertaining whether they were obedient to your Majesty's service
and friendly to us. I sent them some beads, hawk's bells, and other
trifles of slight value, although these things are highly esteemed
among them. The people were found to be quite peaceful, obedient,
and friendly, and were willing to pay the tribute to your Majesty
at that time, as you will see by the accompanying information. I
was unwilling to have the tribute collected until we have fathers
to instruct them--or at least, until we institute justice among them
and found a settlement there. For this last-named purpose I have no
men, because many have died of disease during the past year. I am
considering whether I shall make the settlement in Tuy, as it is the
capital, or between Tuy and Cagayan; upon the arrival of the vessels,
and after I have ascertained the fitness of the troops (for this
vessel brought but few), we shall determine what is best.

The same need of ministers is felt in the provinces of Cagayan. And
although all these provinces are so truly pacified, and the Indians
therein very friendly and well satisfied, and all pay tribute, still
the fourth part of the tribute is not collected, because of the
lack of ministers. There is a countless number of villages needing
instruction, and all ready to become Christians, and for this reason
also I am awaiting ministers. I enclose information concerning the
excellent condition of that region.

I have written your Majesty before of the good condition of the
Zambales' affairs, and the severe punishment meted out to them, and
the lack of ministers for the recent settlements made in pacifying
them. Because of this lack, we have been unable to establish these
settlements, as fully as is desirable--although the highways are
safe and open, while in the mountain districts disturbances are but
slight; so that the good condition prevails that your Majesty will
see by the inclosed account. In Pangasinan and Ylocos, the tributes
have been lately increased, and the whole district enjoys peace
and tranquillity, as is apparent by the other account enclosed. In
all these transactions in the above districts, there has resulted
no confusion; on the contrary, there is universal tranquillity and
accord. The same peace and tranquillity reigns in the provinces of
Pintados, Cibu, and Camarines; and although, at my arrival here, on
the opposite coast there were some things that needed attention and
adjustment, as well as in other parts of these islands of Luzon and
all this kingdom, there is now no quarter that has not been explored
and that does not render peaceful homage to your Majesty.

Your Majesty will have learned from my letters of the satisfactory
completion of the enclosure and fortification of this city, since it
was already walled from the new fort on the point along the whole
stretch of seacoast to the round fort of Nuestra Senora de Guia
["Our Lady of Guidance"]. This fort having fallen, not having been
properly constructed, and so that it was of little or no use, I have
reduced it to such shape that it will be of use, by joining to it a
defense of cut stone, about as high as the fort, and a rampart that
commands all the country and part of the sea. On the other side,
I have built another rampart, small and low, for the defense of the
principal gate of the city, which has been built there under the
shelter and defense of the projection of the high fortification; so
that fort is now safe and useful. Afterward the work will be completed
on the other side. I am sending an account of this. From this gate,
the wall is being continued along the land side toward the river as
far as its entrance, with the same thickness, height, and shape as
the other wall, and each with its traverses.

And now this city is enclosed by sea and land, so that only one small
portion fronting on the river is open between that and the fort of the
point. This has not been enclosed, because that open space is so small,
and it fronts on the river between the fort of the point and another
cavalier named Sanct Gabriel which has been built there. As these two
are opposite each other and within easy distance, it is evident that no
danger will enter by that place, for it is the best guarded and most
secure. And, too, as this wall and fort have been built at so little
or no cost to your Majesty, except from the two per cent tax levied
once, and from your Majesty's monopoly of the sale of playing-cards,
I ran so short of funds that I was compelled to leave this bit of
the shore unenclosed. But, God be praised, the work in its present
condition is so far advanced, that no enemy who attacks me can give me
any cause for anxiety. Your Majesty may see what has been done since
my arrival here, by the accompanying plan. [10] This wall has had no
less effect for the undeceiving of the natives. Hitherto they have
hoped that the occupation and settlement of the Spaniards here was not
to be permanent, as was observed in a joint meeting of the religious
orders and myself, held in your Majesty's fort about one month ago. At
that time Fray Christoval, who was managing this bishopric, said that,
less than one month previous, some chiefs of La Laguna (which is five
leagues from this city) had asked him when the Castilians were going
to leave. They will have been already undeceived in this regard,
and the insolent and audacious designs of the hostile mestizos and
foreigners will have received a heavy blow when they see this city
enclosed and defended by land and sea.

Although the cathedral church was being finished when the vessels
left, after the portal was built--although with opposition and a
suit, as your Majesty will see by the accompanying papers--I had
your Majesty's arms placed upon it. Truly, that was sufficiently
contrary to the will of these priests here, who--just as if your
Majesty were some foreigner, and not the sovereign, as you are,
of all this land--declare that, wherever the arms of St. Peter are
placed, those of your Majesty are unnecessary, to such a state has the
insistence and license of the ecclesiastics here come. Finally, as to
the building of the church, it is so far advanced that, notwithstanding
the little still to be done, the divine offices are celebrated therein
with due propriety. The canons receive their pay from their stipends,
and are content therewith. There is need of a prelate--who, as I have
written your Majesty, should be not a theologian, but a canonist,
in order to serve suitably God and your Majesty. The work on the new
convent of Sanct Andres and Sancta Potenciana for the shelter and
training of girls is well under way, although for lack of money not
so far advanced as I would like. However, the girls are being cared
for in the house first assigned them.

As I have written to your Majesty, I have four galleys fitted up,
which are actually patrolling the coast, and acting as a defense to
these islands whenever needed, although they cost me abundance of
complaints, both in and out of the pulpit, from these blessed fathers,
who have compelled me to make the enclosed inquiries; and yet, with the
rumors and dangers current at the present time, these four seem but
few to the theologues. My only regret is my inability to provide and
fit them with all the things that they lack, as I wrote your Majesty.

In accordance with clause 7 of your Majesty's instructions, whereby
I was ordered to allow the Indians to pay their tribute in land
products or in money, as they chose, your order has been observed
hitherto. Experience has shown that the carrying of this measure
farther means the ruin of the country; for since the Indian sees
that he can pay his tribute with ten reals, which he makes in one
day's gain, all the rest of the year he makes merry and spends his
time in idleness and leisure, drunkenness and _magabalijas_, which
are his sources of income. Therefore they do not sow their fields,
raise animals, or weave their cloth, or cultivate the fruits of the
earth. On this account no rice is found, nor one mata or lampote, [11]
which is worth more than three from China. There is no cotton, wax,
gold, or other article of exchange; and all the trade here in these
things has been lost, as well as the great cheapness of these things
when the Indians paid their tribute in produce, and not as they might
choose. When it became evident that the country was falling into ruin,
and the pressure brought to bear by the encomenderos in opposition to
the religious orders, and the injuries and annoyances resulting from
this method of collecting the tribute were seen, it was determined
that it should be collected in produce, as your Majesty will see by
the resolution taken there. Therefore we shall collect the tribute
in accordance with this decision, until your Majesty shall be pleased
to order otherwise.

The bishop of Malaca wrote me the letter that I enclose herewith. And
although I answered him so briefly, and without making a decision
(as you will see by the enclosed copy of the letter), because I
did not like to say what I thought without first consulting your
Majesty, now, because of some news and information given me in
regard to matters of the commerce and navigation of those regions
and of these, I lay before your Majesty, in the enclosed paper, the
drawbacks and advantages on either side that I find in this matter,
so that, after examining them, your Majesty may be pleased to order
in all these matters what is most suitable.

I have written to your Majesty concerning the great annoyances
resulting from the unsuitable marriages of widows and minors, who are
wealthy encomenderas of this country. It is a fact that within the last
few days, three cases of very great inequality and irregularity have
occurred in the marriages of the widows of very respectable captains,
with an income of more than four or five thousand pesos. One of them
was of advanced age, and quite unfitted for marriage. They all married
youths with little or no money, who have employed evil methods to
obtain this end, and have defrauded several very honorable and worthy
captains and soldiers, who serve here, and for whom such encomiendas
were especially established. These women inherited these encomiendas
from their husbands or fathers. This abuse will result in the complete
destruction of this country, and the discouragement of its soldiers
and conquistadors, unless your Majesty remedy it. This can be done
by ordering that these marriages shall not be made here without
communicating with you, under penalty of loss of such encomiendas;
and it should be provided that the governor should not make this an
opportunity whereby to accommodate and provide for his relatives and
servants. Your Majesty will act according to your pleasure.

The encomenderos and soldiers of this country, who have grown old
and married here, say, whenever I summon them for certain matters in
your Majesty's service--whether for actual service, or only to confer
with them--that they are old, that they have served sufficiently, and
that they are embarrassed with wives and children. Thus I find them
disinclined to any service; but, if I do not summon them, they assert
that I give them nothing to do, and do not consult them at all. The
worst of it all is that they all imagine themselves capable of giving
counsel. Those who are capable know very well that I employ them,
and consult them in matters about which I think they have something to
say. For those who would complain, I leave the door open, so that they
may present their arguments in regard to the mistakes made hitherto.

Having ascertained very carefully the extortions and injuries
inflicted on the Indians by the encomenderos and their collectors,
in the collection of their tributes, I have thought that it might be
a good plan to have the tributes of all the encomiendas collected
in your Majesty's name, and placed in the royal treasury; then
they could be paid out from it to the encomenderos. By this method
innumerable acts of tyranny and insolence would be avoided, which
can not be remedied, especially in encomiendas distant from here one
hundred, one hundred and fifty, or two hundred leguas. Not one case
of punishment has occurred in these encomiendas, although there are
wrongs. We must go there with the authority of the law. Thus all the
encomiendas would have but one master and true proprietor--namely,
your Majesty. The collectors would be appointed by one person, and
would be men of merit, and conscientious and moral. The estate of
the temporal [12] encomenderos would be managed for them at less cost
than they themselves would incur therein, and all the tributes would
be collected without any care or trouble on their part. Although this
might be somewhat severe on those who already possess encomiendas,
it might at least be adopted for those in the future who are granted
favors and new appointments (just as if the encomienda were vacant),
so that this so commendable usage might be introduced. In reality
the value of the encomienda would be given to them, minus the cost of
collection; and the instruction, would be much better paid, although
this latter is regulated as carefully as possible. By this method,
too, certain soldiers who are poor and still in service could be
appointed to make these collections. May our Lord, etc. From Manila,
June xx, 1593.


_Gomez Perez Dasmarinas_


Sire:

Because of the great need, I have granted in your Majesty's name a
license for this once for the printing of the "Christian Doctrine,"
copies of which I enclose herewith--one in the Tagal language, which
is the native and the best language of these islands, and the other
in the Chinese language. [13] I hope that great benefits will result
therefrom in the conversion and instruction of the people of both
nations. And because the countries of the Yndias are on a larger scale
in everything, and because things are more expensive in them, I have
set the price at four reals apiece until your Majesty is pleased to
decree what is to be done.

On certain of the buildings of this city upon which it is advisable to
have the city's arms placed--as the houses of the cabildo, the prison,
and others built at the expense of the city--I have not allowed
the arms to be placed; for the arms which are now on some cloths
[14] on its cabildo, which are those used at the discovery of this
country, seem to me to have more meaning and to be more pleasing to
the natives of the country than to the Spaniards who settled it. For
they represent a bark or frigate in a river, with a shore lined with
cocoa-palms, which is a fruit of this country. If some memorial of
some king imprisoned, or some notable deed were to be placed on them,
they [the Spaniards] would consider them suitable. But of them, I say,
that should the Indians seek for a coat of arms as a memorial of their
native place and country, they could find none more suitable. Therefore
I believe that the city will adopt with ready compliance such design
as your Majesty may ordain. For this purpose, I have ordered that, on
the facades of the principal gate of this city, and in other places,
where I have had your Majesty's arms placed, collateral stones be
placed for those of the city, as yet left blank, until your Majesty
shall determine what shall be decreed in the matter.

The procession made here on Corpus Christi day, with the assent of the
bishop, passed before his residence; and although but twenty or thirty
paces from the royal buildings, the procession did not go to them,
which they could have done at the cost of so little time and space,
and would not, on that account, have been prevented from returning
to the house of the bishop. Will your Majesty order in this regard
according to your pleasure.

The city is concerned, and I believe I wrote to your Majesty, about
the ten per cent duty imposed in Mexico recently on merchandise from
this country; and although I desire nothing so much as that there be
found a way to provide for the pressing need in which your Majesty
finds yourself in these necessitous times, still, with your Majesty's
permission, I will say only concerning this, that, although it is
true that the profits of this merchandise, if well administered,
might endure this duty, yet the citizens of this country are poor,
the money and capital are restricted, and the land is new; and at
the beginning these gains were larger than now, since, because of
the heavy expenses, the net profit obtained is much less. Likewise
it appears that the same statement is true of the natives, who feel
keenly so many burdens, and who are suspicious that we are gradually
increasing them. Therefore they say the Castilians have good words
but few deeds, and those evil. Those who might better carry this
burden are the Chinese, because of the great profit and gain that
they make and obtain here in so little time. But I fear also that if
they are annoyed, they will not come and will abandon the trade, by
which this country lives and increases. I do nothing but put both of
these considerations before your Majesty, so that you may ordain in
everything what is most to your service. May our Lord preserve your
Majesty for many happy years as Christendom has need, and as we, the
vassals and servants of your Majesty, desire. Manila, June 20, 1593.

[_Endorsed:_ "Filipinas. Copy of a letter written by Governor Gomez
Perez Dasmarinas."]




Memorandum of Troops Required in the Philippines.


The soldiers necessary to guard the city of Manila, and the redoubts,
galleys, forts of Cagayan and Cebu, and presidios erected against
the Zambales:


------
TABLE

For Cagayan, seventy soldiers are needed for the defense of the city,
and thirty for the fort and presidio of San Pablo, near Cagayan,
the total amounting to one hundred
100
For the town of Arevalo, in Otton, one hundred
100
For Camarines, one hundred
100
For Ylocos, one hundred
100
For Cebu--that is, the city of Santissimo Nombre de Jhesus--one hundred
100
For the settlement of the provinces of Tuy, recently explored,
one hundred
100
For the presidios among the Cambales--namely, the presidio de San
Andres de Mexico, thirty; the presidio of Tarla, thirty; the presidio
of San Phelippe de Malabuc, thirty; the presidio of La Playa Honda,
thirty: the total amounting to one hundred and twenty soldiers
120
For the guard of Mariveles, eight soldiers.
8
For the guard and defense of this city of Manila, we shall need one
thousand men--or, at the very least, six hundred.
600
For the new fort on Point Sanctiago, ten gunners and twenty soldiers
30
For the fort of Nuestra Senora de Guia, eight gunners and twenty
soldiers
28
For the cavalier of San Gabriel, six soldiers and one corporal 7
For the fort at the port of Cavite, twenty-four soldiers
24
For four galleys to guard these coasts, to each one twenty-five
soldiers, a total of one hundred
100
Total, one thousand five hundred and seventeen men
1517
------


With this number this kingdom would have some assurance of security,
both from the natives and from surrounding peoples. It should be
taken for granted that reenforcements be sent each year to maintain
this number; for, because of the unhealthfulness of this country,
many are constantly dying.

[_Endorsed:_ "Troops necessary in those Philippinas Islands."]




Letter from Gomez Perez Dasmarinas to the King of Camboja


Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, knight of the order of Sa[n]ctiago, governor
and captain-general of Luson: For the king of Castilla, my sovereign,
I wish you health and prosperity. I received the embassy and letter
of the king of Camboja [15] with great happiness; with these, as well
as with the elephant and the friendship that you send me, I am greatly
pleased--as also with the inclination that you manifest for the service
and devotion of the king, my sovereign. I shall inform the latter
of this, and it will be esteemed highly. I have grieved sorely over
the wars and hostilities between the kings of Camboja and Sian; for I
would much prefer that perfect harmony, accord, and peace should reign
between two such kings and neighbors (both of whom are our friends),
for without it is neither advantage nor happiness. I would grant the
king of Camboja the aid and reenforcement that he begs against the king
of Sian, but that king would marvel at it. He is also a servant of
mine, and our friend. Therefore I wish to know the cause and grounds
for these animosities, and the justice and reason on either side, for
thus can I come to a just decision. In the meanwhile, since the result
of wars (even when they are victorious ones), is for the most part
ruin, death, destruction, and depopulation of kingdoms and vassals;
and my good will and affection toward the king of Camboja binds me to
desire to see him freed from these difficulties and this uneasiness,
so that he may live tranquilly, and that we may have intercourse
and friendship, and that commerce and harmony may increase among
all of us everywhere, to the common advantage of all--I have tried
to provide the easiest and best method. This is for me to become
arbitrator, in order to try to adjust these differences. Therefore
I have written a letter and sent an ambassador to the king of Sian,
without informing him that the king of Camboja is in need of aid and
has begged it from me, and I think that he will accept. If so just
a cause should fail, then your and my cause is more reasonable and
justifiable, in order to do what you beg of me. In any event, you
can be certain of my being a friend to the king of Camboja--as your
ambassador, who is returning well-treated and happy, will tell you
in greater detail. Let us consult and discuss over the road already
opened. Those of Camboja will always receive the same hospitable
treatment as in their own land. I am sending you some emeralds, and
a horse, which is an excellent animal, in token of affection, besides
some hunting dogs, for Belosso told me that they were much esteemed in
Camboja. Because of the lack of certain Spanish curiosities, I am not
sending such; but I shall procure them for another time. If another
rose diamond from this country would be acceptable, I shall be very
glad to give it to you. To fulfil more completely our friendship,
I am sending you the copy of the letter that I wrote to the king of
Sian. May God preserve and prosper you. From Manila, September 27,
in the year 1593 since our Lord Jesus Christ's birth.

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