Annotations to Morga's 1609 Philippine History To the Filipinos: In Noli Me Tangere ("The Soial !aner" I starte# to s$eth the present state o% o&r natie lan# )&t the e%%et *hih +y e%%ort pro#&e# +a#e +e reali,e that- .e%ore atte+pting to &nroll .e%ore yo&r eyes the other pit&res *hih *ere to %ollo*- it *as neessary %irst to post yo& on the past So only an yo& %airly /&#ge the present an# esti+ate ho* +&h progress pro gress has .een +a#e #&ring the three ent&ries (o% Spanish r&le i$e al+ost all o% yo&- I *as .orn an# .ro&ght &p in ignorane o% o&r o&ntry's past an# so- *itho&t $no*le#ge or a&thority to spea$ o% *hat I neither sa* nor hae st&#ie#- I #ee+ it neessary to &ot &ote e the the test testi+ i+on ony y o% an ill ill&str &striio&s o&s Sp Span aniiar# ar# *ho *ho in the the .eginning o% the ne* era ontrolle# the #estinies o% the Philippines an# ha# personal $no*le#ge o% o&r anient nationality in its last #ays It is then the sha#e o% o&r anestor's iili,ation *hih the a&thor *ill all .e%ore yo& I% the *or$ seres to a*a$en in yo& a onsio&sness o% o&r past- an# to .lot %ro+ yo&r +e+ory or to reti%y *hat has .een %alsi%ie# or is al&+ny- then I shall not hae la.ore# in ain 2ith this preparation- slight tho&gh it +ay .e- *e an all pass to the st&#y o% the %&t&re 3os4 5i,al &rope- 1779 8oernor Morga *as not only the %irst to *rite .&t also the %irst to p&.lish a Philippine history This state+ent has regar# to the on onis ise e an# an# on onret rete e %or+ %or+ in *hih *hih o&r o&r a&tho a&thorr has has trea treate te# # the +atter Father !hirino's *or$- printe# in 5o+e in 160- is rather a hronile o% the Missions than a history o% the Philippines still it ontains a great #eal o% al&a.le +aterial on &sages an# &sto+s The The *ort *orthy hy 3e 3es& s&it it in %at %at a#+i a#+its ts that that he a.an a.an#o #one ne# # *rit *ritin ing g a politial history .ea&se Morga ha# alrea#y #one so- so one +&st in%er that he ha# seen the *or$ in +an&sript .e%ore leaing the Islan#s
)y the !hristian religion- ;r Morga appears to +ean the 5o+an !atholi *hih .y %ire an# s*or# he *o&l# presere in its p&rity in the Philippines Neertheless in other lan#s- nota.ly in Flan#ers- these +eans *ere ine%%etie to $eep the h&rh &nhange#- or to +aintain its s&pre+ay- or een to hol# its s&./ets
8reat $ing#o+s *ere in#ee# #isoere# an# on&ere# in the re+ote an# &n$no*n parts o% the *orl# .y Spanish ships .&t to the Spaniar#s *ho saile# in the+ *e +ay a## Port&g&ese- ItaliansFrenh- 8ree$s- an# een A%rians an# Polynesians The e
These ent&ries ago it *as the &sto+ to *rite as intolerantly as Morga #oes- .&t no*a#ays it *o&l# .e alle# a .it pres&+pt&o&s No one has a +onopoly o% the tr&e 8o# nor is there any nation or religion that an lai+- or at any rate proe- that to it has .en gien the e<l&sie right to the !reator o% all things or sole $no*le#ge o% His real .eing
The onersions .y the Spaniar#s *ere not as general as their historians lai+ The +issionaries only s&ee#e# in onerting a part o% the people o% the Philippines Still there are Moha++e#ans- the Moros- in the so&thern islan#s- an# NegritosIgorots an# other heathens yet o&py the greater part territorially o% the arhipelago Then the islan#s *hih the Spaniar#s early hel# .&t soon lost are non=!hristian == For+osa- )orneo- an# the Mol&as An# i% thre are !hristians in the !arolines- that is #&e to Protestants- *ho+ neither the 5o+an !atholis o% Morga's #ay nor +any !atholis in o&r o*n #ay onsi#er !hristians
It is not the %at that the Filipinos *ere &nprotete# .e%ore the o+ing o% the Spaniar#s Morga hi+sel% says- %&rther on in telling o% the pirate rai#s %ro+ the islan#s ha# ar+s an# #e%en#e# the+seles )&t a%ter the naties *ere #isar+e# the pirates pillage#
the+ *ith i+p&nity- o+ing at ti+es *hen they *ere &nprotete# .y the goern+ent- *hih *as the reason %or +any o% the ins&rretions The iili,ation o% the Pre=Spanish Filipinos in regar# to the #&ties o% li%e %or that age *as *ell a#ane#- as the Morga history sho*s in its eighth hapter
The islan#s a+e &n#er Spanish soereignty an# ontrol thro&gh o+pats- treaties o% %rien#ship an# allianes %or reiproity )y irt&e o% the last arrange+ent- aor#ing to so+e historiansMagellan lost his li%e on Matan an# the sol#iers o% egaspi %o&ght &n#er the .anner o% >ing T&pas o% !e.&
The ter+ "on&est" is a#+issi.le .&t %or a part o% the islan#s an# then only in its .roa#est sense !e.&- Panay- &,onMin#oro- an# so+e others annot .e sai# to hae .een on&ere#
The #isoery- on&est an# onersion ost Spanish .loo# .&t still + ore Filipino .loo# It *ill .e seen later on in Morga that *ith the Spaniar#s an# on .ehal% o% Spain there *ere al*ays +ore Filipinos %ighting than Spaniar#s
Morga sho*s that the anient Filipinos ha# ar+y an# nay *ith artillery an# other i+ple+ents o% *ar%are Their pri,e# $rises an# $a+pilans %or their +agni%ient te+per are *orthy o% a#+iration an# so+e o% the+ are rihly #a+asene# Their oats o% +ail an# hel+ets- o% *hih there are spei+ens in ario&s &ropean +&se&+s- attest their great a#ane+ent in this in#&stry
Morga's e
Megellan's trans%erring %ro+ the serie o% his o*n $ing (i.e. the "ortuguese to e+ploy+ent &n#er the >ing o% Spain
aor#ing to histori #o&+ents- *as .ea&se the Port&g&ese >ing ha# re%&se# to grant hi+ the raise in salary *hih he as$e# No* it is $no*n that Magellan *as +ista$en *hen he represente# to the >ing o% Spain that the Mol&a Islan#s *ere *ithin the li+its assigne# .y the Pope to the Spaniar#s )&t thro&gh this error an# the ina&ray o% the na&tial instr&+ents o% that ti+e- the Philippines #i# not %all into the han#s o% the Port&g&ese
!e.&- *hih Morga alls "The !ity o% the Most Holy Na+e o% 3es&s-" *as at %irst alle# "The illage o% San Mig&el"
The i+age o% the Holy !hil# o% !e.&- *hih +any religio&s *riters .eliee# *as .ro&ght to !e.& .y the angels- *as in %at gien .y the *orthy Italian hroniler o% Magellan's e
The e
@% the natie Manila r&lers at the o+ing o% the Spaniar#s5a/a Soli+an *as alle# "5ahang +&ra"- or yo&ng $ing- in #istintion %ro+ the ol# $ing- "5ahang +atan#a" Historians hae on%&se# these personages
The natie %ort at the +o&th o% the Pasig rier- *hih Morga spea$s o% as e&ippe# *ith .rass lant$as an# artillery o% larger ali.er- ha# its ra+parts rein%ore# *ith thi$ har#*oo# posts s&h as the Tagalogs &se# %or their ho&ses an# alle# "harig&es"- or "halig&i"
Morga has ei#ently on%&se# the pai%i o+ing o% egaspi *ith the atta$ o% 8oiti an# Sale#o- as to #ate Aor#ing to other historians it *as in 1B0 that Manila *as .&rne#- an# *ith it a great plant %or +an&%at&ring artillery 8oiti #i# not ta$e possession o% the ity .&t *ith#re* to !aite an# a%ter*ar#s to to Panay- *hih +a$es one s&spiio&s o% his allege# itory As to the #ay o% the #ate- the Spaniar#s then- haing o+e %ollo*ing the
o&rse o% the s&n- *ere so+e si
The so&thern islan#s- the )isayas- *ere also alle# "The lan# o% the Painte# People (or Pinta#os- in Spanish" .ea&se the naties ha# their .o#ies #eorate# *ith traings +a#e *ith %ireso+e*hat li$e tattooing
The Spaniar#s retaine# the natie na+e %or the ne* apital o% the arhipelago- a little hange#- ho*eer- %or the Tagalogs ha# alle# their ity "Maynila"
2hen Morga says that the lan#s *ere "entr&ste# (gien as eno+ien#as to those *ho ha# "pai%ie#" the+- he +eans "#ii#e# &p a+ong" The *or# "entr&st-" li$e "pai%y-" later a+e to hae a sort o% ironial signi%iation To entr&st a proine *as then as i% it *re sai# that it *as t&rne# oer to sa$- a.an#one# to the r&elty an# oeto&sness o% the eno+en#ero- to /&#ge %ro+ the *ay these gentry +is.ehae#
egaspi's gran#son- Sale#o- alle# the Hernan#o !orte, o% the Philippines- *as the "on&eror's" intelligent right ar+ an# the hero o% the "on&est" His honesty an# %ine &alities- talent an# personal .raery- all *on the a#+iration o% the Filipinos )ea&se o% hi+ they yiel#e# to their ene+ies- +a$ing peae an# %rien#ship *ith the Spaniar#s He it *as *ho sae# Manila %ro+ i Ma=hong He #ie# at the early age o% t*enty=seen an# is the only eno+en#ero reor#e# to hae le%t the great part o% his possessions
to the In#ians o% his eno+ien#a ?igan *as his eno+ien#a an# the Illo$anos there *ere his heirs The e
I% #isoery an# o&pation /&sti%y anne
agayan an# the )isayas partiipate#
It is nota.le ho* stritly the early Spanish goernors *ere hel# to ao&nt So+e staye# in Manila as prisoners- one- 8oernor !or&era- passe# %ie years *ith Fort Santiago as his prison
In the %r&itless eagayans an# Pa+pangans
The "pai%iation" o% >agayan *as ao+plishe# .y ta$ing a#antage o% the /ealo&sies a+ong its people- parti&larly the rialry .et*een t*o .rothers *ho *ere hie%s An early historian asserts that *itho&t this %ort&nate ir&+stane- %or the Spaniar#sit *o&l# hae .een i+possi.le to s&./&gate the+
!aptain 8a.riel #e 5iera- a Spanish o++an#er *ho ha# gaine# %a+e in a rai# on )orneo an# the Malaa oast- *as the %irst enoy %ro+ the Philippines to ta$e &p *ith the >ing o% Spain the nee#s o% the arhipelago
The early onspiray o% the Manila an# Pa+pangan %or+er hie%s *as reeale# to the Spaniar#s .y a Filipina- the *i%e o% a sol#ier- an# +any onerne# lost their lies
The artillery ast %or the ne* stone %ort in Manila- says Morga- *as .y the han# o% an anient Filipino That is- he $ne* ho* to ast annon een .e%ore the o+ing o% the Spaniar#s- hene he *as #isting&ishe# as "anient" In this #i%%i< art o% iron*or$ing- as in so +any others- the +o#ern or present=#ay Filipinos are not so %ar a#ane# as *ere their anestors
2hen the nglish %ree.ooter !aan#ish apt&re# the Me
Fro+ the earliest Spanish #ays ships *ere .&ilt in the islan#s- *hih +ight .e onsi#ere# ei#ene o% natie <&re No*a#ays this in#&stry is re#&e# to s+all ra%t- so*s an# oasters
The 3es&it- Father Alonso Sanhe,- *ho isite# the papal o&rt at 5o+e an# the Spanish >ing at Ma#ri#- ha# a +ission +&h li$e that o% #ep&ties no*- .&t o% een greater i+portane sine he a+e to .e a sort o% o&nselor or representatie to the a.sol&te +onarh o% that epoh @ne *on#ers *hy the Philippines o&l# hae a representatie then .&t +ay not hae one no*
In the ti+e o% 8oernor 8o+e, Pere, ;as+ariEas- Manila *as g&ar#e# against %&rther #a+age sh as *as s&%%ere# %ro+ i Ma=hong .y the onstr&tion o% a +assie stone *all aro&n# it This *as ao+plishe# "*itho&t e
The early athe#ral o% *oo# *hih *as .&rne# *hih *as .&rne# thro&gh arelessness at the ti+e o% the %&neral o% 8oernor ;as+ariEas' pre#eessor- 8oernor 5on&illo- *as +a#e- aor#ing to the 3es&it historian !hirino- *ith har#*oo# pillars aro&n# *hih t*o +en o&l# not reah- an# in har+ony *ith this +assieness *as all the *oo#*or$ a.oe an# .elo* It +ay .e s&r+ise# %ro+ this ho* har# *or$ers *ere the Filipinos o% that ti+e
A stone ho&se %or the .ishop *as .&ilt .e%ore starting on the goernor=general's resi#ene This pree#ene is interesting %or those *ho &phol# the iil po*er
Morga's +ention o% the sant o&tp&t the sant o&tp&t o% large artillery %ro+ the Manila annon *or$s .ea&se o% la$ o% +aster %o&n#ry *or$ers sho*s that a%ter the #eath o% the Filipino Pan#ay Pira there *ere not Spaniar#s s$ille# eno&gh to ta$e his plae- nor *ere his sons as e
It is *orthy o% note that !hina- 3apan an# !a+.o#ia at this ti+e +aintaine# relations *ith the Philippines )&t in o&r #ay it has .een +ore than a ent&ry sine the naties o% the latter t*o o&ntries hae o+e here The a&ses *hih en#e# the relationship +ay .e %o&n# in the inter%erene .y the religio&s or#ers *ith the instit&tions o% those lan#s
For 8oernor ;as+ariEas' e
The historian Argensola- in telling o% %o&r speial galleys %or ;as+ariEas' e
re*s- an# the prie- that *hih ha# .een &sto+ary in pre=Spanish ti+es- *as to .e a#ane# .y the eo+en#eros *ho later *o&l# .e rei+.&rse# %ro+ the royal treas&ry In spite o% this pro+ise# o+pensation- the +eas&res still see+ seere sine those Filipinos *ere not orret in alling their #epen#ents slaes The +asters treate# these- an# loe# the+- li$e sons rather- %or they seate# the+ at their o*n ta.les an# ge the+ their o*n #a&ghters in +arriage Morga says that the D0 !hinese oars+en *ho +anne# 8oernor ;as+ariEas' s*i%t galley *ere &n#er pay an# ha# the speial %aor o% not .eing haine# to their .enhes Aor#ing to hi+ it *as oeto&sness o% the *ealth a.oar# that le# the+ to reolt an# $ill the goernor )&t the historian 8aspar #e San Ag&stin states that the reason %or the reolt *as the goernor's a.&sie lang&age an# his threatening the ro*ers )oth these a&thors' allegations +ay hae ontri.&te#- .&t +ore i+portant *as the %at that there *as no la* to o+pel these !hina+en to ro* in the galleys They ha# o+e to Manila to engage in o++ere or to *or$ in tra#es or to %ollo* pro%essions Still the ini#ent ontra#its the rep&tation %or en#&ring eerything *hih they hae ha# The Filipinos hae .een +&h +ore long=s&%%ering than the !hinese sine- in spite o% haing .een o.lige# to ro* on +ore than one oasion- they neer +&tinie#
It is #i%%i< to e<&se the +issionaries' #isregar# o% the la*s o% nations an# the &sages o% honora.le politis in their inter%erene in !a+.o#ia on the gro&n# that it *as to sprea# the Faith 5eligion ha# a .roa# %iel# a*aiting the+ in the Philippines *here +ore than nine=tenths o% the naties *ere in%i#els That een no* there are to .e %o&n# here so +any tri.es an# settle+ents o% non=!hristians ta$es a*ay +&h o% the prestige o% that religio&s ,eal *hih in the easy li%e in to*ns o% *ealth- li.eral an# %on# o% #isplay- gro*s lethargi Tr&th is that the anient atiity *as sarely %or the Faith alone- .ea&se the +issionaries ha# to go to islan#s rih in spies an# gol# tho&gh there *ere at han# Moha++e#ans an# 3e*s in Spain an# A%ria- In#ians .y the +illion in the A+erias- an# +ore +illions o% protestants- shis+atis an# heretis people#- an# still people- oer si<=seenths o% &rope All o%
these #o&.tless *o&l# hae aepte# the ight an# the tr&e religion i% the %riars- &n#er preteing o% Spain- there *as %ighting along the 5io 8ran#e *ith the people alle# the )&hahayenes Their general- aor#ing to Argensola- *as the ele.rate# Silonga- later #isting&ishe# %or +any #ee#s in rai#s on the )isayas an# a#/aent islan#s !hirino relates an ane#ote o% his oolness &n#er %ire one #&ring a tr&e %or a +arriage a+ong Min#anao "prinipalia" o&ng Spaniar#s o&t o% .raa#o %ire# at his %eet .&t he passe# on as i% &nonsio&s o% the .&llets
Argensola has presere# the na+e o% the Filipino *ho $ille# 5o#rig&e, #e Fig&eroa It *as G.al T*o #ays preio&sly he ha# gien a .an&et- slaying %or it a .ee% ani+al o% his o*n- an# then +a#e the pro+ise *hih he $ept- to #o a*ay *ith the lea#er o% the Spanish ina#ers A 3es&it *riter alls hi+ a traitor tho&gh the /&sti%iation %or that ter+ o% reproah is not apparent The )&hahayen people *ere in their o*n o&ntry- an# ha# neither o%%en#e# nor #elare# *ar &pon the Spaniar#s They ha# to #e%en# their ho+es against a po*er%&l ina#er- *ith s&perior %ores- +any o% *ho+ *ere- .y reason o% their ar+or- in&lnera.le so %ar as r&#e In#ians *ere onerne# et these sa+e In#ians *ere #e%enseless against the .alls %ro+ their +&s$ets )y the 3es&it's line o% reasoning- the heroi Spanish peasantry in their *ar %or in#epen#ene *o&l# hae .een a people een +ore treahero&s It *as not G.al's %a< that he *as not seen an#- as it *as *arti+e- it *o&l# hae .een the height o% %olly- in ie* o% the i++ense #isparity o% ar+s- to hae %irst alle# o&t to this preo&pie# opponent- an# then .een $ille# hi+sel%
The +&s$ets &se# .y the )&hayens *ere pro.a.ly so+e that ha# .elonge# to Fig&eroa's sol#iers *ho ha# #ie# in .attle Tho&gh the Philippines ha# lata$as an# other artillery- +&s$ets *ere &n$no*n &ntil the Spaniar#s a+e
That the Spaniar#s &se# the *or# "#isoer" ery arelessly +ay .e seen %ro+ an a#+iral's t&rning in a report o% his "#isoery" o% the Solo+on islan#s tho&gh he note# that the islan#s ha# .een #isoere# .e%ore
;eath has al*ays .een the %irst sign o% &ropean iili,ation on its intro#&tion in the Pai%i @ean 8o# grant that it +ay not .e the last- tho&gh to /&#ge .y statistis the iili,e# islan#s are losing their pop&lations at a terri.le rate Magellan hi+sel% ina&g&rate# his arrial in the Marianes islan#s .y .&rning +ore than %orty ho&ses- +any s+all ra%t an# seen people .ea&se one o% his ships ha# .een stolen et to the si+ple saages the at ha# nothing *rong in it .&t *as #one *ith the sa+e nat&ralness that iili,e# people h&nt- %ish- an# s&./&gate people that are *ea$ or ill=ar+e#
The Spanish historians o% the Philippines neer oerloo$ any opport&nity- .e it s&spiion or ai#ent- that +ay .e t*iste# into so+ething &n%aora.le to the Filipinos They see+ to %orget that in al+ost eery ase the reason %or the r&pt&re has .een so+e at o% those *ho *ere preten#ing to iili,e helpless peoples .y %ore o% ar+s an# at the ost o% their natie lan# 2hat *o&l# these sa+e *riters hae sai# i% the ri+es o++itte# .y the Spaniar#sthe Port&g&ese an# the ;&th in their olonies ha# .een o++itte# .y the islan#ers
The 3apanese *ere not in error *hen they s&spete# the Spanish an# Port&g&ese religio&s propagan#a to hae politial +oties .a$ o% the +issionary atiities 2itness the Mol&as *here Spanish +issionaries sere# as spies !a+.o#ia- *hih it *as so&ght to on&er &n#er loa$ o% onerting an# +any other nations- a+ong the+ the Filipinos- *here the sara+ent o% .aptis+ +a#e o% the inha.itants not only s&./ets o% the >ing o% Spain .&t also slaes o% the eno+en#eros- an# as *ell slaes o% the h&rhes an# onerts 2hat *o&l# 3apan hae .een no* ha# not its e+perors &proote# !atholiis+ A +issionary reor# o% 16D sets %orth that the >ing o% Spain ha# arrange# *ith ertain +e+.ers o% Philippine religio&s or#ers that- &n#er g&ise o% preahing the %aith an# +a$ing !hristians- they sho&l# *in oer the 3apanese an#
o.lige the+ to +a$e the+seles o% the Spanish party- an# %inally it tol# o% a plan *here.y the >ing o% Spain sho&l# .eo+e also >ing o% 3apan In orro.oration o% this +ay .e ite# the lai+s that 3apan %ell *ithin the Pope's #e+aration lines %or Spanish e
Still the Spaniar#s say that the Filipinos hae ontri.&te# nothing to Mother Spain- an# that it is the islan#s *hih o*e eerything It +ay .e so- .&t *hat a.o&t the enor+o&s s&+ o% gol# *hih *as ta$en %ro+ the islan#s in the early years o% Spanish r&leo% the tri.&tes ollete# .y the eno+en#eros- o% the nine +illion #ollars yearly ollete# to pay the +ilitary- e
allo% this is as nothing in o+parison *ith so +any apties gones&h a great n&+.er o% sol#iers $ille# in e
In the allege# itory o% Morga oer the ;&th ships- the latter %o&n# &pon the .o#ies o% %ie Spaniar#s- *ho lost their lies in that o+.at- little siler .o
In Morga's ti+e- the Philippines e
Morga's ie*s &pon the %ail&re o% 8oernor Pe#ro #e A&Ea's a+.itio&s e
Hernan#o #e los 5ios .la+es these Mol&an *ars %or the %at that at %irst the Philippines *ere a so&re o% e
an# +onopolies These *ars to gain the Mol&as- *hih soon *ere lost %oreer *ith the little that ha# .een so la.orio&sly o.taine#*ere a heay #rain &pon the Philippines They #epop&late# the o&ntry an# .an$r&pte# the treas&ry- *ith not the slightest o+pensating .ene%it Tr&e also is it that it *as to gain the Mol&as that Spain $ept the Philippines- the #esire %or the rih spie islan#s .eing one o% the +ost po*er%&l arg&+ents *hen- .ea&se o% their eing tho&ght o% *ith#ra*ing an# a.an#oning the+ A+ong the Filipinos *ho ai#e# the goern+ent *hen the Manila !hinese reolte#- Argensola says there *ere -000 Pa+pangans "ar+e# a%ter the *ay o% their lan#- *ith .o*s an# arro*s- short lanes- shiel#s- an# .roa# an# long #aggers" So+e Spanish *riters say that the 3apanese ol&nteers an# the Filipinos sho*e# the+seles r&el in sla&ghtering the !hinese re%&gees This +ay ery *ell hae .een so- onsi#ering the hatre# an# ranor then e
The loss o% t*o Me
The Filipino hie%s *ho at their o*n e
The !e.&ans #re* a pattern on the s$in .e%ore starting in to tatoo The )isayan &sage then *as the sa+e proe#&re that the 3apanese to#ay %ollo*
Anient tra#itions asri.e the origin o% the Malay Filipinos to the islan# o% Sa+atra These tra#itions *ere al+ost o+pletely lost as *ell as the +ythology an# the genealogies o% *hih the early historians tell- than$s to the ,eal o% the +issionaries in era#iating all national re+e+.ranes as heathen or i#olatro&s The st&#y o% ethnology is restring this so+e*hat
The hie%s &se# to *ear &pper gar+ents- &s&ally o% In#ian %ine ga&,e aor#ing to !olin- o% re# olor- a sha#e %or *hih they ha# the sa+e %on#ness that the 5o+ans ha# The .ar.aro&s tri.es in Min#anao still hae the sa+e taste
The "easy irt&e" o% the natie *o+en that historians note is not solely to the si+pliity *ith *hih they o.eye# their nat&ral instints .&t +&h +ore #&e to a religio&s .elie% o% *hih Father !hirino tells It *as that in the /o&rney a%ter #eath to ">al&alhatiran-" the a.o#e o% the spirit- there *as a #angero&s rier to ross that ha# no .ri#ge other than a ery narro* strip o% *oo# oer *hih a *o+an o&l# not pass &nless she ha# a h&s.an# or loer to e
Morga's re+ar$ that the Filipinos li$e %ish .etter *hen it is o++ening to t&rn .a# is another o% those pre/&#ies *hih Spaniar#s li$e all other nations- hae In +atters o% %oo#- eah is na&seate# *ith *hat he is &na&sto+e# to or #oesn't $no* is eata.le The nglish- %or e
has trie# to eat it $no*s that it is not onsi#ere# i+proe# *hen tainte# It neither is- nor o&ght to .e- #eaye# !olin says the anient Filipinos ha# ha# +instrels *ho ha# +e+ori,e# songs telling their genealogies an# o% the #ee#s asri.e# to their #eities These *ere hante# on oyages in a#ene *ith the ro*ing- or at %estials- or %&nerals- or *hereer there happene# to .e any onsi#era.le gatherings It is regretta.le that these hants hae not .een presere# as %ro+ the+ it *o&l# hae .een possi.le to learn +&h o% the Filipinos' past an# possi.ly o% the history o% neigh.oring islan#s
The annon %o&n#ry +entione# .y Morga as in the *alle# ity *as pro.a.ly on the site o% the Tagalog one *hih *as #estroye# .y %ire on the %irst o+ing o% the Spaniar#s That esta.lishe# in 17 *as in a+ayan- that is- Santa Ana no*- an# *as trans%erre# to the ol# site in 190 It ontin&e# to *or$ &ntil 170 Aor#ing to 8aspar San A&g&stin- the annon *hih the pre= Spanish Filipinos ast *ere "as great as those o% Malaga-" Spain's %o&n#ry The Filipino plant *as .&rne# *ith all that *as in it sae a #o,en large annons an# so+e s+aller piees *hih the Spanish ina#ers too$ .a$ *ith the+ to Panay The rest o% their artillery e&ip+ent ha# .een thro*n .y the Manilans- then Moros- into the sea *hen they reogni,e# their #e%eat
Malate- .etter Maalat- *as *here the Tagalog aristoray lie# a%ter they *ere #ispossesse# .y the Spaniar#s o% their ol# ho+es in *hat is no* the *alle# ity o% Manila A+ong the Malate resi#ents *ere the %a+ilies o% 5a/a Matan#a an# 5a/a Soli+an The +en ha# ario&s positions in Manila an# so+e *ere e+ploye# in goern+ent *or$ near.y "They *ere ery o&rteo&s an# *ell= +annere#-" says San Ag&stin "The *o+en *ere ery e
Morga's state+ent that there *as not a proine or to*n o% the Filipinos that resiste# onersion or #i# not *ant it +ay hae .een tr&e o% the iili,e# naties )&t the ontrary *as the %at a+ong the +o&ntain tri.es 2e hae the testi+ony o% seeral ;o+inian an# A&g&stinian +issionaries that it *as i+possi.le to go
any*here to +a$e onersions *itho&t other Filipinos along an# a g&ar# o% sol#iers "@ther*ise- says 8aspan #e San Ag&stin- there *o&l# hae .een no %r&it o% the angeli ;otrine gathere#- %or the in%i#els *ante# to $ill the Friars *ho a+e to preah to the+" An ea.a#i "The Spaniar#s-" says Morga- "*ere a&sto+e# to hol# as slaes s&h naties as they .o&ght an# others that they too$ in the %orays in the on&est or pai%iation o% the islan#s" !onse&ently in this respet the "pai%iers" intro#&e# no +oral i+proe+ent 2e een #o not $no* i% in their *ars the Filipinos &se# to +a$e slaes o% eah other- tho&gh that *o&l# not hae .een strange- %or the hronilers tell o% apties ret&rne# to their o*n people The pratie o% the So&thern pirates- al+ost proes this- altho&gh in these piratial *ars the Spaniar#s *ere the %irst aggressors an# gae the+ their harater
