History of the Philippine Islands, vols 1 and 2 | Page 2

products of the Philippines, render possible
and desirable the copious annotations of this and the succeeding
volume. These annotations are contributed in part by those of Lord
Stanley's translation of Morga, and those of Rizal's reprint, while the
Recopilación de leyes de Indias furnishes a considerable number of
laws.
The book is preceded by the usual licenses and authorizations, followed
by the author's dedication and introduction. In the latter he declares his
purpose in writing his book to be that "the deeds achieved by our
Spaniards in the discovery, conquest, and conversion of the Filipinas
Islands--as well as various fortunes that they have had from time to
time in the great kingdoms and among the pagan peoples surrounding
the islands" may be known. The first seven chapters of the book treat of
"discoveries, conquests, and other events ... until the death of Don
Pedro de Acuña." The eighth chapter treats of the natives, government,
conversion, and other details.
In rapid survey the author passes the line of demarcation of Alexander
VI, and the voyages of Magalhães and Elcano, Loaisa, Villalobos, and
others, down to the expedition of Legazpi. The salient points of this
expedition are briefly outlined, his peaceful reception by Tupas and the
natives, but their later hostility, because the Spaniards "seized their
provisions," their defeat, the Spaniards' first settlement in Sebu, and the
despatching of the advice-boat to Nueva España to discover the return
passage, and inform the viceroy of the success of the expedition. From
Sebu the conquest and settlement is extended to other islands, and the
Spanish capital is finally moved to Manila. Events come rapidly. The
conquest proceeds "by force of arms or by the efforts of the religious
who have sown the good seeds of the gospel." Land is allotted to the
conquerors, and towns are gradually founded, and the amount of the
natives' tribute is fixed.

At Legazpi's death Guido de Lavezaris assumes his responsibilities by
virtue of a royal despatch among Legazpi's papers, and continues the
latter's plans. The pirate Limahon is defeated after having slain Martin
de Goiti. Trade with China is established "and as a consequence has
been growing ever since." The two towns of Betis and Lubao allotted
by Lavezaris to himself are taken from him later by order of his
successor, Dr. Francisco de Sande, but are restored to him by express
order of the king, together with the office of master-of-camp.
Succeeding Lavezaris in 1575, Dr. Francisco de Sande continues "the
pacification of the islands .... especially that of the province of
Camarines." The town of Nueva Cáceres is founded, and Sande's
partially effective campaign to Borneo, and its offshoot--that of
Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa to Mindanao--undertaken. The "San
Juanillo" is despatched to Nueva España, "but it was lost at sea and
never heard of again." Sande is relieved of his governorship by
Gonzalo Ronquillo de Pefialosa, and after his residencia returns "to
Nueva España as auditor of Mexico."
Chapter III
details the events of Gonzalo Ronquillo de Pefialosa's administration
and the interim of government of Diego Ronquillo. Events, with the
greater stability constantly given the islands, follow more quickly.
Gonzalo de Peñalosa, by an agreement with the king, is to take six
hundred colonists--married and single--to the islands, in return for
which he is to be governor for life. He establishes the town of Arevalo
in Panay, builds the Chinese Parián, endeavors, although
unsuccessfully, to discover a return passage to Nueva España, by the
South Sea, and despatches "a ship to Peru with merchandise to trade for
certain goods which he said that the Filipinas needed." He imposes the
two per cent export duty on goods to Nueva España, and the three per
cent duty on Chinese merchandise, and "although he was censured for
having done this without his Majesty's orders" they "remained in force,
and continued to be imposed thenceforward." The first expedition in
aid of Tidore is sent for the conquest of the island of Ternate, but
proves a failure. Cagayan is first pacified, and the town of Nueva
Cáceres founded. Gabriel de Rivera, after an expedition to Borneo, is
sent to Spain to consult the best interests of the islands. Domingo de

Salazar receives his appointment as bishop, and is accompanied to the
islands by Antonio Sedeño and Alonso Sanchez, the first Jesuits in the
islands. In 1583 Gonzalo de Peñalosa dies, and is succeeded by his
kinsman Diego Ronquillo. Shortly after occurs Manila's first disastrous
fire, but the city is rebuilt, although with difficulty. In consequence of
Rivera's trip to Spain, the royal Audiencia of Manila is established with
Santiago de Vera as its president and governor of the islands.
In the fourth chapter are related the events of Santiago de Vera's
administration, and the suppression of the Audiencia. Vera reaches the
islands in