Baysa, Nicole S.

Pedro Almazan of Ilocos recruited the

2015-08446

Ilocanos and persuaded them to fight

against

17th Century Revolts

the

oppressive

Spanish

authorities. The rebels declared Almazan

The arrival of the Spaniards in the Philippine

as King of Ilocos and killed many

Archipelago spurred different reactions from the

Spaniards including the friars and

Filipinos. While some embraced the ways of the

burned their churches. Unfortunately,

Spaniards, there were many Filipinos who

the Spaniards conspired with some

waged revolts against them due to their struggle

Ilocanos to betray Almazan and his men.

for rights and freedom.

As a result, Almazan was captured and

A. Personal grievances
:Revolts due to this cause were led
mostly by former

leaders

of

the

barangay such as the datus, maharlikas,

was hanged in the town plaza

B. Opposition to the practices imposed

and babaylans who desired to regain

by the Spaniards
Many Filipinos were

their power.

imposition of colonial policies such as

Examples:
Bulacan
Leader: Don Pedro Ladia
The revolt occured in Malolos and was

the bandala, tribute, and polo y servicio

Samar
Leader: Sumuroy
Sumuroy was a chieftain from Samar

headed by Ladia who claimed that he

who led a revolt against Governor

was a descendant of Raja Matanda. The

General Diego Fajardos order for

desire

ancient

Filipinos to work in the Cavite shipyard

baranganic political setup drove Ladia to

to build galleons and war vessels.

incite the people to resist Spanish rule.

Unfortunately, the Spaniards persuaded

The people believed in him and joined

the natives to lead the Spanish solders to

the revolt. Declaring himself as King of

Sumuroys hideout in the mountains

the tagalogs Ladia began the revolt.

which resulted in the u defeat Sumuory.

Through an informer, the Spaniards

The rebel leader was presented to the

intercepted the plan of attack and Ladia

alcalde mayor, who ordered Sumoroy to

ws caught and executed.

be executed.

Ilocos

Pampanga
Leader: Maniago

to

reestablish

Leader: Almazan

the

against

the

The Pampangenos revolted against the

Cagayan inviting them to fight against

government

forced

the Spaniards. The Pamapanguenos

labor. The Spanish officials order the

under Maniago did not join because they

Pampagenos to be recruited to cut down

had already resolved their conflict with

timber in the forested areas of the

the Spaniards.

enforcement

of

country and offer their services as

shipbuilders. Like Sumoroy, Francisco
Maniago

persuaded

the

people

of

Bacolor to revolt. To strengthen his

force, he sought the support of Juan
Macapagal, a former chief of Arayat and
a descendent of Lakandula. Macapagal
refused after he gave his loyalty to

To further extend his sovereignty,

Malong sent 6000 men to Pampanga
and 3000 men to Ilocos and Cagayn
leaving

2000

men

Pangasinan.

with

him

in

Unfortunately,the

government troops outmaneuvered his

army in Pangasinan and Malong was
caught in the mountains.

Spain. The uprising was put to a halt

when

Father

Andres

de

Salazar

Ilocos
Leader: Almazan

intervened. An amnesty or general

In 1661, Pedro Almazan of Ilocos,

pardon was granted to all rebels.

recruited the Ilocanos and persuaded

Pangasinan
Leader: Malong
Spurred by the Pampangueno rebellion,

them to revolt agains the oppressive

Spaniards.

The

rebels

proclaimed

the Filipinos in Pangasinan also revolted

Almazan as King of Ilocos and killed

against the Spanish government in

many Spaniards including the friars and

Lingayen.

were

set their churches on fire. Unfortunately,

attacked, including an alcade mayor.

the Spaniards connived with some

Upon

King,

Ilocanos to betray Almazan and his men.

Malong led his military leadrs to put the

As a result, Almazan was captured and

Many

declaring

Spaniards
himself

as

province under rebel control with his

defenses

at

Binalatongan.

the
He

capital

town

appointed

of

was hanged in the town plaza.

C. Religious motives:

Pedro

Many Filipinos opposed the Spaniards

Gumapos as count, Francisco Pacadua

attempt to convert them to Christianity

as judge, and Jacitno Macasiag, and

duty their desire to return to their

Melchor de Vera as army general.

ancient pagan worship. These revolts

Malong sent letters to the people of

Ilocos,

Zambales,

Pampanga

and

were marked by the assassination of

priests and the burning of churches.
Examples:

Bohol
Leader: Tamblot
In 1621, Tamblot, a babaylan, claimed

pople of Leyte revolt in defense of their

that a diwata appeared to him and told

Fr. Melchor de Vera, a Jesuit went to

him that if he is able to persuade the

Cebu

people to turn their backs against

authorities of the uprising. Alcade

Christianity, and revolt against the

Mayor

Spaniards, he will grant the people a life

operated by hunderds of Cebuanos and

of abundance, without the burden of

Spaniards. The rebels were offered

paying tribute to the government or dues

peace which they turned down.

old religion.

to the church. Around 2,000 Boholonas

The

responded to Tamblots call. They began

Jesuit

fathers,

the

cautioned

Alcarazo

sent

Spanish-Filipino

the
40

Spanish
vessesl,

forces

then

pursued them in the hills and conquered

the uprising at the time when most of

the

and

them. Bankaw, together with his son and

spiritual

Pagali perished in the battle. Soon his

administrators of the island, were in

second son was beheaded as a traitor.

Panay
Leader: Tapar
Tapar was a bayablan from Panay. In

Cebu celebrating the feast of the

beatification of St. Francis Xavier They
burned the villages being supervised by

1663, he dressed up as a woman and

the Jesuits, as well as their churches.

founded areligious cult by combining

They threw away all rosaries and

the native rituals with the Catholi

crosses they could find.

religious

rites.

The

News of the revolt reached Cebu. Don

persuaded

by

Tapar

Juan de Alcarazo, the alcade mayor, sent

movement. When Fr. Francisco de

an expedition to Bohol. In the midst of a

Mesa, the Spanish priest condemned the

heavy downpour, Tamblot and his

movement, Tapars men executed the

followers were defeated.

priest. The Spanish authorities, in turn,

to

join

were
his

suppressed the revolt with the execution

Leyte
Leader: Bankaw
The leader of this rebellion was led by
Bankaw, who was one of the first local

natives

of Tapar.
The

revolts

mentioned

were

generally

leaders who received Miguel Lopez de

characterized as a quick response to the different

Legazpi

been

facets of colonialism and the state that the local

previously converted to Christianity and

communities were facing during the colonial

became loyal to Spain. But in his old

period.

in

1565.

He

had

age, Bankaw and his son, Pagali, led the

Revolts in Luzon were more political in

that during the Spanish rule, the farther the

nature, particulary within the old Pampanga-

rebellions occurred from the Manila provinces,

Manila-Mindoro areas. On the other hand,

the less political and more religious-cultural they

revolts in Visays were more focused on the

became.

revival of their indigenous culture, as indicated

in the fact that the communities sough in the
ancient religion and culture the strength and
resources for the struggle against Spanish
political and cultural dominance.This implies