KASPIL2 Research Paper

Andres Malong, King of the Pangasinan Revolts

By: Revan Manzano

Andres Malong was the maestro-de-campo (master of camp) of Pangasinan during the
1600’s and was also known as the leader of a bloody revolt against the Spaniards that lasted from
1660-1661 in Pangasinan. He originally hailed from Binalatongan, now San Carlos City,
Pangasinan. Malong is also as the self-proclaimed “King of Pangasinan” (fil Hari ng Pangasinan).

Early life before the revolt

Not much is recorded about Malong’s childhood, hence information about his birthdate and
family members remain obscure with no credible evidence supporting these information.
However, there are many accounts that testified to his role as being Binalatongan’s maestro-de-
campo before the revolt. Malong had also aided the Spaniards with governing different towns and
Pangasinan. His position as maestro-de-campo also gave him the privilege to be trained under the
Spaniard soldiers. According to an Augustinian account, he was reported to be very intelligent and
clever. Furthermore, he also fell under the classification of “timawa” in the archaic hierarchy. Not
much has been recorded about his childhood since the prime of his life had been during circa
1600’s.

Signs and Causes of revolution

Even as maestro-de-campo, Malong had already envisioned a revolution in Pangasinan,
freeing the province from the clutches of the Spaniards. Malong had been planting the ideas of
revolution in the heads of the Pangasinan citizens. This vision of revolution had been intensified
by news of a revolt in Pampanga, led by Francisco Maniago, another maestro-de-campo.
According to many accounts, despite being a person who thrives for liberation and revolution,
Malong was whole-heartedly religious and ordered the Pangasinenses to strictly attend mass and
pray.

Although there were many identified reasons why the Pangasinense wanted revolution, the
prevalent reason why revolution was heavily wanted was the maltreatment of Filipino laborers
included in the polo y servicio by the Spaniards. More than a thousand natives of Pangasinan,
Ilocos, Cagayan, and Bataan were employed to render labor by cutting timber for ships. Salaries of
the laborers were not given despite having worked for many months, which caused the agitation of
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the natives against the Spaniards. However, Malong had a different perspective when it came to
revolution. Malong’s revolt only targeted the Spaniard officials, not the priests.

Early Revolution
Malong’s first campaign for revolution occurred in Malangue (Malunguey according to
other accounts). By the time Malong attempted to stir the people of Malangue into revolution,
news of another failed revolution that occurred in Pampanga under the leadership of Maniago
(who had already surrendered at the time) had already reached Spanish officials. Taking
precautionary measures, Governor Francisco Amaya quickly sent reinforcements to Malong’s area
in order to aid in quelling possible revolts by the natives. Since the Spanish officials have been
expecting another spark of revolution, the Spanish troops caught Malong’s forces off guard and
overpowered them. With this failed attempt, Malong was willing to take other measures.

Bloodbath in Lingayen and Dagupan

After the last failed attempt to stir a revolution, it took Malong two months before he could
prepare another course of action. On December 16, 1660, Malong attacked the domicile of Nicolas
de Campos, killing him and his family, and proceeded to light their house on fire thereafter. The
alcalde mayor of Lingayen, Francisco Gomez Pulido, was also killed by Malong’s troops as he
was trying to flee with his family through Lingayen Gulf. His family’s death served as a symbol
for rebellion against the Spaniards. The only survivors of Pulido’s family were his little daughter
who was brought along by Malong, and the family’s newborn that was taken care of by a servant
who successfully escaped the bloodbath. Shortly after Malong’s movement in Lingayen, many
eager people joined him in his plan for liberation. After he was finished with Lingayen, he set his
sights on Dagupan- another major component city of Pangasinan. However, to Malong’s dismay,
Dagupan refused to join the revolt. With this surprising rejection, Malong attacked the city and set
many establishments on fire. With two major towns of Pangasinan ravaged by revolution, Malong
proclaimed himself “King of Pangasinan”.

Overwhelmed with the feeling of triumph, Malong celebrated with his troops, overlooking
the fact that Juan Camacho, a frayle living in a convent that was burnt down in Dagupan, was left
alive and served as a key to countering Malong’s troops. While Malong was busy celebrating and
organizing his continually growing army of natives, the Spanish were already devising a plan to
bring down Malong’s forces. Malong sent two thirds of his forces to Ilocos and Pampanga,
diminishing his army greatly in Pangasinan. The Spanish also intercepted Malong’s letter to
Maniago about the revolution. This gave the Spanish officials more hints on where revolutions
might take place. With the warfare expertise of Governor De Lara, a plan that would lead to
Malong’s downfall was materialized.

Counter Attack on Pangasinan

With most of Malong’s army busy fighting off Spanish officials in Ilocos and Pampanga
(The revolts in these areas were very successful despite large casualties, furthermore, these revolts
were executed by Malong’s allied troops but Malong was not physically in these areas), Malong’s
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army was vulnerable in their homeland. Governor de Lara planned to attack Malong’s troops
through all sides of the Pangasinan province. January 6, 1661 was the day Malong’s troops were
not expecting a counter attack from all sides of Lingayen. With the expertise of the generals
overseeing the counter attack –namely General Felipe Ugalde, Captains Cristobal Romero, Juan
Diaz Yanez, Nicolas Blanco, and Lorenzo Coronado, the Spanish forces successfully drove
Malong’s army out of Lingayen, forcing Malong’s forces to return to Binalatongan.

The 3 mistakes of Andres Malong

Historians believe that the possible causes of the downfall of Malong can be summarized
into three (3) mistakes. These three summarized acts are often used in order for the reader to
understand the key points to Malong’s downfall.
1. The first mistake was Malong’s carelessness for leaving Juan Camacho, the frayle, alive.
Juan Camacho served as an informant and aided the Spanish officials with forcing
Malong’s forces out of Lingayen, making him the key to defeating Malong’s forces staying
in Lingayen.
2. Malong’s second mistake was his act of sending out two thirds of his forces to Ilocos and
Pampanga. Although these forces returned from their mission successfully, they had
significantly decreased in number due to casualties that were experienced in the said
revolts, especially in the battle that took place in Pampanga.
3. Malong’s last mistake involved his image with the people. Because of his sheer force and
seemingly tyrannical behavior with achieving his goals to liberate Pangasinan, there were
many people who treated him as no different than the Spanish tyrants.

The End of Malong’s Revolt

When the remaining troops of Malong escaped Lingayen, Malong ordered the bridge
connecting Lingayen to their path to be burned down as they went back to Binalatongan. The
Spaniards spared the natives who were left fighting in Lingayen. Although the bridge connecting
to Binalatongan was destroyed, this did not stop the Spaniards from crossing the river. The troops
crossed the neck deep water as they raised their shields to properly accommodate General
Cristobal de Santa Cruz.

Malong had ordered to set Binalatongan on fire since (1) Binalatongan was already a
poverty stricken area and there would be no difference if it would be set on fire, (2) the Spanish
forces might be able to track them down. A final stand off occurred in Binalatongan. More than
500 natives of Malong’s army were killed while the very minuscule number of Malong’s forces
successfully hid in the jungle. Shortly thereafter, Malong’s troops surrendered and pointed out that
Malong was hiding in a hut along with a 10-year old female captive, daughter of Francisco Pulido,
whom Malong wanted to wed in the far future. Malong was captured by the Spaniards on February
6, 1661 and was held captive in Binalatongan. Andres Malong was shot in 1661 (exact date in
1661 is unknown), according to many Dominican friars. The Dominican friars had also mentioned
that he died a good Catholic, hinting that despite his acts in the bloody revolution, he never
renounced his faith. This served as the end of the Pangasinan revolts.
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Malong’s Legacy
After being the site where the “King of Pangasinan” was at his prime, the city of Lingayen
soon flourished, along with Dagupan. These two cities have remained one of the prime cities of
Pngasinan even in the present day, with Lingayen as the capital. Binalatongan (San Carlos)
remained stagnant but eventually flourished, but not as much as the Lingayen and Dagupan.

Present day San Carlos City. Courtesy of San Carlos City local government tourism

Andres Malong’s Revolt was also placed as a mural in Corregidor’s Filipino Heroes
memorial, where he is considered as one of the few brave souls who dared go against the
tyrannical Spaniards.

Andres Malong's mural in the Filipino Heroes Memorial

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Bibliography
Blair, E.H. & Robertson, J. The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898. 1903

Cortez, R.M., “Pangasinan 1572-1800,” Quezon City: New Day Publishers, 1990

Deocares, Corazon C. “The History of Pangasinan”. (Undergraduate Thesis, Pangasinan State

University (Bayambang Campus), 2009), 9-11.

Simeon R. (n.d.). “Andres Malong: Worthy of Being the King of Pangasinan. A response towards
the misleading story of the Spaniards.” (Dissertation). Retrieved from Academia Database
http://www.academia.edu/13834699/Andres_Malong_Worthy_of_Being_the_King_of_Pangasina
n

Andres Malong, 1660. ‘Ang Hari Ng Pangasinan’. (n.d.) Retrieved from Mga Kasaysayan ng
PINAS: Pundar Pang-Pilipino database http://www.elaput.org/chrmlong.htm

History of Pangasinan. (n.d.) Retrieved from The Official Website of the Province of Pangasinan
and its People http://pangasinan.gov.ph/the-province/history/
KASPIL2 Research Paper