The Coming of The West
The Coming of The West
The Coming of The West
Timeline:
1521, March 16- A Spanish Expedition, sailing across the pacific ocean from
east to west, and led by the Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan lands on
Homonhon Island east of Samar with three small ships. Magellan calls the
place San Lazaro island since March 16 is Saint Lazarus day.
1521, Mar. 28- Directing his ships southwestward, Magellan reaches
Limasawa Island, south of Leyte. It is ruled by Rajah Kulambo who becomes
Magellans friend.
1521, Mar.29- To seal the friendship between Magellan and Rajah Kulambo,
they solemnize a blood compact in Philippine history
1521, Mar. 31- The first mass on Philippine soil is celebrated on
Limasawa/Masao.
1521, Apr. 7- After sailing to Cebu Island, Magellan enters a new blood
compact with the local chieftain, Rajah Humabon.
1521, Apr. 27- Magellan dies in a battle with Lapu-lapu, chieftain of Mactan,
an island near Cebu.
1525- Spain sends an expedition under Juan Garcia Jofre de Loaysa to the
Philippines. The expedition expects to find gold and spices but fails to do so.
Loaysa and many members of his crew die in the Philippines.
1526- Spain sends a third expedition to the Philippines under the leadership
of Juan Cabot. This expedition never reaches the archipelago as three years
are wasted in South America, trying to find a new route to the East.
1527- The fourth expedition sent by Spain to the country is under the
command of Alvaro de Saavedra. It is the first Spanish expedition starting
from Mexico. It reaches Mindanao but on the way to Cebu Saavedras ship is
carried by strong winds to the Moluccas
1529- Saavedras expedition returs to Spain without Saavedra who died on
the way home.
1536- The Loaysa expedition returns to Spain. One of its survivors is Andres
de Urdaneta, its chronicler.
1543, Feb.2- The Leader of the most successful Spanish expedition after
Magellan, Ruy Lopez de Villalobos arrives in the archipelago. He named the
Islands the Philippines in honor of the son of King Charles I, Philip II of Spain.
Villalobos reaches Sarangani Island of the Eastern coast on Mindanao and
settles there for 8 months. But Because of the scarcity of food, the expedition
is forced to leave the place and sails to the Moluccas where Villalobos dies.
1565, Feb. 13- with four ships and 380 men, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived
in the Philippines.
The Aims of Spanish Colonization
1. God
2. Gold
3. Glory
The Start of Colonization
Miguel Lopez de Legaspi
1. Reduccion- the natives are required to transfer near the center or cabesera
so that the Spaniard could easily monitor their actions and control of them
2. Tribute- all male 19-60 years old are obliged to pay 8 reales as an annual tax.
In 1884 the tribute was replaced by cedula personal , its a taxation based on
the annual income of the natives.
3. Polo Y Servicios- all male 16-60 years old are required to render 40 days of
service to the government.
4. Bandala- The compulsory sale of the product of the natives to the Spaniards
5. Galleon Trade- the trading route which travels to Manila to Acapulco in
Mexico.