Volume VII: 1588–1591
This volume
covers four years. Natives discovered conspiring against the Spaniards were
caught and punished. Trade between Nueva España (Mexico) and China is
beginning, and is affecting the Philippines. Many Chinese immigrated here. There
is conflict between the religious and government authorities regarding tax
collection.
The
Jesuit Sanchez went to Spain as envoy for reforms demanded by the people. He
prepared a document on the social, economic, and religious conditions of the
colony. It contains statistics on the population, number of troops, encomiendas, convents, government
officials, Chinese immigrants and their businesses, things for sale, imported,
and exported. The governor de Vera asks the King to supply more weapons for
protection and defence for ships and on land, due to the capture of the ship Santa Ana by the English pirate Thomas
Candish.
As
a result of Sanchez's trip, the King has decided on many reforms to be
implemented. A new governor, Gomez Dasmariñas, was appointed to fulfil the
King's instructions. Aid was granted for more churches and hospitals. Trade
with Mexico must be restricted to the Philippines, and only Christian Chinese
must be allowed here. Agriculturists were sent from Spain to teach farming,
along with cattle and horses to breed. Scattered natives must be gathered in
settlements and taught Christianity. Bishop Salazar was appointed official
protector of the natives. More reforms for the rights of natives were
implemented.
The
Bishop Salazar writes to the King about the Spaniards' abuse to the 'Indians'
(the term for natives). He recommends sending religious people who will protect
the natives, and elect new officials who are not corrupt. The bishop believes
the calamities that Spaniards suffer are God's revenge on their ill treatment
of the natives.
De
Vera writes to the King to ask for more reinforcements and supplies. The
soldiers die fast and the environment is unhealthy, and Manila's hospital has
no doctor. The fort in Manila is being rebuilt strongly due to damage from
earthquakes. The Dominicans are converting many Chinese to Christianity. Some
Borneans killed three Spaniards and were punished. They suspect that this is
planned together by Filipinos, Borneans, and other peoples who want to drive
out the Spaniards.
The
royal fiscal Gaspar de Ayala writes to the King regarding business matters. Chinese
trade is slow due to wars and epidemics in China. Other rebels in Cebu and
Cagayan were discovered, and troops were sent. The taxes of the natives
increased because of the fort building in Manila. He writes about the bishop
offending the Augustinians for sending Dominicans into their field among the
Chinese. The soldiers sent to Cagayan has returned unsuccessful, they only
destroyed crops which will only incite rebels to revenge.
The
Franciscan missionary Juan de Plasencia writes extensively about the culture of
the Tagalogs: social organization, property, inheritance, marriage customs, burial
practices, and religious beliefs. The chief god is Bathala, and they engage in
pagan worship. They believe in omens and divination. There are varied classes
of sorcerers and witches.
Bishop
Salazar reports the increase of the Chinese population, their relations with
the Spaniards, the establishment of the Parián or Chinese community, and their
conversion. Salazar admires the quality of Chinese goods and the skill of their
craftsmen, some who learn from Spaniards but usually make better products. An
example mentioned is Juan de Vera, a bookbinder who learned from a Mexican.
Some of their popular products are shoes, clothes, religious art, and
sculptures.
Documents
about tax collection mention the heavy taxes imposed on the natives. Some
natives were forced to pay, and the Bishop recommends lower taxes and pay back
damages to the natives.
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