Early Resistance against Spain Although the Spain had conquered the Philippines, the liberty loving people never gave up their dream of independence. They were Christianized and Hispanized, but they retained their fighting spirit and their love for freedom. To prove their aspiration for freedom and to resist Spanish abuses, they rose in more than 100 revolts.
Causes of Revolts: 1. Our love for freedom and independence 2. Abuses of Spanish encomenderos 3. Tribute (residence tax) 4. Forced labor (polo) 5. Land gathering by the friars 6. Basi (wine) Monopoly 7. Religion

Filipino Revolts Against Spain
Revolt of Lakan Dula and Sulayman

(Tagalog Revolt 1574)It was the first Filipino revolt against the Spanish rule that was led by Lakan Dula of Tondo and his nephew, Raha Sulayman of Manila. This Revolt was caused by losing Sulayman and Lakan Dula's kingdom when they were defeated by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi to accept the Spanish sovereignty on the promise that they would be well-treated by the Spaniards and would still retain some of their royal and political powers. When Governor General Lavezaris replaced Legazpi, he revoked their exemptions from paying tribute and confiscated their lands. Angered by the broken Spanish promise, Lakan Dula and Sulayman rallied their warriors to overthrow Spanish rule. Lavezaris sent Father Geronimo Martin and Capt. Juan de Salcedo to convince Lakan Dula and Sulayman to abort the revolt and promised to grant their privileges.

Tondo Conspiracy of 1587-88
(Conspiracy of the Maharlikas)

The Tondo Conspiracy or the Conspiracy of the Maharlikas, of 1587-1588, was a secret conspiracy organized in Tondo to regain Filipino freedom from Spain. It was led by Agustin de Legazpi, nephew of Lakandula, his first cousin, Martin Panga and Magat Salamat, son of Lakan Dula. A Christian Japanese, Dionisio Fernandez, also joined the secret conspiracy. They made a secret agreement with a Japanese sea Captain, Juan Gayo, to furnish them with arms and Japanese warriors. For many months, the Filipino patriots held secret meetings. But before they could strike for freedom’s sake, the uprising failed when they were betrayed by Antonio Surabao (Susabau) of Calamianes, Palawan. The leading members of the libertarian movement were arrested, tried in court, and condemned. Some of them were executed and the others were exiled in Mexico and other islands in the Philippines.

Revolt of Magalat
(1596)

The Magalat Revolt was an uprising in 1596, led by Magalat, a rebel from Cagayan. He had been arrested in Manila for inciting rebellion against the Spanish. He was later released after some urging by some Dominican priests, and returned to Cagayan. Together with his brother, he urged the entire country to revolt. He was said to have committed atrocities against his fellow natives for refusing to rise up against the Spaniards and he soon controlled the countryside.
The Spanish Governor-General Francisco de Tello de Guzmán sent Pedro de Chaves from Manila with Spanish and Filipino colonial troops. They fought successfully against the rebels, and captured and executed several leaders under Magalat. Magalat himself was assassinated within his fortified headquarters by his own men

Religious Revolt of the Igorots
(1601)

The Igorots of Northern Luzon revolted in defense of their pagan gods. A Spanish expedition under the command of Captain Mateo de Aranda was sent to suppress them. An Augustinian missionary, Father Esteban Marin, the chaplain of the expedition, boldly entered the rebel camp and tried to persuade the Igorots to submit peacefully to Christianity and Spanish rule. The angry rebels, denying his words of peace, killed him. Captain Aranda then attacked and crushed them in a bloody fight.

Tamblot’s Religious Revolt
(1621-1622)

Toward the end of 1621, a religious revolt led by a native babaylan (priest) named Tamblot. The Jesuits first came to Bohol in 1596 and eventually governed the island and converted the Boholanos to the Catholic faith. This pagan priest incited the Boholanos to return to the faith of their ancestors, assuring them of the aid of their gods against the Spaniards. Rallying to his cause, they rose in arms, burned the churches, and attacked the garrison. Upon hearing of the uprising, Alcalde-Mayor Juan de Alcarazo of Cebu pushed a strong Filipino-Spanish force to Bohol. On the New Year’s Day of 1622, the government troops suppressed the revolt.

Bancao’s Religious Revolt
(1622)

While Tamblot’s revolt was raging in Bohol, another religious uprising flared in the neighboring islands of Limasawa. The leader was Bancao, the aged chief who had welcomed Legazpi in 1565. For his hospitality, he had received a letter of gratitude from King Philip II. But times had changed. Bancao, in his old age, discarded Christianity and returned to the pagan ways of his fathers. Aided by a native priest named Pagali, he persuaded the people of Limasawa and Leyte to rise against Spain. The main center of the resistance was Carigara, and from there the revolt lead throughout Leyte, Alcalde Mayor Juan de Alcarazo of Cebu quelled the movement.

Sumuroy Rebellion
(1649-50)

Like Sumuroy and his men, the rebels in this areas hated the system of polo (forced labor). Sumuroy and his men set up a free government in the mountains of Samar. It took the Spanish rulers about a year to defeat them. On the stormy night in July, 1650, government troops attacked Sumuroy’s camp. Sumuroy was caught alive and executed as a punishment for his revolt.

Maniago’s Revolt
(1660-1661)

The Pampangos revolted under the leadership of Francisco Maniago. The causes of this uprising were: (1) the natural love of the Pampangos for liberty (2) the forced labor in cutting timber and the construction of galleons, and (3) the failure of dishonest officials to pay for the rice commandeered from the people. Maniago established his war camp in Bacolor. He blockaded the rivers to stop the flow of commerce to Manila and dispatched letters to Pangasinan and the Ilocos soliciting their cooperation in the struggle for freedom. Unfortunately, his cause was weakened by his failure to obtain the support of Juan Makapagal, a powerful chief of Arayat and a descendant of Lakan Dula. Makapagal remained loyal to Spain.

Ilocano Revolt
(1661)
The Ilocanos revolted in January 1661. They proclaimed Pedro Almazan as their “king” and his oldest son as “crown prince” they began hostilities in the towns of San Nicolas, Bacarra, and Laoag, putting the Spaniards to the sword and burning the churhes. The revolt was short-lived because the government forces came and suppressed it. “King” Almazan and his associates were executed.
Tapar’s Religious Revolt
(The Panay Revolt 1663)
The Panay Revolt was a religious uprising in 1663 that involved Tapar, a native of the island of Panay, who wanted to establish a religious cult in the town of Oton. He attracted some followers with his stories about his frequent conversations with a demon. The Spanish priest, Fr. Francisco de Mesa, opposed the religious movement and was killed. Tapar and his men were killed in a bloody skirmish against Spanish and colonial foot soldier troops and their corpses were impaled on stakes.
Dagohoy’s Rebellion
(1744-1829)
In 1744 in what is now the province of Bohol, what is known today as the Dagohoy Revolt was undertaken by Francisco Dagohoy and his followers. This revolt is unique since it is the only revolt completely related to matters of religious customs, although unlike the Tamblot Uprising before it, it is not a complete religious rebellion. After a duel in which Dagohoy's brother died, the local parish priest refused to give his brother a proper Catholic burial, since dueling is a mortal sin. The refusal of the priest eventually led to the longest revolt ever held in Philippine history: 85 years. It also led to the establishment of a free Boholano government.
Twenty governors-general, from Juan Arrechederra to Mariano Ricafort Palacin y Abarca, failed to stop the revolt. Ricafort himself sent a force of 2,200 foot soldiers to Bohol, which was defeated by Dagohoy's followers. Another attack, also sent by Ricafort in 1828 and 1829, failed as well. Dagohoy died two years before the revolt ended, though, which led to the end of the revolt in 1829. Some 19,000 survivors were granted pardon and were eventually allowed to live in new Boholano villages: namely, the present-day towns of Balilihan, Batuan, Bilar (Vilar), Catigbian and Sevilla (Cabulao).
The Agrarian Uprising
(1745-46)
Between 1745 and 1746, the Filipino tenants, embittered by their agrarian bondage, rose in arms and fought for the ownership of their lands. Hostilities were particularly violent in the towns of Lian, Nasugbu, Taal, Hagonoy, Taguig, San Mateo, and Cavite. The revolts were suppressed, but the Filipino tenants never forget their agrarian grievances.
Silang’s Rebellion
(1762-64)
Diego Silang and his wife, Gabriela Silang led the famous revolt in Ilocos. This revolt happened during the British invasion. Diego Silang proclaimed the independence of his people and made Vigan the capital of Free Ilocos. The British invaders in Manila heard of Silang’s revolt. They tried to get help in fighting their enemy, the Spaniards. But Silang was killed by an assassin. The Spaniards paid his friend, Miguel Vicos, to shoot him in the back. Silang died in the arms of his wife Gabriela.
After his death, his wife continued the revolt. Because she won many battles, Gabriela Silang was called “Joan of Arc of Ilocos”. But Gabriela was defeated later. She was executed in Vigan. This ended the Silang revolt in the Ilocos.
The Palaris Revolt
(1762-1764)
Simultaneous with the Silang uprising was the revolt of Juan de la Cruz Palaris which began in Binalatongan, Pangasinan. This revolt spread to other Pangasinan towns. Palaris established an independent government with Binalatongan as the capital.
The collapse of Silang’s revolt foreshadowed the end of Palaris’ libertarian struggle. In 1764 Don Manuel de Arza, after crushing Silang’s revolt, marched against Palaris and broke the latter’s resistance. Palaris was taken alive and was executed.
Basi Revolt
(1807)
This was the most unusual revolt in the Philippine history. It was all about the love for homemade wine form the sugarcane called basi.
In 1786 the Spanish government took over the making and sale of wine. They banned people from making homemade wine. The people of Ilocos hated this order because they were now forced to buy the wine from government stores. Angered by the cruel government order, the Ilocanos rose in arms with their leader, Pedro Mateo, a valiant native of Piddig.
From Vigan, the Spanish alcalde mayor sent government troops to attack the rebels in Badoc, where they were entrenched. The fight was bloody and the Ilocanos routed the troops. Inspired by their victory, the patriots planned to attack Vigan. But before they could do it, they encountered a stronger government army in San Ildefonso. This time they were defeated and their revolt was crushed. The survivors were taken to Vigan where they were executed.
The Religious Revolt of Hermano Pule
(1840-41)
The first religious revolt of the Tagalogs was led by Apolinario de la Cruz, better known as Hermano Pule. Born of pious parents in Barrio Pandak, Lukban, Tayabas (now Quezon). This Tagalog religious crusader dreamed of becoming a minister of God. He went to Manila to enter a religious order, but was denied admittance because he was a native. Undaunted, he worked at the Hospital of San Juan de Dios. He acquired his religious education by reading the Bible and listening to the church sermon.
In 1840 he returned to Lukban and founded the Confradia de San Jose (Confraternity of St. Joseph). They had their own rituals, prayers and leaders specially suited for Filipinos, which was banned by both civil and ecclesiastical authorities. Against all official opposition, he continued his religious activities and won many followers. The Spanish official sent government troops to break up the group. The government troops attacked their camp and killed many followers, including helpless old folks, women, and children. Hermano Pule captured and executed in the town of Tayabas.
Why the Revolts Failed?
The early revolts by the Filipinos against the Spanish rule failed because of two reasons: 1. The Filipinos were not united. Instead of helping each other to oust the Spaniards, the Filipinos fought each other. For example, the Tagalogs helped Spaniards stop a revolt in Pampanga. In retaliation, Pampanguenos helped the Spaniards when the Tagalogs revolted. So, the Spaniards used the Filipinos lack of unity to continue oppressing them. This was the policy of divide et impers (divide and rule). 2. There were no national leaders who united the people. The leaders of these revolts had influence only in a small area-some towns, a few provinces, or some islands. There were no Gom-Bur-Za, Rizal, Bonifacio, or Aguinaldo then. These national leaders only came in the 19th century.
Results of the Filipino Revolts
All the revolts from Lakan Dula to Hermano Pule failed for two reasons: (1) absence of nationalism and (2) lack of national leaders. Prior to 1872, the spirit of nationalism did not exist among the Filipino people. Their leaders were leaders of tribal revolts – not champions of national revolution.
The early revolts, notwithstanding their failures, have their due place in history. They proved that the Filipinos then had their racial ideal of freedom and that in the name of liberty they were willing to fight and die. Moreover, the failures of the early revolts taught them a good lesson – that only by a united stand as one solid nation could they expect to succeed in realizing their dream of independence.