Deaths of the Early Spanish Conquistadores of Luzon and Batangas

The three main characters of the initial Spanish exploration and subsequent conquest of Luzon – including Batangas – in 1570 did not even survive the decade. Miguel López de Legaspi, the first Hispanic governor of the country, lasted just over a year from the time he first arrived in Luzon in 1571 to claim it on behalf of Felipe II, the King of Spain.

In that year, he had given the title of city to the colony of Manila, sent Spanish forces after native communities that were unprepared to accept the Spaniards’ terms of friendship and distributed natives and lands in the form of repartimientos and encomiendas to fellow conquistadores, including lands in the Bonbon area or what is now part of present-day Batangas.

He died suddenly and without apparent illness on the 20^th of August 1572. He had gotten up that same morning looking in good health as described by the Chief Notary, Hernando Riquel. In de Legaspi’s cabinet was found a document designating Guido de Lavezaris, his treasurer, as successor in the event of his death.¹

De Lavezaris’ term would last no more than three years, after which he would be replaced by Dr. Francisco de Sande in 1575. The three years of his governorship were notable for the further distribution of lands in the form of repartimientos and encomiendas; the continuous baptism of natives into the Catholic faith; and the exploration of Camarines and Ylocos (Ilocos).

It was also he who asked Felipe II to “have some religious of the society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and friars of the Order of St. Francis (the Franciscans)” sent to the Philippines.²

There were those among the Agustinian Order (who had arrived in the Philippines with de Legaspi in 1565), however, who felt that the manner with which Spanish forces had conquered lands and extracted tributes were unjust and went against Felipe II’s wishes; and it was because of these that de Lavezaris’ term was short-lived.

For instance, the priest Martin de Rada described the conditions:

Meanwhile, Martin de Goite, Bonbon’s first encomendero and leader of the 1570 exploratory expedition to Luzon, was killed two years after de Legaspi died during a raid of Manila by the Chinese pirate Limahon (Limahong in some narratives). The pirate was wanted in China and was pursued by soldiers of the Emperor of China to Luzon.

In September of 1574, he attacked Manila with a fleet consisting of sixty-two large ships. Although Limahon himself was believed to have stayed on board his flagship, seven hundred of his men went ashore to sack the city. De Goite was sick and in bed when the attack commenced.

The Chinese, assisted by a spy, were initially headed for the house of the governor (de Lavezaris). They changed their course and headed for de Goite’s house, instead, when his wife was spotted looking out her window cursing at them in Spanish as they approached. De Goite was still able to put on a suit of mail (armour) and grab a sword, but was killed by the firebombs that the Chinese had hurled at the house.

The pirates were eventually repulsed when the Spaniards, recovering from the shock of the attack, got their wits back. After a day’s rest off the coast of Cavite, the pirates returned; but by this time, Juan de Salcedo, the final major character in the early exploration of Luzon and Batangas, had arrived from Ylocos (where he had founded a settlement after having been awarded an encomienda) to help with the fortification of the city.

The second attack failed as well, after which Limahon and his fellow pirates retreated to found a settlement in Pangasinan. De Salcedo, who in 1570 earned the distinction of being the first Spaniard to explore the lake of Bonbon (Taal), was promoted to the position of master-of-camp (the equivalent of colonel) after de Goite’s death and ordered by de Lavezaris to pursue the pirates.

The Spaniards caught the pirates by surprise initially and were able to capture or destroy their ships. Later, they would lay siege to the settlement, all the while killing or capturing many of their enemies. Limahon, however, evaded capture.

In 1576, de Salcedo returned to Villa Fernandina (Vigan), the settlement in Ylocos he had founded, to collect tribute from the natives of the encomienda which he had been awarded. While there, he caught an illness of the sort “that kills old and young.” He died shortly after catching the illness, having survived a poison arrow in Bonbon 1570 but finding the illness more than he could handle.

He was no more than 27 at the time of his death, upon which it was his will that his possessions be divided among the natives who belonged to his encomienda.⁴