The Spanish

Paragua
 Before the coming of
Conquistadors
The territories of the province were persistently
under the influence of Islamized people from Borneo
and the Sulu Archipelago. A glimpse of Tagbanua,
Palaw’an, and Molbog society reveals Muslim
dominance and influence in material culture and
social organization. This is probably because of the
trading industry in southern and central Palawan.
The difficulty in colonizing Palawan is because of it is
under the Muslim influence since 1200.
 The Moro Raiders
As early as 1602, a squadron of Muslim vessels
attacked Cuyo and its neighboring Islands. The
raiders injured, killed and kidnapped about 700
persons. The following years, Muslims from
Maguindanao collected tribute and captured more
natives. (Cesar Adib Majul, UP Press, 1973)
 The Coming of
Conquistadors
After the death of Magellan on April 27,
1521. In June /July 1521, when Antonio Pigafetta
and the rest of the troop of Magellan during its
search for provision and voyage back to Spain,
found an Island and the called it “PULAOAN”.
They called it "la terra de missione" ("the land
of promise") due to the fact that they were
almost starving by the time they reached the
island.
 The Coming of
Pigafetta:
Conquistadors
“Those people of
Pulaoan go naked as do
the others almost all of
them cultivate their
fields. They have
blowpipes with thick
wooden arrows more
than 1 palm long, tipped
with points and are
 The Coming of
Conquistadors
The local datu made peace with the expedition
through a blood compact. The ships' crews were
welcomed to the island with rice cooked in bamboo
tubes, rice wine, bananas, pigs, goats, chickens,
coconuts, sugarcane, and other supplies.
Pigafetta described the inhabitants as being
farmers. Their primary weapons were blowguns with
iron tips that could both shoot thick wooden or
bamboo darts (some poisoned) and function as
spears once their ammunition were exhausted.
Pigafetta also described the islanders as keeping
roosters for cockfighting.
 The Coming of
Conquistadors
The northern calamians Island of Palawan
was under the Spanish authority and later
declared as a separate province from the mainland
of Palawan.

In 1570’s, the Spanish Government were

collecting tribute in the Calamianes and the Cuyo
Islands.
And in 1590’s, Cuyo had one thousand and
Calamianes had three thousand tribute payers
under the Encomienderos of Panay and Mindoro.
 The Coming of
In
Conquistadors
1622, Governor-General Alfonso Fajardo
commissioned the Count of Agustinian
missionaries to colonize Palawan.
One expeditionary group from Cebu reached
Cuyo, bringing with them it five Agustinian
Recollect missionaries wih Rev. Fr. Juan de Santo
Tomas as their superior. Another arrived in Taytay.
With this, they spread Christianity to Agutaya then
to Calamianes, and swerved southward to
Barbacan and Aborlan.
 The Coming of
Conquistadors
The Agustinian Recollects, without fear and
armed with holy strength, planted the cross in
Cuyo in 1622. They reported a warm welcome
from the natives excluding the Babaylan (native
priest), and their policy of Reduccion.
In 1632, Fray Juan de San Jose, prior to Cuyo
was kidnapped by Muslims. He was hostage until a
ransom of two thousand pesos was paid. They
brought with them many natives as captives. And
in 1637, Taga of Sultan Kudarat with a force of
Four Joangas ransacked the church of Cuyo.
The Coming of
Conquistadors
 The Coming of
Conquistadors
During the spread of Christianity in the
Northern part of Palawan. Still the Southern
Palawan was controlled by the Muslims under the
Sultan of Mindanao and Sulu.

In 17th century, another Spanish friars sent

out missionaries in Cuyo, Agutaya, Taytay and
Cagayancillo but they ended up meeting from the
Moro community who were occupying the place.
 The Coming of
Conquistadors
Later before 18 century, Spain
th
began
building churches that are enclosed by garrisons
for protection against Moro raids in the town of
Cuyo, Taytay, Linapacan and Balabac. In 1749, the
Sultanate of Brunei surrendered southern Palawan
to Spain.
 Spanish Motives Towards
Centralization
By the beginning of the 19th century, a
military force consisted of Compania de Infanteria
Española Y Pampanga, based at the Fort of Sta.
Isabel in Taytay. But aside from the Muslims raids,
Spanish authorities in the province has an anxiety
and alarm about the people of Palawan.
 Spanish Motives Towards
Centralization
1. About 2/3 of the natives still vigorously
observe Pre-Hispanic rituals
- Fray Pedro Gilbert De Santa Ellalia
discovered in the year 1805 that there are large
number of inhabitants has been gathering in the
mountains to pay homage to a certain Virgen del
Monte.
The French naturalist Alfred Marche noted
that the natives of Cuyo periodically scaled Mt.
Caimana, carrying stones to deposit at the top.
 Spanish Motives Towards
Centralization
2. Cuyunon life rituals have continued, but
with Christian names
- The rice cycle and various fiestas are
examples (J. Fernandez 90: Prudente 977)
- In the evening of Black Saturday, people
remain awake while performing Erekay an
Indigenous oratorical form. Cilia- A novena for
Saint Cecilia, but it may also be a supplication to
the anitos asking for good harvest and a cure for
sickness.
 Spanish Motives Towards
Centralization
3. Transformation of the Mangalok
- from being a respected Babaylan to a feared
like creature, so as to define historical change in the
realm of cultural consciousness.
 Gobierno Political de
Paragua
The first two centuries of Colonization in
Palawan was singularly characterized by the
dominance of the Religion in the affairs of the
government.

This was because the main function of the Civil

Government was to collect tribute. The situation was
not really conducive to good government because the
missionaries were to exercise tremendous powers
over the inhabitants. It was not until 1871 when the
central government was recognized wherein the
 Gobierno Political de
Paragua
In 1818, the entire island of Palawan was
called Paragua and Taytay was be the capital.
In 1851, Governor-General Fernando
Norzagaray ordered the division of Palawan into
two Politico-Military provinces.

1. Castilla - the northern island of Palawan

composed of Calamaines and the capital was
Taytay.
2. Asturias - the southern island of Palawan and
 Gobierno Political de
Paragua
In April 16, 1861, a task force was sent to
explore a place in Paragua to establish a military
post. The expedition was composed of two
Lieutenants of the navy, a Commander of the
Artillery and a Captain of the Engineers.

In 1871, Palawan and Balabac became one of

the four Departments. The justification was to
strengthen the civil government and evangelization
of the inhabitants particularly in areas dominated
by the Muslims.
 Gobierno Political de
Paragua
Palawan was made of three administrative
units known was Calamianes with Taytay as its
Capital; Puerto Princesa; and Balabac was
solely under the Military rule as advance post to
guard the southern territories.
 “Philippines shall be divided into four
Departments: 1.) Norte-Luzon and nearby
Islands, 2.) Oriental- Visayas, 3.) Occidental-
Calamianes, Paragua and Balabac, and 4.)
Meridional- Surigao, Mindanao, Basilan, Jolo,
and northeast Borneo”

-- Junta Especial par alas Reformas de Administracion Y

Gobierno delas Islas Filipinas, hacia 1871 cited by Ocampo, 1985
 Gobierno Political de
Paragua
The Compania de Infanteria Española
(Spanish Marine Infantry) was based in Santa
Isabel, a fort in Taytay to protect the inhabitants
from the Muslims. The commission also entrusted
to investigate the possibility of relocating the
military force to Paragua due to the paternalistic
attachment of the Muslims with the natives. The
Muslims had particularly controlled the misuse of
natural resources of the province especially the
agricultural products such as Tobacco.
 Gobierno Political de
Paragua
Royal Order of January 20, 1862,
Governor-General Rafael Izquierdo established
the Gobierno Politico-Militar de Paragua.

The Commission choose Puerto Princesa as

the capital. Puerto Princesa then was called
Puerto Asuncion of Iguahit (Iwahig), a
settlement of natives.
 Politico-Militar
1. Government
Who was qualified to be a Governor of Paragua?
*Must have a rank of Captain of the Navy.

2. What were the previleges as Governor of Paragua?

*A salary of 3,000 pesos.

3. What were the task of a Governor in Paragua?

*Responsible for the allocation of funds for the
maintenance and operation of the province; and
*He was instructed to befriend the Tagbanuas and
provide them with good animals. Construction materials,
seedlings, and other needs for production.
 Politico-Militar
Government
Provincial Officials of the newly established
Politico-Militar Government:

1. Politico-Military Governor: Captain Jose de

Sostasa Y Ordones
2. 1 Parish Priest
3. Campania Disciplinaria (22 Officers)
4. 183 Soldiers, Engineers, Administrators, and
Medical Personnel
 Politico-Militar
Government
March 04, 1872- the expeditionary force
gathered to witness the signing of the Act of
Colonization. This was done by:
*Capt./ Politico-Militar Governor: Jose Sostosa.
*Parish Priest: Ezekiel Moreno
*Captain Engineer: Severino Sanchez
*Military Administrator: Jacinto Ruiz
*Military Physician: Ciriaco Orate

The signing of the Act formalized the occupation of

colonization of Puerto Princesa in the name of the King of Spain.
 Politico-Militar
Government
On March 24,1872, the first to be baptized
was Celia Marcelo, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Alberto Marcelo of Cuyo.
April 04, 1872- first burial mass recorded
was the death of Justo dela Cruz of Manila
July 05, 1872, the first wedding was held
between Tranquilino Asuncion of Pasig and
Isadora San Jose of Manila.
The bigger church was constructed and
inaugurated on December 08, 1872 with
Immaculate Concepcion as the Patron.