The Philippine Islands, 1493 1898: Volume XVII, 1609 1616 by Various

V >> Various >> The Philippine Islands, 1493 1898: Volume XVII, 1609 1616

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_Ramon Montero y Blandino_--Becomes governor (_ad interim_) for the
second time, October 28, 1854; term as governor, October 28-November
20, 1854.

_Manuel Crespo y Cebrian_--Native of Extremadura, and formerly
segundo cabo of the Philippines; becomes governor, November 20, 1854;
expedition against Igorrotes, December, 1855-February, 1856; resigns
December 5, 1856; term as governor, November 20, 1854-December 5, 1856.

_Ramon Montero y Blandino_--Becomes governor (_ad interim_), for
the third time, December 5, 1856; term as governor, December 5,
1856-March 9, 1857.

_Fernando Norzagaray y Escudero_--Native of San Sebastian, and
lieutenant-general; enters upon office, March 9, 1857; authorizes
establishments of houses of exchange, June 18, 1857; sends expedition
to Cochinchina to aid French, 1858; reforms in local administration
ordered, August 30, 1858; infantry reorganized by order of September
23, 1859; first Jesuit mission after reinstatement of order, reaches
Philippines in middle of 1859; several papers founded during his term;
encourages agriculture; solicits recall because of ill-health; term
as governor, March 9, 1857-January 12, 1860.

_Ramon Maria Solano y Llanderal_--Native of Valencia,
mariscal-de-campo, and segundo cabo of Philippines; becomes governor
(_ad interim_), January 12, 1860; pawnshop authorized in Manila,
January 18; issues decree for civil government of province of Manila,
January 31; functions of bank Espanol-filipino extended, February 16;
Jagor travels through the Bisayas; term as governor January 12-August
29, 1860; death from fever (with rumor in Manila of poisoning),
August 30.

_Juan Herrera Davila_--Sub-inspector of artillery; becomes governor
(_ad interim_), August 29, 1860; civil administration of provinces
of the colonies organized, and Audiencia in Manila reformed, July 9,
1860; printing of _Coleccion de autos acordados_ authorized, January
10, 1861; regularly appointed governor, general of marine Mac-Crohon,
dies in Red Sea while on way to Philippines; term as governor, August
29, 1860-February 2, 1861.

_Jose Lemery e Ibarrola Ney y Gonzalez_--Senator of the kingdom;
becomes governor, February 2, 1861; politico-military governments
installed in Bisayas and Mindanao, April 1, 1861; Jesuits given
Mindanao as mission field, and opposed by Recollects; operations
against Moros; delivers command to segundo cabo, July 7, 1862; term
as governor, February 2, 1861-July 7, 1862.

_Salvador Valdes_--Segundo cabo; becomes governor (_ad interim_),
July 7, 1862; term as governor, July 7-9, 1862.

_Rafael de Echague y Berminghan_--Native of San Sebastian,
lieutenant-general, and governor at Puerto Rico; arrives at Manila,
July 9, 1862; various insurrections, 1863; earthquake, June 3, 1863;
creation of ministry of colonies, 1863; normal school established,
January 23, 1865; term marked by various calamities; term as governor,
July 9, 1862-March 24, 1865.

_Joaquin del Solar e Ibanez_--Segundo cabo of the Philippines; becomes
governor (_ad interim_), March 24, 1865; reforms in various branches
of government, 1865; term as governor, March 24, 1865-April 25, 1865.

_Juan de Lara e Irigoyen_--Native of Navarra, lieutenant-general, and
ex-minister of war; assumes office, April 25, 1865; Antonio Canovas del
Castillo appointed minister of the colonies, July 3, 1865; erection of
bishopric of Jaro, by bull of Pius IX, 1865; establishment of Jesuit
institution Ateneo Municipal at Manila, 1865; recalled for corruption
of government; term as governor, April 25, 1865-July 13, 1866.

_Jose Laureano de Sanz y Posse_--Mariscal-de-campo, and segundo cabo
elect because of former incumbent of that office having left islands
with Lara; term as governor (_ad interim_), July 13-September 21, 1866.

_Antonio Osorio_--Naval officer; becomes governor (_ad interim_),
September 21, 1866; term as governor, September 21-September 27, 1866.

_Joaquin del Solar_--Becomes governor (_ad interim_), for the second
time, September 27, 1866; term as governor, September 27-October
26, 1866.

_Jose de la Gandara y Navarro_--Lieutenant-general; becomes governor,
October 26, 1866; uniform monetary system adopted; reforms primary
education, 1867-1868; resigns office; term as governor, October 26,
1866-June 7, 1869.

_Manuel Maldonado_--Segundo cabo of islands; becomes governor (_ad
interim_), June 7, 1869; term as governor, June 7-June 23, 1869.

_Carlos Maria de la Torre y Nava Cerrada_--Native of Cuenca, and
lieutenant-general; becomes governor, June 23, 1869; constitution of
1869 sworn to, September 21, 1869; projects monument to Anda y Salazar;
question of removing the monopoly on tobacco; _guardia civil_ created;
radical in government; term as governor, June 23, 1869-April 4, 1871.

_Rafael de Izquierdo y Gutierrez_--Native of Santander, and
lieutenant-general; becomes governor, April 4, 1871; insurrections
in Cavite and Zamboanga, 1872; reforms in army; opening of steamship
line and telegraph lines; governor resigns because of ill-health;
term as governor, April 4, 1871-January 8, 1873.

_Manuel Mac-Crohon_--Naval officer, becomes governor (_ad interim_),
as office of segundo cabo vacant, January 8, 1873; term as governor,
January 8-24 (?), 1873.

_Juan Alaminos y de Vivar_--Becomes governor, January 24 (?), 1873;
conflict with archbishop and other ecclesiastics; steamship line
established between Manila and Spain; various ports opened for
commerce; term as governor, January 24 (?), 1873-March 17, 1874.

_Manuel Blanco Valderrama_--Becomes governor (_ad interim_), March 17,
1874; repulse of Joloans; hands over government to regularly appointed
governor, June 18, 1874.

_Jose Malcampo y Monje_--Marques de San Rafael and rear-admiral;
becomes governor, June 18, 1874; conquest of Jolo, 1876; given title
of count of Mindanao, December 19, 1876; mutiny of artillerymen;
term as governor, June 18, 1874-February 28, 1877; given titles of
count of Jolo and viscount of Mindanao, July 20, 1877.

_Domingo Moriones y Murillo_--Marquis of Oroquieta, and
lieutenant-general; becomes governor, February 28, 1877; takes drastic
measures against mutinous artillery regiment, 1877; prevents sale of
tobacco monopoly, 1877; constructs Manila water-works, 1878; term as
governor, February 28, 1877-March 18 or 20, 1880.

_Rafael Rodriguez Arias_--Naval officer; becomes governor (_ad
interim_), March 18 or 20, 1880; term as governor, March 18-April
15, 1880.

_Fernando Primo de Rivera_--Marquis of Estella; becomes governor, April
15, 1880; cable opened between Luzon and Spain, 1880; royal decree
orders repeal of tobacco monopoly, 1881; term marked by corruption
in public offices; term as governor, April 15, 1880-March 10, 1883.

_Emilio Molins_--Segundo cabo of Philippines; governor (_ad interim_),
March to April 7, 1883.

_Joaquin Jovellar_--General; becomes governor, April 7, 1883; decrease
of annual period of personal services from forty to fifteen days, and
creation of provincial tax, 1883; plan for railroads in Luzon approved,
1883; visits southern islands, 1884; tribute abolished and tax of
_cedula personal_ substituted, 1884; Jesuit observatory at Manila
declared official, 1884; term as governor, April 7, 1883-April 1, 1885.

_Emilio Molins_--Becomes governor (_ad interim_), for second time,
and rules three days, April 1-4, 1885.

_Emilio Terrero y Perinat_--Lieutenant-general; becomes governor,
April 4, 1885; leads expedition in person against Moros, 1885; dispute
between Spain and Germany as to ownership of Carolinas, 1885; term
as governor, April 4, 1885-1888.

_Antonio Molto_--Segundo cabo, term as governor (_ad interim_), 1888.

_Federico Lobaton_--Naval officer; term as governor (_ad interim_),
only one day in 1888.

March 1, 1888, a petition signed by eight hundred and ten natives and
mestizos demands immediate expulsion of the friars of the religious
orders and of the archbishop, the secularization of benefices, and
the confiscation of the estates of Augustinians and Dominicans.

_Valeriano Weyler_--Native of Majorca, marquis of Tenerife, and son
of a German doctor; becomes governor, 1888; said to have purchased
office from minister's wife; school of agriculture established
in Manila, 1889; practical school of arts and trades established,
1890; telephone system established in Philippines, 1890; Dominican
secondary school established in Dagupan, 1891; said to have received
money from religious orders for armed support against their tenants;
term as governor 1888-1891; later minister of war at Madrid.

_Eulogio Despujol_--Native of Cataluna, and count of Caspe; becomes
governor, 1891; Liga filipina (Philippine League) founded in Manila by
Rizal, 1892; introduces many reforms; popular with natives; arouses
wrath of religious orders, who are said to have paid $100,000 for
his dismissal; term as governor, 1891-1893.

_Federico Ochando_--Governor (_ad interim_), 1893.

_Ramon Blanco_--Becomes governor, 1893; electric light established in
Manila, 1895; formation of Katipunan society; outbreak of insurrection,
August 30 1896; Blanco opposed by ecclesiastics; term as governor,
1893-December 9 (date of royal decree removing him), 1896.

_Camilo Polavieja_--General; becomes governor, December 13, 1896
(Algue); Rizal executed, December 30, 1896; Tagal republic proclaimed,
October, 1896; insurrection spreads; operations against insurgents
by General Lachambre, 1897; Polavieja issues amnesty proclamation,
January 11, 1897; efficient service of loyal Filipino troops; term
as governor, December 13, 1896-April 15, 1897.

_Jose de Lachambre_--General; governor (_ad interim_), April 15-23,
1897.

_Fernando Primo de Rivera_--Becomes governor for the second time,
April 23, 1897; insurgents scattered, and more than thirty thousand
natives said to have been killed in one province; pact of Biaknabato
signed, December 14, 1897; re-occurrence of insurrections in Luzon,
1898; term as governor, April 23, 1897-April 11, 1898.

_Basilio Augustin_--Becomes governor, April 11, 1898; Dewey's victory,
May 1, 1898.

_Fermin Jaudens_--Becomes governor (_ad interim_), 1898; peace
preliminaries, surrender of Manila, and entrance of Americans (August
13) into Manila.

_Francisco Rizzo_--General; becomes governor (_ad interim_), 1898.

_Diego de los Rios_--Becomes governor, with capital at Iloilo, 1898;
treaty of Paris signed, December 10, 1898; term as governor, after
August 13, 1898-December 10, 1898; leaves Manila, January 1, 1899. [94]

Law Regarding Vacancies in the Government

[_Recopilacion de leyes_, lib. ii, tit. xv, ley lviii, contains the
following law on vacancies in the government. It is dated Madrid,
April 2, 1664.]

Inasmuch as representation has been made to us of the inconveniences
resulting from the viceroys of Nueva Espana anticipating appointments
among persons who reside in the Filipinas Islands, so that, in case
of the absence of the president and governor and captain-general of
the islands, those persons may enter upon and exercise those charges
until the arrival of the person who is to govern--_ad interim_
or by royal appointment, according as we may decide: therefore we
order and command that, in case of the absence of the governor and
captain-general of those islands, by death or any other accident,
our royal Audiencia resident in the city of Manila shall govern them
in political affairs, and the senior auditor in military. The latter,
in any cases of war arising for the defense and conservation of the
said islands, and in any preparations or other precautions that it
shall be advisable to make for this purpose, shall take the advice of
the military leaders there, and shall communicate with them for the
better direction of matters. We order the viceroy of Nueva-Espana to
use no longer the authority that he has had hitherto by virtue of our
decree of September thirteen, one thousand six hundred and eight, and
the other decrees given to him, to have persons appointed by means of
the ways hitherto practiced. Those we now revoke by this our law, and
annul, but he shall still be empowered to send the person who shall
exercise the said duties _ad interim_. And as it is advisable that
the Audiencia of Manila regulate in conformity to this the execution
of the contents of this our law, we order the said Audiencia that,
in case of the death of the president, it shall maintain that state
in all peace, quiet and good government, administering justice to all
parties. The senior auditor who shall exercise the president's duties
during his absence, shall exercise very especial care and vigilance
in all that pertains to military matters, and shall try to keep the
presidios well manned, and supplied with the defenses necessary for
their conservation, and the soldiers well disciplined for any occasion
that may arise.

Some Things Worth Knowing About the Governors of the Filipinas Islands

[Juan Jose Delgado, in his _Historia_ (chapter xvii, pp. 212-215),
makes the following remarks about the governors.]

In no kingdom or province of the Spanish crown do the viceroys or
governors enjoy greater privileges, superiority, and grandeur than in
Filipinas. That is advisable because of the long distance from the
court, and their proximity to so many kingdoms and nations, some of
them civilized but others barbaric. Consequently those assigned to
this government should be well tested and picked men; for, because
of the difficulty of appeal, as so many seas and lands have to be
passed, where shipwrecks are continually suffered, there are great
setbacks. Therefore it is very difficult and at times impossible
to remedy quickly the disadvantages which may arise (and which have
been experienced) from an absolute and selfish governor--who has no
one to oppose him in his cupidity, cruelty, headlong disposition,
or other vices to which the disordered condition of these so
distant lands inclines one. Father Alonso Sanchez of the Society
of Jesus, ambassador of this community at the two courts [_i.e._,
Spain and Rome], presented to his Majesty Don Felipe II a standard
or description of the qualities which should adorn the person who
should be appointed governor of Filipinas. That most judicious monarch
thought it so difficult to find a man of so many and such gifts, that
he bargained with the father, and arranged that the latter himself
should seek and select the man. Those same gifts and qualities must
be found in those appointed as governors, especially in these times,
[95] when it seems as-if cupidity, ambition, pride, and haughtiness
have fortified themselves in these lands. For it often happens that
the governor is so facile, that he allows himself to be governed
by one whom he should not [allow to do so]. Consequently it is very
advisable that he should have great courage, in addition to goodness
and disinterestedness, so that he may act and judge in his government
without subjecting himself to any private person--whether he need such
for his temporal advancement, or, through friendship or relationship,
incurs that disadvantage by undue intimacy.

Thus it happened to Governor Don Diego Fajardo during his term, as
is read in various provincial histories; but the experience that he
continued to gain daily opened his eyes to the recognition of his
error. Seeing certain disadvantages arising from his protection of
certain individuals, he dismissed them from his favor to the prison
in the redoubt of Santiago, and confiscated their property, without
respect to, or fear of, the influence that they had acquired in the
community because of their wealth and support. A governor, whom I knew
and with whom I was familiar, was told in Mexico that he would come
to kiss the hand of a certain citizen distinguished for his wealth
and rank. But he, being a man of great courage and spirit, who knew
how to hold every one in his own position, without permitting him
to rise to greater, immediately upon his arrival in these islands
ordered that man in the king's name to perform a certain necessary
and useful service. As he, trusting in his favor among the citizens,
did not obey the order, the governor condemned him to be beheaded. For
that purpose he tore him from the church in which he had sought refuge,
and would have executed the sentence, had not the ecclesiastical estate
interposed all its influence by pointing out several disadvantages,
upon which his punishment was lessened and the penalty commuted. Thus
did he hold each one to his post, and all praised his rectitude,
disinterestedness, and magnanimity; and he left his government with
great honor and reputation.

These islands need disinterested military governors, not merchants;
and men of resolution and character, not students, who are more fit to
govern monasteries than communities of heroes. They should be men who
can make themselves feared and respected by the enemies who surround
us on all sides, and who can go in person to punish their opponents
(as did the former ones, with so great glory to God and credit to the
Spanish arms), so that in that way the islands may be conserved in
peace and be respected and feared by the Moro and Indian chiefs--and
those who are called kings or sultans of Jolo and Mindanao, who go
with feet and legs bare, and have to go to sea to cast their fishing
nets in order to live, are that and nothing more. But if a governor
comes to these islands with the intention of escaping his natural
poverty by humoring the rich and powerful, and even obeying them,
the wrongs accruing to the community are incredible, as well as those
to Christianity, and to the country--which is at times on the point
of being lost because of this reason--and especially since appeal is
so distant, as was seen and experienced in the year of 1719. [96]

The governors of these islands are almost absolute, and like private
masters of them. They exercise supreme authority by reason of their
charge, for receiving and sending embassies to the neighboring kings
and tyrants, for sending them gifts and presents in the name of their
king, and for accepting those which those kings and tyrants send
them. They can make and preserve peace, declare and make war, and take
vengeance on all who insult us, without awaiting any resolution from
court for it. Therefore many kings have rendered vassalage and paid
tribute to the governors, have recognized them as their superiors,
have respected and feared their arms, have solicited their friendship,
and tried to procure friendly relations and commerce with them; and
those who have broken their word have been punished. The legitimate
king of Borney, who had been dispossessed of his kingdom, because his
brother, who had no right to it, had usurped it, begged help from
Doctor Don Francisco de Sande, governor of these islands. Governor
Sande went with his fleet, fought with and drove away the tyrant,
and put the legitimate king in possession [of his throne]; the
latter rendered obedience to the governor, appointed in the place of
the king of Espana, and subjected himself to this crown as vassal
and tributary. The same happened during the term of Gomez Perez
Dasmarinas, to whom the king of Siao came to render homage. Governor
Don Pedro de Acuna went to Ternate with a fleet, fought, conquered,
and took the king of that island [97] prisoner to Manila, as a pledge
that the Ternatans would not again admit the Dutch and English--who,
with their consent, were beginning to engage heavily in that commerce,
and were seizing the country. Although Don Juan Nino de Tabora had a
royal decree ordering that that king be restored to his kingdom, he
did not execute it, as that seemed unadvisable to him. Consequently
the king died in Manila. One of his sons was also a prisoner of war,
and the governor appointed a cachil to govern in his stead. That king,
the king of Tidore, and others in the same islands of Ternate rendered
homage to Don Pedro de Acuna, and became friends of the Spaniards. The
said governor received them under the canopy in the name of the king
of Espana, and took them under his protection and care. In the year of
1618, the same governor [_i.e._, Alonso Fajardo y Tenza] made peace
and treaties with the king of Macasar, who also placed himself under
Espana's protection, so that the governor might protect him in his
needs and necessities.

The country formerly had very peaceable relations with the emperor
of Japon, and also a very rich and useful commerce; and his Majesty
ordered by a royal decree of June 4, 1609, that it be preserved,
although at the expense of gifts and presents of considerable price and
value. That friendship lasted until the year 1634, when the Japanese
were found lacking in it because of the Dutch--who, always following
in our footsteps, introduced their commerce into that empire.

Friendship and commerce have been maintained from the beginning of
the conquest with Great China, and are still preserved. The emperor
of China ordered a port to be assigned so that the people of Luzon
could establish a city and factory under the same conditions as
the Portuguese in Macao. His Majesty also ordered, by a decree of
April 9, 1586, Doctor Francisco de Sande to sustain the friendship,
and prohibited him from making war; for, as some authors say, Sande
had the intention of conquering that empire. [98] That does not seem
to me so certain, for that empire had so many millions of men, with
innumerable cities, forts, and walls, and fleets that guard the ports
with great vigilance. Moreover at that time the soldiers in these
islands did not number five hundred, and were scarcely sufficient to
guard them; and it was very difficult to transport them from Nueva
Espana and other kingdoms. Although it might be that that idea was
simply speculative, the council prohibited it, and ordered them
thenceforth to observe what was prescribed.

The king of Siam captured two ships of these islands in his ports
in 1629. Don Juan Nino de Tabora, who was governor at that time,
immediately despatched two warships to punish so great violence,
and they made many prizes and inflicted many injuries along those
coasts. After that he sent ambassadors to the king to ask satisfaction
for what the latter had done, and the restoration of the Spanish
ships. Although the king who had had the ships seized was dead, his
son was forced to return them, and did so. The Mindanaos and Joloans,
chastised because of the fleets that they were sending to plunder these
islands, have been subdued and have made peace several times. But,
whenever it appears good to them, they break the peace, make war on us,
and sack and burn the towns of the Christians, capturing many thousands
of them; this is done not only by the Mindanaos, but by their vassals,
the Camucones and Tirones. Consequently, one can and ought to make war
on them very justifiably, until they are destroyed and annihilated,
if necessary--as was done before, and is being done in this year of
1751. [99] During this and previous years the king of Jolo lived in
Manila, was baptized, and made a subject of the Spanish crown. He
solicited aid against one of his brothers named Bantilan, by saying
that the latter had revolted with the kingdom. However it is hoped
that the truth of the whole thing will be discovered in time. [100]
It was resolved by a royal provision of May 29, 1720, that all the
prisoners made among those nations during the war should be declared
slaves forever.

Besides the above, the governors of these islands have absolute
authority privately to provide and attend to all that pertains to
the royal estate, government, war, and consultations in difficult
affairs of the auditors of this royal Audiencia; to try in the first
instance the criminal causes of the soldiers; and to appoint alcaldes,
corregidora, deputies, and chief justices of all the islands for the
exercise of government, justice, and war, together with the chief
scrivener appointed by his Majesty for government and war matters. The
governor also enjoys the privilege of a permanent body-guard of twelve
halberdiers, with a captain of the guard, who always accompany him,
besides many other preeminences conceded by royal decrees to the
presidency of the royal Audiencia and Cnancilleria. He is, finally,
captain-general of all the archipelago. For these his employments,
his Majesty assigns him annually a salary of eight thousand pesos
de minas--or thirteen thousand one hundred and thirty-five pesos,
three granos of common gold--besides the many profits and gains
assigned to him by domestic and foreign fees and privileges, which
amount annually to great sums of money.

Administration of Government and the Captaincy-General

[The following is taken from Sinibaldo de Mas, [101] _Informe
sobre el estado de las Islas Filipinas en 1842_ (Madrid, 1843), tomo
ii. Portions of it are apparently embodied in translation and abstract
in Bowring's _Visit to the Philippine Isles_ (London, 1859), p. 87-93.]

The government of the Filipinas Islands, together with the group of
the Marianas, is in charge of a military chief, who, to the title
of governor, joins those of president of the Audiencia, and royal
vice-patron; subdelegate judge of the revenue, and of post-offices,
posts, and express [_correos, postas y estafeta_]; and director of
the troops, captain-general, and commander-in-chief of the navy. His
authority, then, embraces all the powers derived from these titles,
both for administration and for the security and defense of the
territory.

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