Conspiracy of the Maharlikas

The Conspiracy of the Maharlikas, also referred to as the Revolt of the Lakans or the Tondo Conspiracy of 1587-1588 was a plot against Spanish colonial rule by the Tagalog and Capampangan noblemen, or datus, of Manila and some towns of Bulacan and Pampanga, in the Philippines. It was led by Agustín de Legazpi, grandson of conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi, nephew of Rajah Lakandula, and his first cousin, Martin Pangan. The datus swore to rise up in arms by anointing their necks with a split egg. The uprising failed when they were betrayed to the Spanish authorities by Antonio Surabao (Susabau) of Calamianes.^[1]

Conspirators

The mastermind of the plot was Agustín de Legazpi; grandson of conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi, nephew of Rajah Lakandula and son-in-law of sultan Bolkieh of Brunei; whose first cousin was Martin Pangan, the gobernadorcillo of Tondo.

Besides the two, the other leaders were Magat Salamat, son of Rajah Lakandula and the crown-prince of Tondo; Juan Banal, another Tondo prince and Salámat’s brother-in-law; Geronimo Basi and Gabriel Tuambacar, brothers of Agustín de Legazpi; Pedro Balingit, the lord of Pandacan; Felipe Salonga, the lord of Polo; Dionisio Capolo (Kapulong), the lord of Candaba and brother of Felipe Salonga; Juan Basi, the lord of Taguig; Esteban Taes (Tasi), the lord of Bulacan; Felipe Salalila, the lord of Misil; Agustín Manuguit, son of Felipe Salalila; Luis Amanicaloa, another prince of Tondo; Felipe Amarlangagui, the commander-and-chief of Caranglan; Omaghicon, the Minister of Navotas and Pitongatan (Pitong Gatang), another prince of Tondo.

The cause of conspiracy was the injustice committed by the Spanish Encomendieros against the people of the kingdom and their lack of respect to treaty obligations with the local aristocracy which reserved them the right to still exercise nominal suzerainty over the kingdom, being vassal kings of the king of Spain but still the Generals of Conquistador Legaspi refused to listen. This eventually forced the remaining royalty, not killed, to secretly plot their overthrow.

Allies from Japan and Brunei

Augustín de Legazpi had contacted the Japanese admiral, Juan Gayo, through a Japanese Christian interpreter, Dionisio Fernández, who had also joined the conspiracy. A secret meeting ended with an agreement in which Gayo would supply arms and warriors to help in the rebellion and recognize De Legazpi as king of the entire Philippines. In return, Gayo and his men would receive half of the tribute to be collected from the Philippines. A significant group of merchants known only as the "Sakai Merchants" had also been known to conspirate with the royal families against spanish rule.

Apart from the Japanese, there were other secret arrangements that needed to be accomplished before the final plan of the uprising could be completed. First, a secret delegation would travel to Borneo to secure troops and ships from the Sultan of Brunei. Second, there was the need to obtain the support and participation of the inhabitants of Laguna and Batangas in the struggle for freedom. Once a full commitment was received from Borneo, Batangas and Laguna, the armed rebellion would begin upon the arrival in Manila Bay of the Sultan of Brunei’s warships with warriors on board. The conspirators and their armed warriors would then launch a ferocious attack to completely annihilate the Spaniards and then set the city on fire.^[2]

Traitors

On the way to meet with the Sultan of Brunei, Magat Salámat, Juan Banál, and Augustín Manuguit stopped at Cuyo, Calamianes, to meet with its datu, Sumaclob. The datu was swayed to join the conspiracy and pledged to contribute 2,000 of his men for the cause. However, Salámat made an error in judgment by recruiting another Cuyo native, Antonio Surabao (Susabao). Upon learning of the secret plan, Surabao rushed to expose it to his master, Captain Pedro Sarmiento, the Spanish encomiendero of Calamianes. Once Salámat, Banál and Manuguit were apprehended, Sarmiento hastily traveled to Manila on October 26, 1588 and informed Governor-General Santiago de Vera of a brewing conspiracy against Spanish rule.

Arrests and Punishment

Governor-General De Vera immediately ordered the arrest of all the conspirators. Tried and found guilty of treason, Augustín de Legazpi and Martin Pangan were hanged, their heads cut off and exposed on the gibbet in iron cages. Their properties were seized by the Spanish authorities and their lands plowed and sown with salt so that they would remain barren. Dionisio Fernández was hanged and his property confiscated. Dionisio Capolo (Kapulong), the lord of Candaba (Pampanga), was exiled from his town and paid a heavy fine. De Vera eventually pardoned him. Later, he served as a guide and interpreter for two Spanish expeditions into Igorot country in 1591 and 1594.

The other five leading members were exiled to Mexico — Pedro Balinguit (lord of Pandacan), Pitongatan (a prince of Tondo), Felipe Salonga (lord of Polo), Calao (a commander-in-chief of Tondo), and Agustín Manuguit (Minister of Tondo). They were the very first natives of the Philippines to settle in Mexico.

References

1. ^ Tomas L., Magat Salamat, archived from the original on 2007-12-12, http://web.archive.org/web/20071212002729/http://www.geocities.com/sinupan/magatsalamat.htm, retrieved 2008-07-14 
2. ^ Fernando A. Santiago Jr., Isang Maikling Kasaysayan ng Pandacan, Maynila 1589-1898, http://www.philjol.info/index.php/MALAY/article/viewFile/80/77, retrieved 2008-07-18 

See also

• Philippine revolts against Spain
• Military history of the Philippines