On rebels and rebellion

If Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Gen. Danilo Lim only studied the history of Philippine rebellion and the purpose was to topple the government, they would not have launched one.

Not counting the Muslim Wars from 1578 to 1898 and the revolt waged by Bonifacio and Aguinaldo, there were 23 revolts from 1574 to 1841. None of them succeeded.

The longest was the Dagohoy rebellion of Bohol , 1774 to 1829 that took 55 years but this too failed. Francisco Dagohoy was the best organizer, the best leader and tactician who knew the intricacies of logistics but he did not have a worthy cause.

He revolted because Fr. Gaspar Morales refused to give a Christian burial to his brother who died in a duel.

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Let me tell you what these 23 revolts were and their respective causes.

In 1574 two Manila native chieftains Lakandula and Solayman revolted because Gov. Guido de Lavenares changed Legspi's policy of exempting the chiefs and their descendants from paying tribute and the confiscation of their property, if they don't pay.

The two were persuaded not to push through and the demands were given because the Spaniards needed them to fight the Chinese pirate Lim Ah Hong, great, great, great grandfather of my friend Lim Al Bert.

Then there was the first Pampanga Revolt of 1583, aborted because it was discovered before it was launched.

This was followed in 1587 by the Tondo Conspiracy led by Tondo chieftains who wanted back their lost freedom.

The conspirators were Agustin de Legaspi who was Lakandula's nephew, Mateo Pangan, Magat Salamat who was the son of Lakandula, Jaime Banal, Esteban Taes, Pedro Balingit, and German Basi.

It was discovered in a report of a spy who got a hefty reward.

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Then there was the revolt of the Magalat brothers in Cagayan in 1596 against heavy taxation. This was quelled under the Spanish hiring of mercenaries to kill them.

Then there was the Igorot rebellion just five years after in 1601 because of their refusal to follow the Christian religion imposed on them.

Including the Igorot rebellion, there were 11 rebellions in the 1600. In 1621 there was the revolt of the Irrayas in northern Isabela and Cagayan Valley against oppression. It was settled peacefully.

But that same year 1621, there was the Tamblot rebellion in Bohol launched when the priests were in Cebu . They renounced their religion. It was put down by the Spaniards with the help of Cebuanos.

In 1622, an aging chieftain of Limasawa, Leyte Bankaw wanted to return to the old religion. With Spanish and Cebuano forces Bankaw was captured and killed.

There was also the revolt of Pedro Ladia of Bulacan in 1643 against Spanish oppression. This was quelled and Ladia, although claiming to be a descendant of Rajah Matanda, was executed.

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There was the Revolt of Dabao, a Manobo chieftain in 1650 opposing the sending of the natives to work in the shipyard in Cavite .

Juan Sumoroy revolted in 1649 in Samar opposing forced labor.

Francisco Maniego of Mexico , Pampanga revolted in 1660 against forced recruitment to cut trees in the Pampanga mountains.

That same year 1660 Andres Malong in Pangasinan revolted, wanting to change foreign rulers to native leaders.

Following Malong, Pedro Gumapos revolted in Ilocos, using Malong's cause. In the 1660s, another Ilocano Pedro Almazan revolted.

The last rebel in the 1660s was by Ramon Tapar of Oton, Iloilo . He was defeated and burned at the stake. He wanted to establish a new religion.

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There were six rebellions in the 1770s, the longest was by Dagohoy of Bohol that lasted 55 years. Dagohoy was the best tactician. He established farms in the hinterlands to support the rebels. But, as pointed out earlier, he lacked the cause. He revolted because the Spanish priest refused to give his brother, who died in a duel, a Christian burial.

There was the revolt of Diego Silang of Ilocos in 1762 who also fought against heavy taxation.

In 1762-65, Juan Palaris of Pangasinan also revolted against heavy taxation. In 1807, the Ilocanos launched the Basi Rebellion after the Spanish authorities banned people from drinking their local wine, fermented from rice, called “basi” and instead forced them to drink Spanish wine.

In 1822, the Bayot brothers – Manuel, Jose, and Joaquin – of Manila revolted. They were the “Insulares” or Spaniards born in the Philippines , resenting the “Peninsulares” or Spaniards born in Spain and who enjoyed extra privileges. This, too, was put down.

The last was the revolt of Hermano Puli – Apolinario de la Cruz of Mauban, Tayabas (now Quezon) province who was refused his application to be a priest.

He was only up to being a Brother (Hermano) Pule.

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Why these rebels and rebellions failed should be studied very well by those who want to mount a rebellion and succeed.*

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