The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 22 of 55 / 1625-29 / Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century.

by Unknown

The Importance of the Philippines

Sire:

I, Martin Castaño, procurator-general of the Filipinas, declare that—having examined and carefully considered, in the course of so long a period as I have spent here, the region of these islands, their great importance, and the little energy displayed in coming to their help while the enemies from Olanda are exerting themselves so strenuously to gain possession of them—I am convinced that such inaction can proceed only from a failure to estimate that country at its proper value, imagining it to be of less importance than it is, since it is regarded as being so far away [from España]. But those islands are the most important part of your Majesty’s dominion; and from delay it results that the enemy is continually gaining, and your Majesty losing, while recovery becomes more difficult. If they should be lost, and the country given up to the natives, it would be, even if the Hollanders had not gone thither, a loss of the magnitude which will be made evident by this paper; but if your Majesty lose them, and your greatest enemy gain them, the loss will be beyond all exaggeration. Therefore, I have desired to advance four important considerations regarding those islands: namely, the extension of the faith, and the increase of your Majesty’s dominion, glory, and riches. And in case of any doubt as to the truth of my assertions, I will prove them by trustworthy witnesses and authentic papers, to your entire satisfaction.

As to the increase of the faith, it is quite well known that no other gate in all the world has been opened through which so many souls may come into the knowledge of it as in the Filipinas; for they are situated amid so vast kingdoms, so densely inhabited, so ready to be christianized, as has been proved in China and Japon. And had not the Hollanders gained the friendship of the Japanese, the greater part of that kingdom would have been converted, as things were going; for at Nangasaqui, the port of entry for those going from the Filipinas, there were so many Christians that they formed processions for the discipline during Holy Week, just as in España. But since the entrance of the Hollanders there, Christianity has been so rooted out that there is not one declared Christian, because of the severe punishments inflicted at the Dutch instigation. It is a great misfortune that these heretics have managed to gain the friendship of the emperor of Japon, by promising him Chinese silks—depending on those that they expect to steal from the Chinese and the citizens of Manila. It is a misfortune that at the same time your Majesty has not preserved your friendship with them, as we are in so much better a position to let them have silks in trade, which are the things that they want. This is of so great importance, that it would be advisable to send an embassy to the emperor, to inform him that those heretics are rebellious vassals of your Majesty; and that it is not right that any king should receive those who have revolted from your obedience. For the Hollanders provide themselves with all necessary munitions of war and food supplies there, as that kingdom is so well furnished with everything; while your Majesty’s vassals are in want of those things, although they are so near at hand. One other very great loss is suffered, namely, that, since the Hollanders live in Japon as if in their own land, well supplied with all necessities, and so near Manila, they enter the bay of that city with much greater facility, and carry away as plunder all the merchandise from China and other countries. They remain there most of the year, because they have a safer retreat, when the weather compels them to retire. Returning to the increase of the faith, besides that it was extending itself in the neighboring kingdoms, years ago I was informed, by the religious who instructed those fields of Christendom, of the number of Christians that were vassals of your Majesty, reckoned by congregations; and the number exceeded six hundred thousand. Consider, then, your Majesty, what should be done to preserve and cultivate that new plant, and not allow it to be lost, and heresy to be substituted for it.

As to the increase of your Majesty’s dominion, there is no doubt that while you are master and lord of the Filipinas, your crown encircles and embraces all the world; for today your kingdom stretches on the eastern side from Portuguese India to Malaca, and between the point of the mainland of Malaca and the island of Samatra is the strait of Sincapura by which one enters the South Sea and goes to the above-named places and the Filipinas, while on the western side the coasts of Piru and Nuevaespaña border on the South Sea, whence one goes likewise to the Filipinas. Thus it is proved that with those islands your Majesty’s crown encircles and embraces the whole world—a greatness which furnishes a reason for great energy. Further, if the enemy succeeds in getting possession of the Filipinas, toward which end he is putting forth so great effort, not only will this richest fragment of your Majesty’s crown be lost, but the enemy will make himself master of Portuguese India immediately; and then by way of the South Sea, he will disturb Piru and Nuevaespaña, so that they can be of no profit to your Majesty. And if the enemy perceives himself to be so powerful, he will even dare to undertake other great enterprises.

As to reputation, one word is sufficient. All the kings and nations of the world are watching to see who comes out ahead in this undertaking—your Majesty or the rebels of Olanda.

As to wealth, to see the efforts that the Hollanders are making for it, having experienced it—for nothing but wealth comes to them—might well answer as sufficient proof. But yet I notify your Majesty of three extremely great sources of wealth in the Filipinas: first, the wonderfully rich gold mines, of which I have given accounts separately, so that I shall not repeat them now; second, the cloves of the Malucos, which amount to three and one-half millions per year. Of this likewise I have given detailed reports. It is the sole inducement of the Hollanders to go there, and therefore they have exerted great care and effort to gain possession, as they have done, of the islands where it is grown, so that they enjoy nearly all of it. The third is the trade from China to Japon, and from Japon to China, in which—as those two kingdoms bear so mortal a hatred to one another that under no considerations can they trade with one another, and China has so much silk that is wanted in Japon, and Japon so much silver, so desired by the Chinese-the inhabitants of the Filipinas, which lie between both kingdoms, traffic in these articles with very great profit. The Hollanders desire that traffic exceedingly; and, as they have acquired the trade of Japon, so they will be able to acquire that of China, although the Chinese are hostile to them, because of the robberies that the Hollanders have committed on them. But, for this very reason it might even be feared that, seeing the Hollanders so powerful and superior on the sea, and that they steal their property from them, without leaving them any for their own trading, and your Majesty’s forces are so weak that they cannot defend them, they will abandon us and become friendly with the Hollanders, just as those who were formerly your Majesty’s vassals are doing. For all those barbarous nations, inasmuch as neither religion, kinship, nor friendship binds them, are ever on the lookout to make friends with him who is most powerful. Admitting all the foregoing, I beseech your Majesty not to permit further delay in coming to the aid of this so important matter; for the enemy is so needfully profiting by the time that is being lost here.

[Endorsed in writing: “In regard to the importance of the Filipinas.”]