The City of Manila

(Adapted from Buzeta Diccionario de las Islas Filipinas)

Reference

1. Artillery and Naval Store House 2. Arsenal 3. Audiencia or Court House 4. Military Hospital 5. University of St. Thomas 6. Ayuntamiento or Palace 7. Archbishop’s Palace 8. Intendencia 9. Consulate 10. College of Santa Potenciana 11. Church of Santo Domingo 12. Cathedral 13. College of San Juan de Letran 14. Church and College of Santa Isabel 15. Hospital of S Juan de Dios 16. Church and Convent of San Augustin 17. Orden Tercera 18. Church of San Francisco 19. Church of Recoletos 20. Santo Domingo Gate 21. Parian Gate 22. Real Gate 23. Santa Lucia Gate 24. Postern Gate 25. Isabel II Gate

Capture of the City.—The natives received the foreigners at first with a show of friendliness, but after they had landed on the banks of the Pasig, Soliman, with a large force, assaulted them. The impetuous Spaniards charged, and carried the fortifications, and the natives fled, setting fire to their settlement. When the fight was over the Spaniards found among the dead the body of a Portuguese artillerist, who had directed the defense. Doubtless he was one who had deserted from the Portuguese garrison far south in the Indian archipelago to cast in his fortunes with the Malays. It being the commencement of the season of rains and typhoons, the Spaniards decided to defer the occupation of Manila, and, after exploring Cavite harbor, they returned to Panay.

A year was spent in strengthening their hold on the Bisayas and in arranging for their conquest of Luzon. On Masbate was placed a friar and six soldiers, so small was the number that could be spared.

Founding of the Spanish City of Manila.—With a force of 280 men Legaspi returned in the spring of 1571 to the conquest of Luzon. It was a bloodless victory. The Filipino rajas declared themselves vassals of the Spanish king, and in the months of May and June the Spaniards established themselves in the present site of the city.

At once Legaspi gave orders for the reconstruction of the fort, the building of a palace, a convent for the Augustinian monks, a church, and 150 houses. The boundaries of this city followed closely the outlines of the Tagálog city “Maynila,” and it seems probable that the location of buildings then established have been adhered to until the present time. This settlement appeared so desirable to Legaspi that he at once designated it as the capital of the archipelago. Almost immediately he organized its governing assembly, or ayuntamiento.