An Historical View of the Philippine Islands, Vol 2 (of 2) / Exhibiting their discovery, population, language, government, manners, customs, productions and commerce.

by Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga

The fleet which Señor Obando had despatched against the Moors was so ill conducted, that it was found necessary to take the command from Don Miguel Valdos, who had been sent in that capacity, and give it to the Friar Ducos, a Jesuit, from whose conduct a more favourable result was expected. So effectually did that father conduct the expedition, and with such valour and prudence, that he took from the enemy more than one hundred and fifty sail of vessels, destroyed three towns, killed and made prisoners an immense number of people, and completely checked the impetuous spirit of those barbarians.

These happy tidings arrived at Manila in January, 1755. Señor Arandia gave orders that Te Deum should be sung as a thanksgiving, and confirmed the command of the squadron to the Friar Ducos, whom he very much esteemed, being the son of a colonel of his intimate acquaintance, and appearing to have inherited his father’s military talents.

The King of Jolo experienced from the Governor the most kind and compassionate treatment, and he granted him his liberty, although he continued voluntarily to reside in the fort of Saint Jago. He settled a revenue on him of fifty dollars per month, besides six measures of rice for his maintenance, and persuaded the Archbishop to grant him permission to hear mass, and receive the sacrament, of which he had been deprived.

The King was desirous of marrying a woman who had been his concubine, and had already become a Christian. The Archbishop was not inclined to consent; but Arandia not only removed every difficulty, but allowed him the use of his palace, in order that the marriage might be celebrated with more solemnity and grandeur.

These arrangements were not made without some dispute with the Archbishop; and at the same time another circumstance, although of no great importance in itself, proved sufficient to occasion a great sensation in the islands.

Arandia had complained to the Archbishop, that the bells were not rung when he entered or left the church as they ought to be, he being the representative of his Majesty. It was in reply, the Archbishop alleged, that no royal order existed to that effect; and these contests on points of etiquette, added to the indisposition under which this prelate laboured, which produced his death on the 29th of May, 1755.

The Governor continued his kind attentions to the King of Jolo, as it appeared to him the best mode of putting an end to hostility with the Moors. He sent thither all the Princes and Princesses, and all the women which had been detained by them, the King only remaining at Manila, who presented repeated petitions for release, and engaged, in the most solemn manner, to conform to the decision of the court of Madrid respecting the cause of his detention.

The Princes and Princesses arrived at Jolo the 5th of October of this year, and they were well received by Bantilan, who being highly pleased with the generosity of the Governor, promised faithfully to observe the treaties of peace which his brother and his Ambassador had signed at Manila. Entirely to put an end to hostilities, it was requisite to have an understanding with the inhabitants of Mindanao. Ambassadors were accordingly sent over, but so numerous are the petty Kings in those islands, and so treacherous, that it was found impossible to establish a durable peace with them. Even admitting that all the chiefs were desirous of strictly observing pacific terms with the Spaniards, they have so little power over their vassals, that they have never been able to restrain them within due bounds. That kind of predatory life having become habitual to them, nothing but a spiritual conquest of their provinces will protect us from the persecuting spirit of these troublesome neighbours.

The government now thought of establishing missionaries in the Batan islands, which lie to the north of Cagayan. Formerly there had been Dominican friars settled in the island of Babuyanes, who employed themselves in instructing the inhabitants in the Christian duties; but in the year 1690 they returned to Cagayan, upon the order of the chief to quit the country. The father who conducted them immediately established a mission in the Batan islands, about thirty leagues from Cagayan, but after his death his companions retired, abandoning the mission until the year 1718, at which period another Dominican friar re-established it, fixing his residence in the island of Calayan, to which he endeavoured to induce the inhabitants of the adjoining islands to repair for instruction in our faith. But whatever might be the inclination of the Batanians to become converts, only one hundred and fifty persons found resolution to change their residence, and of these one half died in a very little time. That island, indeed, afforded but very few resources, in consequence of which the missionary friar fell sick, and although a successor was appointed, the mission was eventually abandoned.

In the year 1754 the idea was resumed, and two friars were sent for the purpose, of which one died immediately, and the other retired to Cagayan very seriously indisposed, but returned again the succeeding year with a brother friar; and in order to guard against the miseries which they had suffered the preceding year, they determined to take with them a carpenter, who was a lay brother, for the erection of a house and accommodations immediately on their arrival, the materials for which they proposed to have ready prepared for the purpose. Their zeal, however, would not permit them to wait until the materials for the house could be finished, and fearful lest the monsoon should be lost, they embarked without them.