How the Aklanons helped the Spaniards conquer Mindoro

Panay and Mindoro islands in the oldest Philippine map created by Petrus Kaerius in 1598. Tilt your head towards the left when looking at the map to get the right view. Image from Wikimedia Commons

Fray Gaspar de San Agustin noted how the Spaniards, in helping the natives of Aklan and Ibajay, managed to extend their presence in Mindoro. It is, however difficult to discredit the contribution of native soldiers who made this voyage a success.  Fr. San Agustin begins:

“In the month of January of 1570, two native leaders visited the governor [Legazpi]. One of them came from the village of Aklan, on the island of Panay, while the other came from Bahay [Ibajay] river. They asked him for help against the natives of the coast of Mindoro who were great pirates and from whom they received great harm.  The governor gave them Captain Juan de Salcedo, whom they had specifically requested, along with thirty soldier from his company, under orders to pacify and reduce some of the villages to the service of His Majesty on the same island of Panay on his way back.”

Barely twenty years old, Salcedo pacified villages on his way to Aklan via the Aklan river, where some 500 Aklanon warriors were waiting for him who accompanied him and some Spanish troops to Mamburao village in Mindoro island. They arrived at midnight without a villager noticing them, leaving their paraos somewhere where they could not be easily seen.

Captain Juan de Salcedo. Image from Wikimedia Commons

Of the attack to Mamburao, San Agustin continues:

“Juan del Salcedo went alone with a native leader of Aklan to spy the displacement and the defense that could  be had in the enemy village. They then returned to where the men were left and, after eating dinner and resting a little bit, he left with his men and two hundred chosen Aklan natives, and marched on the village of Mamburao. They reached it one hour before sunrise. They attacked at daybreak. The battle lasted a long time, until the enemy finally surrendered, with the rest fleeing to Luban.”

Once the enemies were vanquished, Salcedo told the people of Mamburao that they “had not come to harm them but to help the natives of Aklan and Bahay who suffered so much under the enemy.” At first, Salcedo told them he wanted them as friends of Spain, but the cunning young man changed his mind and demanded they random ransom themselves, instead, with gold. This he distributed “among the soldiers and leaders”  [of Aklan and Ibajay, probably?] without taking anything for himself. Suffice it was for him to know that success was his.

Next he launched a brutal attack to the island of Luban whose people gave him “great quantity of gold”, which he shared with the leaders of Aklan and Ibajay. After entering a blood compact with the leaders of vanquished island, Salcedo returned to Panay, happy with his victories.  

Read: When the Spaniards moved to Panay