Legazpi moves the Spanish camp somewhere by the Panay River

Miguel Lopez de Legazpi

 In 1565, Spanish explorers led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived in what is today Cebu with the hopes of establishing a settlement in the name of King Philip II and preach the Christian gospel. However, they met the native resistance. Hunger and threats of Portuguese attacks forced Legazpi and company to move to the nearby Panay island, which, according to Luis de Haya, abounds with rice. Haya earlier reached the island as he searched for food upon the governor's order. Natives who went to Panay also told them of the bountiful supply in this part of the archipelago. 

With reinforcements from New Spain (present-day Mexico) yet unavailable, the governor thought it wise to move in this land where food runs aplenty. 

With this decision to move to Panay, Andres de Mirandaola, a nephew of Fray Andres de Urdaneta and who was with Legazpi in Cebu, wrote King Philip II on June 8, 1569, telling the sovereign:  

…it was decided to change the site and situation of this camp to a province called Panae, where it is believed that we can hold out until your Majesty provide us with help and reënforcements, in order that your Majesty's affairs and vassals may not be so injured by the vassals of the king of Portugal- a place where no damage may be done, for never since these parts were discovered have the Portuguese resorted thither, and neither the king of Portugal nor his vassals had trade or commerce, nor can they possess anything there.

On July 7, 1569, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, still in Cebu, in a letter to the Marquess de Falces, the viceroy of New Spain, wrote:

All agreed that we should change our location and settlement, because it would be impossible to defend ourselves here where they could, simply by closing the entrances to the port, as they did at first, starve us, on account of the lack of food on this island. In view of other causes and arguments set forth for this change, we thought that the river Panae, situated forty leagues from this place, would be a more suitable site, for it abounds in rice, and no one from the sea could prevent us from going up the river to the mountains. Accordingly we have removed thither the artillery, although the quantity of powder and ammunition now remaining is so small that the artillery can be of little help in any place. We have decided to send the companies around the river into other towns, where they can sustain themselves until we hear from the enemy.

By this time, a settlement along the Panay River was already established , after Legazpi sent Captain Felipe de Salcedo to accompany the soldiers and the artillery to this part of Panay island.