Araw ng Kastila

EVERY year on June 24, it is best to avoid areas in the Philippines whose patron saint is St. John the Baptist or San Juan Bautista because people in these places have a custom of dousing others with water on this day. Passengers in jeepneys passing San Juan yesterday were "baptized" by hooligans hiding behind tradition. Imagine getting wet on your way to school or work, without a change of clothes. Worse, where did the water come from? One hopes the liquid came from a faucet, not a nearby canal or sewer.

In Manila, not much water is thrown because June 24 is the foundation day of Spanish Manila or Araw ng Maynila. With the oath-taking of re-elected Mayor Lito Atienza yesterday, it is a good time to look at present-day Manila, remember its past, and look optimistically toward the continuing development of the city in the next six years.

As Manila celebrated its 433rd birthday, I remembered some local history. While most people think of the 1945 Battle for Manila (formerly known as the "Liberation" of Manila from the Japanese) as the one great historic battle of our times, they forget the first Battle for Manila in 1570 between the Spaniards under Martin de Goiti and the forces of Raja Soliman, the young ruler of Manila, nephew of the older Raja thus known as Matanda (or Laya). To cut a long story short, Soliman lost. Soliman's proud palisade was taken by the enemy and became the foundation of present-day Fort Santiago. Soliman crossed the river into the Kingdom of Tondo ruled by his uncle Raja Lakandula. Then the walls started to rise enclosing an area inside it known as Intramuros, while the area outside was extra-muros. Most historic was the area now occupied by Rizal Park, a new settlement for natives known as Bagumbayan.

Martin de Goiti took possession of Manila and Luzon in the name of the Spanish king on June 6, 1570, but it was only the following year, on May 16, 1571, that Miguel Lopez de Legazpi landed in Manila from Panay with 600 Visayan warriors. Legazpi was not greeted by armed resistance anymore but by peace with Soliman, Matanda and Lakandula. On June 3, 1571, Legazpi conferred the now famous title "insigne y siempre leal (distinguished and ever loyal)" on the city of Manila.

Among the many significant dates, the one that is memorialized is June 24, 1571 when a government was established within the city and it was proclaimed the capital of the Spanish Philippines.

Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, former chair of the Manila Historical Commission, has vainly argued for the fine-tuning of Manila history for commemorating June 24, 1571 means the Araw ng Maynila is actually the Araw ng Kastila. While we celebrate June 24 by tradition, it is hoped that we do not forget that Manila is older than 433 years and that Manila was a thriving community long before the Spaniards even dreamed it existed. All this may matter little today, but it can be a source of pride not just for Manilans but for all Filipinos.

A number of Spanish documents give us a picture of Manila as the Spaniards saw it. It was described as "large and very strong...the inhabitants of Manila were powerful, for they have twelve pieces of small and inferior artillery and a few culverins, with such other weapons...This village of Manila is situated on a tongue of land extending from east to west between the river and the sea, and a fort had been built on the extreme western end of this peninsula at the entrance to the port. The sea makes a very large harbor about 30 leagues in circumference; and bordering upon this harbor are many villages, among which is that of Manila. Manila is now a Spanish city founded in the name of his Majesty by the governor Miguel Lopez de Legazpi..."

Unfortunately, we have no Filipino voice, no Filipino account of the Battle for Manila so we only have Martin de Goiti's word that Soliman and his uncle began hostilities, the Filipino resistance to the enemy described as "unexpected and treacherous." One account says that after the killing and taking of some of their Filipino allies ("collaborators" would be a better term) the following occurred:

"After that they discharged the artillery in their fort, two balls which struck the ship San Miguel, on board of which was the said Master of Camp [Goiti]. He, in order to guard himself from the injury which the said Moros were doing him in starting the war, and to prevent their artillery from harming his men, attacked the said fort of the Moros, and captured it by force of arms and is now in possession of it. And inasmuch as the said fort and town of Manila have been won in lawful and just war, and since according to the said natives, Manila is the capital of all towns of this said island: therefore in his Majesty's name he was occupying it and did occupy, was taking and did take, royal ownership and possession, actual and quasi of this said island of Luzon and of all other ports, towns, and territories adjoining and belonging to this said island. Moreover, as a sign of real occupation, he ordered his ensign to raise the flag of his company on the fort built by the natives, had the artillery found in the said fort taken for his majesty and performed other acts and duties as a sign of real occupation..."

Araw ng Maynila or Araw ng Kastila depends on the point of view of the person writing history. We hope the Filipino point of view emerges one day.