Miguel Lopez de Legaspi’s troops in Manila
This was how Fr. Felipe Redondo in his 1886 book narrated the events of the transfer of seat of government of Spain headed by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi from Cebu, Panay, then Manila:
‘He sent him with Juan del Salcedo when the latter arrived in Cebu. They set sail at the beginning of May 1570 with 120 soldiers and many natives, but they were separated; Salcedo proceeded to the bay of Bimbon, in the province of Taal, to pacify it but he was met by the enemies who already had advanced warning; they (Salcedo and his men) fought courageously and forced the enemy to retreat. He stopped following them when his leg was wounded by an arrow. The Maestro de Campo when in the direction of Manila where he was received in peace; when the latter Salcedo was reunited with him in Manila, he reported what happened to him with the Muslims in Manila, and the blood compact ceremony performed to confirm peace with Rama Matanda, lord of Manila and his nephew Raja Soliman. He also related the setbacks they encountered afterwards. They returned to Panay to report to the Governor who, before the return of the Maestro de Campo, had received a letter from Juan de la Isla reporting from Maripipi on how he arrived there from New Spain, with three reinforcement ships, the “San Juan”, The “Espiritu Santo” and the patache “San Lucas”. The latter had left the year before with Felipe de Salcedo. He brought along a good number of men as reinforcements as well as letters from His Majesty. The three vessels took anchor in small island of Lutaya on June 23, 1570.”
With regards to the activities of the Church, this was how it was narrated:
“Returning in these ships was the Father Provincial, Fe. Diege de Herrera, who brought with him from Mexico two Religious priests, Fray Diego Ordonez and Fray Diege de Espinar. He also brought a letter from His Majesty decreeing the colonization and pacification of the islands and the conversion of the natives to our Catholic faith; he also ordered the division of the lands and their distribution among the most deserving men. His Majesty also granted Miguel Lopez de Legaspi the title of Adelantado (Governor) of the Islas de Ladrones, so that he and his descendants could enjoy it in perpetuity; this grant which was made on August 14, 1569 reached his eldest son Melchor Lopez de Legaspi wo had gone to the Court with Fr. Urdaneta. Adelantado Legaspi sent two of his three ships which had arrived with the same Captain Juan de la Isla, they left the port of Lutaya on July 27, 1570, in which he sent twelve pepper trees to be taken as a present to His Majesty in his Court. On November 1, he went to Cebu taking with him Fr. Provincial Diego de Herrera and Captains Luis de la Haya, Andres de Ibarra and Juan de Salcedo, the Fator (an aide) of His Majesty Andres de Mirandaola, and some gallant men from his quarters. Seeing that it was the will of His Majesty to pacify and colonize the islands for the propagation of our Catholic faith.”
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