Bankaw Nativist Uprising

1. History 1 – V2R Bankaw Religious UprisingLeyte – 1622

2. In 1565, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived in the Philippines – in the town of Carigara and was warmly welcomed by the young DatuBankaw. In 1571, he assigned Carigara as an encomienda for Juan de Trujillo, one of his men. In 1591, Trujillo reported to Governor Dasmarinas requesting that Carigarareceive a minister. The Arrival of Miguel Lopez De Legazpi *Carigara is a town which is part and parcel of what we know now as Southern Leyte. *There are claims that this meeting never occurred because itwas not mentioned in the Legazpi Chronicles. The meeting was said to be quoted from the history of the Jesuit Missions in the Philippines written by Jesuit Father Pedro Murillo Velarde in 1971 by some historians without verifying from the original sources, and thereafter propagated a fiction that was accepted as historical fact.

3. Christianization of the Natives After sending the said request, Fathers Pedro Chirino, Juan Campo, and Cosme de Flores, and a lay brother Gaspar Garay, were sent to Leyte. Still unknown to its consequences, DatuBankaw became one of the first Christian converts. By 1597, almost two – thirds of the Carigara population had been baptized and were boldly characterized by the priests as loyal Christians.

4. In recognition of the hospitality showed by his grandfather to Ferdinand Magellan, DatuBankaw received a royal gift from the Spanish monarch King Philip II. Later, he received the same appreciation in the form of a letter of gratitude because of his kindness to Legazpi and his men.

5. The Insurrection It was 1622 and almost 50 years had passed, Bankaw entertained the idea of returning to the religion of his forefathers – instigated by the earlier uprising of the babaylanTamblot in Bohol. Assuring the people of divine aid from the Diwatas, Tamblot eventually convinced Bankaw to apostatize. Together with his two sons and a daughter who have likewise apostatized, they built a temple for the old Gods. And with the help of his son Pagali, DatuBankaw convinced six other villages to join the revolt. *Pagali and Tamblot were often mismatched in the publishing of books and articles about the Bankaw Revolt

6. Alarmed by the uprising, FatherMelchor de Vera immediatelywent to Cebu to warn and seek the assistance of the Alcalde Mayor Juan de Alcarazo in putting down this rapidly spreading rebellion. In response, the Spanish authorities sent a fleet of 40 vessels manned by hundreds of Cebuanos and Spanish soldiers to Leyte. The Spanish Response

7. ..But what happens next becomes trivial because of the many accounts that strives to stand correct…

8. DatuBankaw, (now in his 70’s) and his men were first offered peace by the Spaniards but abruptly spurned the offer. Consequently, the government forces formed into three groups for a three-sided assault on the rebels’ fort in the hills. In the ensuring battle, the rebels, despite their numbers, were defeated.

9. Together with his first son Pagali, DatuBankaw perished in the battle. His second son was beheaded as a traitor; and his daughter was taken captive. Bankaw's head was severed from his body and placed on a stake (some claimed that it was put on a plate instead) and exhibited in public as a punishment for his infidelity and apostasy. Several other rebels were also shot, while a babaylan was burned at the stake. And these were all meant to strike terror among all revolutionists. Thus, ending the Bankaw Revolt.

10. Stories from two barangays in Carigara rather suggests a debate between Bankaw’s camp and his visitors: “What seems to have occurred during the peace "negotiation“, to convince Bankaw and his people to withdraw from their revolt, was the massacre of Bankaw and his entire family instead. Yet the Spaniards reported an actual battle happened so as to hide the shameful act they have committed against the Waray people.” *BarangayHiraan. ** *Since folklore, place – names and rituals are now considered legitimate indicators of history, Indicators in History

11. The “Turugpo”, an annual festival of cock – fighting, carabao – fighting, horse – fighting, and gambling every Good Friday, the holiest day in the Christian world, implies the Church’s great involvement in the bloody massacre of DatuBankaw and his family.

12. The name of the island Leyte, was formerly known as Abuyo, before it became Ila-Iti "Ila" - "theirs" or "belonging to" "Iti" - "Good Boy", and "Good Boy" was Bankaw's baptismal name. Ila-Iti - "This is Iti’s land!“

13. The name "Ila-Iti" was later changed to "Leyte", as natives continued their protest and resistance to the Spaniards for their ungrateful extermination of the "royal family" of Iti, or DatuBankaw, whose forbears extended acts of hospitality since the first arrivals of the Spaniards.

14. Borrinaga, Rolando O. "Bankaw's Legacy." Philippine Daily Inquirer 24 May 2003, Print. Borrinaga, Rolando O. “Fiction in Leyte - Samar History”, Web Forum, <http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?s=deefa790ea19c98a0d19cf791305db12&f=1007> Halili, M.c. Philippine history. Rex Bookstore, Inc., 2004. Print. http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Bankaw_Revolt http://www.oocities.org/sinupan/bankaw.htm Sources:

15. FIN

16. This was presented to you by: Ronell Joseph Eisma Ronalyn Franca Aislynn Manuel Jessica Holberg Renafe Chua SittieAisaNuska Audrey Rose Publico Jose Carmona – Nieves Minami Iwayama