Bridging the Gap
By Prof. Henry Funtecha

Moro raids and Babaylan uprisings in Panay

The last decades of the 16 th century and the first half of the 17 th century were characterized by some worst ravages and scourges experienced in Panay , namely: Moro raids, Dutch attacks, babaylan uprisings, typhoons, and locust infestations. The Moro attacks were especially devastating.

In 1589 and 1590, the Moros assaulted Antique and made away with many prisoners. Taking advantage of the situation and the disastrous effect of the Moros assault, a babaylan appeared among the people and exhorted them to rise up against Catholicism and to take up homes in the mountains (Fernandez, 1920). It must be noted that in early times the babaylan was a very influential personality in any village, serving as the chief adviser of the datu. He was, at the same time, a religious leader.

Despite the trouble, the Spanish government under Gov. Gen. Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, did not resort to force. Instead, it advised the missionaries to continue with their works and to encourage the people to return to their homes and continue practicing Catholicism. No significant trouble occurred during the regime of Gov. Gen. Dasmarinas but after his death, babaylans returned again not just to Antique but to the whole island of Panay . Thereupon, they tried to convince the native Catholics to turn against the Spanish missionaries and the civil officials.

In 1599, the Moros under Sali and Silonga (Sirongon in other records) of the Maguindanao confederacy attacked Pan-ay in Capiz with a fleet of 50 boats and 3,000 men. They entered the river Banica and burned the town while taking some prisoners. The Spanish alcalde-mayor fled with the natives through the mountains. The following year, the Moros again under the two notorious leaders also raided Arevalo in Iloilo . Juan Garcia Sierra, the justicia mayor of Arevalo met them with 80 Spaniards and 1,500 Bisayans sent by neighboring missionaries. There was a fierce battle which lasted several days until the Panayanons won. The Moros retreated and escaped to Guimaras but Sierra perished in battle.

After a lull of three years, the Moros returned to Oton and Arevalo in 1600. After their attack of the two towns and their withdrawal, the native fighters caught up with them at the islets of Pan de Azucar and Silangan where one of the most devastating battles was fought. The Moros fled and left behind some of their captive Christian natives.

In 1611, there were many Moro raids in Panay and it became so frequent that many people fled to the mountains and the missionaries gave up their ministry. While the Moro raids were going on, the babaylans from all over the island gathered in a cave at the foot of Mt. Paningra-on in Dumalag, Capiz and held their grand rituals there and taking an oath never to follow Catholicism.

In 1622, the Moros staged another expedition and landed in the shores of Oton in several vintas and pillaged the town. Having set fire to the convent and other parts of the town, they captured some of its inhabitants to be sold to slavery. The frequent Moro attacks on Oton, which served as the capital of the Spanish administration in Western Visayas , eventually led to the transfer of the seat of government to Arevalo.

In 1633, the Moros again attacked Panay , this time landing in Ibajay and Kalibo. After burning the churches in those two places and taking along many captives, they proceeded to Batan and ambushed those who passed there. They also burned all the boats in that place. To add to the havoc there was a plague of locusts at that time resulting to widespread hunger in the area. Taking advantage of these calamities, the babaylans again showed up and appealed to the people to reject Catholism and return to the indigenous religion. These repetitive events kept on haunting Panay all throughout the first half of the 17 th century.