Tribute to Filipino Warrior Spirit.

Testimonies of the World Throughout known history, the Filipino soldier earned an honored place on the battlefield. The annals of history are full of praise for the Filipino warrior and soldier. If we venture back to the writings of the Chinese and Muslims, it may be that the ancient Filipinos were mentioned in the notices of Sanfotsi, Zabag and related kingdoms. This author explores this possibility on a linked webpage discussing the medieval Philippines. Whether the Philippines constituted the kingdoms mentioned, the latter certainly belonged to the vast archipelago inhabited by Filipinos and our Malay relatives. Thus, much of the characteristics ascribed to the Sanfotsi or other warriors would also apply, for the most part, to Filipinos. The Chinese Testimony Regarding Sanfotsi, the geographical encyclopedia written by Ma Tuan-lin states: "They are all very brave; in fighting on land or water they are superior to other nations. They have a sea port at the point where commerce passes and they compel the merchants to stop there. If some should attempt to pass without recognizing them, they would immediately launch a naval assault against them. All would be ready to take them without fail, no matter how energetic the resistance. The result of this is that the port of Sanfotsi is the entrepot of the merchants of all countries." (Author's translation of D'Harvey St. Denis's French translation) Another medieval Chinese writer, Chau Ju-kua's wrote concerning Sanfotsi: "They are skilled at fighting on land or water. When they are about to make war on another state they assemble and send for the such a force as the occasion demands. They appoint chiefs and leaders, and all provide their own military equipment and the necessary provisions. In facing the enemy and braving death they have not their equal among other nations." (Chu-fan-chi translated by Hirth and Rockhill) The medieval geography of Chou Ku-fei says something very similar regarding the warriors of Sanfotsi: "...the people are skilled in fighting. When they are about to fight, they cover their bodies with a medicine which prevents swords wounding them. In fighting on land or on water none surpass them in impetousity of attack; even the Kulin people come after them. If some foreign ship, passing this place, should not enter here, an armed party would certainly come out kill them to the last." The Muslim Testimony The Muslim writers had pretty much the same impression of the Malay people. Ibn al-Fakih says of the Sanfotsi (Zabag): "...they are of a great character resembling a nation of ferocious beasts." In a way, this resembles, Draper's descriptions of the Pampangos as a "fierce and barbarous people." In describing the island of Niyan which was located somewhere between Sanfotsi and Toupo, a Muslim writer states: "The inhabitants are remarkable for their great energy and great courage." Another Muslim writer describes the same people as "of indomitable character and hostile to strangers." The Coming of the Europeans When Pigafetta visited the island of Mindanao during the expedition of Magellan he was impressed by an exceptionally brave tribe of long-haired warriors living on that island. Magellan was eventually killed himself in a battle with the local raha, Lapu-lapu. However, Magellan had started the process by which the islands were eventually subjugated. He managed to convert a local king and his subjects to Christianity. And for awhile, he pitted the zealous new convert against other local kings. When Legazpi came to conquer the Philippines he did the same thing, but more successfully. The main contingent during Legazpi's invasion of Luzon was a force of Cebuano mercenaries who provided their own native warships. The Spanish Testimony Even under foreign rule, the Filipino established a reputation as an excellent soldier. One Spanish writer declared that the Filipino soldier was the bravest of all the subjects of the king of Spain, at a time when the Spanish empire was at its height. Father Delgado, responding to criticism leveled against the Indio stated: "On the contrary, it must be said that the Indians are those who defend us from our enemies; for, in the presidios, who are the soldiers, who sail in the war fleets, who are in the vanguard in war? Could the Spaniards, perchance, maintain themselves alone in the country, if the Indians did not aid in everything?" (Blair & Robertson, The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Vol. VI, pp. 270-271) The records of the Spaniards were full of the daring exploits of Filipino soldiers. In a letter by Juan Grau y Monfalcon he wrote of the Filipinos: "Those Indians, mingled with Spaniards, serve as soldiers in war, and have proved excellent therein. Especially are the Pampangos valiant soldiers, who have performed and are daily performing valiant exploits at the side of the Spanish. They were at the taking of Terrenate; and, whenever occasion offers, they with other companies come to guard the city of Manila." (Conrado Benitez, History of the Philippines, Boston, 1929, p. 258)