Roger is right. Bullets have been bouncing of Pinoys for 500 years..
Not because of no "A-side meth" though. Those guys are nuts...
Testimonies of the World about the Filipino Warrior
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 - What Roger was talking about
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)
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