Lakandula - Arrival of Legazpi, May 1571

Arrival of Legazpi, May 1571

When Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came to Manila Bay in May 1571, Lakandula was there to meet him. The two first met on May 17, the day after Legazpi’s arrival on the bay, when Lakandula and Rajah Matanda came aboard Legazpi’s ship to discuss terms with him. Part of these discussions specified that the Spanish would not land in Tondo, and would instead land in Maynila, which had been burned to the ground the year before. Joaquin suggests that Lakandula would “have seen that Legaspi was being practical. Burned down and emptied, Maynila would be a better spot to fortify, being more strategic.”

On May 18, 1571 Rajah Sulayman, Rajah Matanda, and Lakan Dula acknowledged the sovereignty of Spain over the islands and proclaimed themselves the vassals of Spain. On the following day, May 19, Legazpi landed in Manila and took ceremonial possession of the land in the presence of Soliman, Matanda, and Lakandula.

Lakandula helped make a house for Legaspi, and a fort for the Spanish, giving them fourteen pieces of artillery and twelve jars of gunpowder – a gift much appreciated by the Spanish, who were running low on ammunition.

Soon after, Lakandula and his sones became baptized as Catholics. The Spanish had Manila’s artillery and arquebuses discharged in honor of the ceremony. Banaw Lakandula took on the name Don Carlos Lacandola after Charles I of Spain.