Tondo Conspiracy

Conspiracy of the Maginoos
Date1587–1588
Location
Result

Plot discovered

  • Centralization of the Spanish colonial government
  • Tondo dissolved and became a direct territory under the Spanish Empire
Belligerents

Tondo polity

Spanish Empire

Commanders and leaders
Agustin de Legazpi Executed
Magat Salamat Executed
Santiago de Vera
Pedro Sarmiento

The Tondo Conspiracy of 1587, popularly known as the Conspiracy of the Maginoos (Spanish: La Conspiración de las Maginoos), also known as the Revolt of the Lakans, was a revolt planned by Tagalog nobles known as maginoos, led by Don Agustin de Legazpi of Tondo and his cousin Martin Pangan, to overthrow the Spanish government in the Philippines due to injustices against the Filipinos.[1] It was territorially one of the largest conspiracies against the Spanish rule next to the Katipunan. It ranged from provinces near Manila all the way to the Calamianes Islands near Palawan.[2]

Legazpi sought help from a Japanese sea captain named Juan Gayo who was a Christian and asked for arms and warriors to fight alongside them in exchange for one-half of the tributes collected in the Philippines.[1] They also requested help from places such as Borneo, Laguna, and Batangas with a plan to assault the city of Manila and assassinate the Spaniards. However, their plan was discovered by the Spaniards when Magat Salamat revealed their plan to fellow rebel Antonio Surabao, who turned out to be a traitor when he reported the conspiracy to the Spaniards. Consequently, the rebels associated with the conspiracy were punished, with some being put to death and others being exiled. The plot against the Spaniards died alongside them.

  1. ^ a b Halili, M.C. Philippine History. Rex Bookstore, Inc., 2004.
  2. ^ Martinez, Manuel F. Assassinations & conspiracies : from Rajah Humabon to Imelda Marcos. Manila: Anvil Publishing, 2002.