1795-YEAR OF THE DRAGONS

A NEW KING

1795 was a pivotal year in the history of the Philippines. The Spanish controlled most of the country and had been colonializing the Philippines for many years. Few islands of any size had not yet capitulated. The largest of these holdouts was Cebu. 1795 was the year that the Spanish governor-general in Manila set his eyes on that prized island. This story starts in January 1795 and it turned out to be a very surprising year.

Pedro Rodriguez was the Spanish colonel leading nearly 400 mounted conquistadors in a full-on attack against a rebellious band of Philippine natives in Leyte. The conquistadors were clad in leather armor and had swords as their primary weapon. They waited atop a hill with trees lining both sides of a pasture.

Down the hill were several hundred native warriors. They had no armor; many didn't even have shoes. They armed themselves with bows, pikes, and swords. These men lacked organization and leadership against a tested foe such as the Spanish.

To the side, hidden in the forest were two figures who are keen to watch the battle. They have been sent to Leyte as observers by King Daku of Cebu. His son, Prince James, was one of the onlookers. His chief aide, Nathaniel, had joined him on this trip. They knew that the Spanish will come for Cebu someday soon and wanted to observe the Spanish battle tactics.

A horse blew its nostrils loudly from the Spanish side. They had not yet moved towards the native warriors. It seemed odd that there was actually patience in such a situation. War was inevitable today. Both sides were prepared. There was an anxiousness on both sides of this soon-to-be battle. Yet, they waited.

James whispered to Nathaniel. "Let's see if the Leyte troops can handle themselves, Nathaniel. King Maginoo said his men were well trained."

"I hope they send those Spanish dogs back to Manila with their tails between their legs. A sound thrashing here would ensure that they would not desire to face our royal troops in Cebu."

"My father was wise to send us here to Leyte to witness this spectacle. We shall learn a lot."

"Your father is a wise king, Prince James. Let's hope you will follow in his footsteps when your time comes."

A trumpet sounded from the Spanish side of the battle. A battle cry was heard from the Filipino side in response. The Spanish charged down the hill at a gallop, swords raised. The battle turned into a rout. The Spanish were far too powerful. The surviving Leyte troops fled into the woods in disarray.

Nathaniel was shell-shocked by the result of the battle. "Holy Mother of Mary!"

James was stunned himself. He was expecting the natives to put up a great defense of their homeland. "Let's not dally. Let's get back to Cebu promptly. My father will want to know what has happened here.

Prince James had spent the last six years training and leading the island's militia. It was mandatory that every military-aged male in a village or town undergo a week of training once a year. James would travel with Nathaniel to rural areas and train the men in the use of weapons and tactics. Not military tactics; rather guerilla warfare. The tactics were meant to delay the Spanish advancement through the island and to inflict maximum damage with minimal losses.

Cebu had a standing army, but they were not well respected by King Daku or the Spanish. The Cebu army's mission was to protect the kingdom's castle on the outskirts of Cebu City and to throw a scare into the nobles who refused to tithe to the kingdom. Unfortunately, many nobles weren't afraid of the standing army's abilities.

Prince James was well-liked by the men he trained. They realized that if the Spanish came, it would mean the end of life as they knew it. Many would lose their farms, businesses, and worse... their lives. The murderers from Manila would certainly rape their wives, if not their children. These mostly rural men enthusiastically participated in the militia training that James provided.