TODAY IN THE PAST

Today, September 30, 1611, Jeronimo de Silva arrives and takes charge of the military affairs of the Philippines. He wins a victory over seven Dutch vessels off Corregidor.

Despite the Dutch-Spanish truce, which was signed in 1609, the Dutch empire-builders continued their colonizing activities in the East.

Spanish sovereignty in the Moluccas was thus imperiled. In 1611 Governor Juan de Silva, who had defeated the Dutch under Admiral Wittert at Playa Honda in April, 1610, led a Spanish squadron of 16 ships and many smaller crafts and 2,000 Spaniards and numerous Filipinos to the Moluccas.

Due to Dutch strength at Gilolo, he withdrew to Manila with the intention of raising a powerful expedition for the reconquest of the whole Moluccas for Spain.

He proposed to the Portuguese viceroy at Goa a joint offensive against the Dutch. The latter agreed; he would send to Malacca a fleet of four ships, 90 cannons, and 400 soldiers. When the plan was set, Governor Silva left Cavite, February 4, 1616, with his fleet of 42 ships, 300 cannons 2,000 Spaniards, and 3,000 Filipinos.

He sailed to Malacca and awaited the Portuguese flotilla. But the flotilla failed to come.

Meanwhile, misfortune struck at the Spanish expedition, for Governor Silva was stricken with malignant fever and died on April 19.

Don Alonso Enriquez succeeded in command, but instead of continuing the projected voyage to the East Indies, he brought back the armada to Manila, June 1, 1616, with the corpse of the unfortunate governor, which was later buried with high honors at the Jesuit church.