TODAY IN THE PAST

Today, October 2, 1568, Gonzalo de Periera, Captain-Mayor of the Portuguese, once more appears in Cebu at the head of ten powerful ships demanding the complete evacuation of the Spaniards.

During the early years of the occupation, Spain was at war with the Portuguese and the Dutch. Since Spain was using the islands as a base for operations against her rivals, the Philippines was under constant attack or threat of attack from these other powers. The Portuguese harassed Legazpi in 1567 and asked him to leave Cebu on the ground that the Spaniards were violating Portugal's rights in the area. When Legazpi refused to heed their warnings, the Portuguese under the command of General Gonzalo de Periera attacked Cebu in 1568 and blockaded its harbor. In 1570, the Portuguese again tried to land but were repulsed. Such harassments ended only after the annexation of Portugal by Spain in 1580.

The 80-year war between the Dutch and the Spaniards began in 1568. After the union of the Crowns of Portugal and Spain, the Dutch seized Portuguese colonies in the East. The Dutch under Admiral Van Noort first attacked the Philippines in 1600. Dutch incursions into Philippine waters continued up to 1647. A year later, the Treaty of Westphalia ended the war between Spain and the Netherlands.