The First Gate of Luzon: A Historical Journey into Mindoro and Puerto Galera
From Pre-Colonial Trade Hub to Spanish Outpost, as Seen Through the Eyes of Chroniclers and Conquistadors
The island of Mindoro, known to early Spanish explorers as Bindoro or “the lesser Luzon,” holds a rich yet often overlooked chapter in the Philippine historical tapestry. Among the earliest regions encountered by the Spanish during their 16th-century expedition northward, Mindoro—and its crown jewel harbor, Puerto Galera—would serve both as a maritime refuge and a frontier for religious missions, military outposts, and early trade.
This article brings together historical records from Spanish chroniclers, missionaries, and firsthand eyewitnesses like Hernando Riquel, to reconstruct the events and impressions surrounding Mindoro and Puerto Galera during the pre-colonial and early colonial eras.
Mindoro Before Spain: Trade, Gold, and the Mangyan Highlands
Before the Spanish arrived, Mindoro was already known in regional trade circles. Chinese records as early as the 10th century mention a place called Ma-i, believed by many scholars to refer to Mindoro. Traders from China, Borneo, and even Indochina bartered ceramics and silk for beeswax, gold dust, pearls, and cotton. Spanish colonizers later called it Mina de Oro—the “mine of gold”—due to this reputation.
The island was home to two major groups:
- Coastal lowlanders, often Muslim or Islamized, who engaged in trade and alliances
- Upland peoples, such as the Mangyans, who lived in isolated communities and maintained animist spiritual practices
The Arrival of the Spaniards: Antonio de Morga and the Early Reports
In 1609, Antonio de Morga recorded in Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas that:
“Mindoro is the nearest island to Manila. It is eighty leguas long… Its villages abound in rice, food, gold placers, all kinds of game and timber.”
Spanish friars and soldiers alike quickly took interest in Mindoro’s resources. Augustinians arrived by 1572, followed by Franciscans and Jesuits who built reducciones (mission settlements) to convert and resettle native peoples. Despite efforts, the Mangyan tribes of the interior remained autonomous and resistant.
By 1618, the island was organized as the Corregimiento de Mindoro y Baco, with Puerto Galera (then called Minolo) serving as the first provincial capital. Spanish shipbuilders soon tapped Mindoro’s hardwoods—guijo, yakal, and lauan—for building galleons and military vessels.
Puerto Galera: A Safe Harbor and Galleon Anchorage
Blessed with one of the finest natural harbors in the Philippines, Puerto Galera served for centuries as a refuge for Spanish ships during storms. Galleons plying the Manila–Acapulco route often took shelter here. The Spaniards called the island a potential “Isla Paraíso” for its beauty, rich forests, and strategic location between Luzon and the Visayas.
Naval records from the 18th century show Puerto Galera as a defensive post against Moro raids, with Admiral José de Basco y Vargas reinforcing its value as a forward naval outpost.
The 1570 Encounter: Hernando Riquel’s First-Hand Report
One of the most vivid accounts of Mindoro and Puerto Galera comes from Hernando Riquel, the official notary of the 1570 expedition led by Martín de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo. Riquel’s logbook captures the moment the Spaniards first made contact with Mindoro.
He wrote:
“From the island of Banton to that of Bindoro (Mindoro) there is a distance of about 12 leagues… Mindoro is also called the lesser Luzon. All its ports and maritime towns are inhabited by Moros. We hear that inland live naked people called Chichimecos [Mangyans]. As far as could be seen, this island lacks provisions.”
Soon after arriving, they heard of Chinese merchant vessels moored at the Baco River. Salcedo was sent to approach them, but strong winds prevented the expedition from reaching the junks. The presence of Chinese traders underscored Mindoro’s role in pre-colonial commerce.
The Spaniards then turned to Minolo (Puerto Galera). There, they learned from locals of a well-defended town inland, with stone walls, culverins (small cannons), and a community prepared to resist invasion. But instead of war, diplomacy prevailed.
“A Moro came down the hill and greeted the Spanish guide, saying he and the town wished to be friends. He offered 60 gold taels and promised more. Over five days, the townsfolk provided 200 taels of impure gold and gave lavish promises of loyalty.”
Satisfied for the moment, the Spanish fleet continued on to Manila, leaving behind a veiled promise to return—and a new foothold in Mindoro.
Legacy of the Encounter
The story of Mindoro and Puerto Galera during the Spanish conquest is not one of total resistance nor easy surrender. It was a place of strategic diplomacy, resource exploitation, and intercultural contact. The peaceful offering of gold in exchange for peace is rare in the annals of colonial expansion—and testifies to the local leaders’ strategic acumen.
Puerto Galera’s harbor became one of the most important waystations in Spanish maritime navigation. Mindoro, however, remained underdeveloped throughout the Spanish era. Even by the 1890s, José Rizal noted that the island remained sparsely populated and underutilized despite its natural wealth.
Conclusion: A Forgotten Frontier with a Deep Past
Long before tourists arrived, and even before the Spanish set foot, Mindoro and Puerto Galera had already shaped themselves as cultural and trading crossroads. Thanks to Hernando Riquel and the chroniclers of the 16th to 18th centuries, we are gifted with a window into that world.
As you stand on the shores of Puerto Galera today, remember: these waters once reflected the sails of Chinese junks, Moro raiders, and Spanish galleons. The hills watched silent encounters between conquistadors and tribal chieftains. And the people of Mindoro—resilient, diverse, and proud—were already writing their history long before ink touched paper.