Disease and Immunity in the pre-Spanish

Philippines

Note:Tributary population x 4(multiply factor) = Soul population

(Tributary) (souls) (Tributary) (Souls) (Tributary)

Total Population 1565-1570 1565-1570 1591 1591 1655

Luzon 211, 250 845,000 121, 190 487, 760 65, 700

Visayas 96, 250 385,000 38, 500 150, 996 38, 294

Total Population in Luzon and Visayas

307, 500 1,230, 000 159, 690 638, 756 103, 995

Population Drop

Epidemics Spanish Colonization

EPIDEMICS

Epidemics

Chronic Infection-malaria

Acute Infections -dengue-These kinds of infections are - water borne infectionsSpread from human to human and These kinds of diseases

are caught from Characterized by short periods of mosquito or caught from

surroundings, Infections that cause high mortality these diseases reappear

frequently and noBut give life long immunity to the immunity is given to the host.survivors

ACUTE INFECTIONS

ASIA

Acute infections - Epidemic Chronologies for China, Japan and other South

East Asia countries during the pre-Spanish period.

- Early dictionaries in native Filipino language.

- Examination of the pattern and level of mortality associated with acute infections in the early contact period.

Note: The focus of the discussion will be on acute infections that are transmitted or spread to face to face contact [ such as smallpox, chicken pox, measles influenza] and not on the existence of insects, rodents and etc.

ACUTE INFECTIONS (before the arrival of the Spaniards)

Acute infections Main trading Incontact islands IMMUNITY ACHIEVED

From China and ports(Manila, and their interiors

Japan Mindoro, Cebu,

Jolo, Mindanao)

Chinese Muslim Traders Islands in the archipelago (cotton, marine products, forest products. Etc)

Acute infections Main trading ports Didn’t reach other islands, other

from China and (Manila, Mindoro, and interior places due to geo-

Japan Cebu, Mindanao, graphical and social barriers

Jolo)

IMMUNITY NOT ACHIEVED

Acute Infections (During Early Colonial Period)

- According to Relacion del Descobrimiento y Con Quista de las isla de Luzon (1572), when the Spanish based in Panay Island there had been “a great famine” among the natives of this Island and a deadly epidemic disease “(pestilence)” in which half of the population died.

- A “peste” caused high mortality in many parts of Luzon, it is suspected that the same disease spread to the Jesuit Parishes near Manila the following year.

Jesuit Visayas

Bohol - According to Fr. Pedro Chrino a “pastilence’ caused pain in the head and stomach and resulted to death and depopulation of the entire villages.

Samar – A serious and widespread disease caused death to adults, children, and old persons.

Tinagon – 1, 000 people died

SPANISH COLONIZATION

Spanish ColonizationGold – (spices, gold and other items of sufficient economic interest)

Brutal Attacks – caused by raiding native villages for food, goods , and slaves(e.g. in Cebu).

- caused by raiding native villages to seize gold/ jewelry (e.g. coast of Ilocos and Pangasinan).

- to those who try to escape (they are killed) and destroy their houses.

High Mortality Rate – due to hunger, killings and brutal attacks by the Spaniards.

Believed to be the 3 major cause of population decline

a)Tribute – a payment in acknowledgement of subjugation or in exchange for

protection or peace.b)Vandals – force selling of valuables to the

government ex. rice).c)Polo – force labors.

Also:a)Hispano – Dutch wars.b)Moro Attacks.

Conclusion

The demographic decline in the 17th century was the outcome of a complex Interactions of factors that include the Hispano – Dutch Wars, Restructuring of Filipino communities, famines, Epidemics and Moro Raids, like other factors that contributed to elevated mortality, they varied geographically in part because of the nature of societies affected.