The ruins of Presidio
Kota historical marker

Presidio de Lawis, known more commonly as the Kota or fort,[1][2] was a Spanish era fortification laid-down around year 1628-1630[3] in the northernmost tip of Bantayan Island in Central Philippines that became the nucleus of the modern-day municipalities of Madridejos, Bantayan, and Santa Fe.

The edifice is the Philippines's oldest surviving, and longest standing original Spanish military fort structure, older than Fort San Pedro (current structure built in 1739), Fort Pilar (reconstructed 1718),[4] Fort San Felipe in Cavite (partly abolished during the US regime to giveway for the construction of a Naval Station, and completely destroyed during World War II), Fort San Pedro (Iloilo) pulverized during World War II, and Fort Santiago in Manila (the current structure is only a replica, the original Spanish structure was totally destroyed during WWII).

History

The contradicting claims between the town's centuries old Oral Tradition that states the fort's foundation in Madridejos, Cebu can be traced back to the time of Lapulapu's grandson who was the builder or the one who initiated the construction of the Kota himself, and the conclusion made by some modern researchers that claims the fort was only built in 1790s(no specific year or date only a general year 1790s)

that again another research was initiated and conducted by Eng'r Brient Mangubat, and Eng'r Josito Clamor Dondon whose roots both came from Bantayan, in an effort to look for contemporary accounts , historical records that could be used to support or consistent to the town's Oral Tradition or word of mouth.

And it was found that there was indeed a fort constructed in Bantayan Island more than a hundred and sixty years ago before the year 1790s.

According to the accounts of Fr. Juan de Medina, after the Pirates raid in year 1628, an Indio ( a term used to denote a Filipino native) who was the Benefice[lower-alpha 1] of Bantayan Island at the time initiated the fort's construction.

and in year 1750 the existence of a fort in Bantayan Island was again verified when the incumbent priest at the time mentioned a fort by which the people used to fend off the Moro raiders in year 1750 which was the last Moro raid that took place on Bantayan Island,

debunking therefore the conclusion that Bantayan Island started to have a fort only in the 1790s or in later years specially in the 1800s.

Notes

  1. ↑ In ancient Rome a benefice was a gift of land (precaria) for life as a reward for services rendered

References

  1. ↑ Lavilles, Gervasio L. (1965). History: Cebu's 4 cities & 49 municipalities with trimmed accounts of Christianization of the Philippines. Lavilles. p. 92. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  2. ↑ "Madridejos wants to fix landmark". Sunstar Cebu News. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  3. ↑ "Chapter 7: Promoting Philippine Culture and Values" (PDF). List of Priority Programs and Projects in the 2017-2022 Public Investment Programs (PIP)*. National Economic and Development Authority Philippines. p. 2. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  4. ↑ Orendain, Antonio (1984). Zamboanga hermosa: memories of the old town. Zamboanga City (Philippines): Filipinas Foundation, 1984. pp. 66, 254. Retrieved 10 February 2020.

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