Presidio de Lawis

Presidio de Lawis, known more commonly as the Kota or fort,^[1]^[2] was a Spanish-era fortification laid down around 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' oldest-surviving, and longest-standing original Spanish military fort structure, older than Fort San Pedro (current structure built in 1738), Fort Pilar (reconstructed in 1718),^[4] Fort San Felipe in Cavite (partly abolished during the US regime to give way 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).^[relevant?]

History

The town's centuries-old oral tradition states that the fort's foundation in Madridejos, Cebu can be traced back to the time of Lapu-Lapu's grandson who was the builder or the one who initiated the construction of the Kota himself. However, some modern researchers claim the fort was built in the 1970s.

To investigate these conflicting claims, Engr. Brient Mangubat, and Engr. Josito Clamor Dondon whose roots both came from Bantayan, sought contemporary accounts and historical records that would validate the town's oral tradition.^{[citation needed]}

Their research revealed that a fort was indeed constructed on Bantayan Island before the 1970s. According to the accounts of Fr. Juan de Medina, after a pirate raid in 1628, an Indio (a term used to denote a Filipino native) who was the benefice^[a] of Bantayan Island at the time, initiated the fort's construction.^{[citation needed]}

Furthermore, the existence of a fort on Bantayan Island in the 1750s was again verified. The research states that an incumbent priest at the time mentioned a fort that the locals had to use to themselves from the Moro raiders in 1750, the last time an attack occurred on the island. ^{[citation needed]}

These findings debunk the claim that Bantayan Island only began to have a fort in the 1790s or later, particularly in the 1800s.

Notes

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

References

^ 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.
^ "Madridejos wants to fix landmark". Sunstar Cebu News. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
^ "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.
^ Orendain, Antonio (1984). Zamboanga hermosa: memories of the old town. Zamboanga City (Philippines): Filipinas Foundation, 1984. pp. 66, 254. Retrieved 10 February 2020.

[5] In ancient Rome a benefice was a gift of land (precaria) for life as a reward for services rendered

[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.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[a]