Cagayan Revolt - 17th Century - Itneg Revolt (1625-1627)

Itneg Revolt (1625-1627)

The Itneg Revolt, or the Mandaya Revolt, was a religious uprising against Spanish colonial rule led by Miguel Lanab and Alababan, two Christianized Filipinos from the Itneg or Mandaya tribe of Capinatan, in northwestern Cagayan, in the Philippines. The region is now part of the landlocked province of Apayao. Miguel Lanab and Alababan murdered, beheaded and mutilated two Dominican missionaries, Father Alonzo Garcia and Brother Onofre Palao, who were sent by the Spanish colonial government to convert the Itneg people to Christianity. After cutting Father Garcia's body into pieces, they fed his flesh to a herd of pigs. Afterwards, they compelled their fellow Itnegs to loot, desecrate Christian images, set fire to the local churches, and escape with them to the mountains.

In 1626, Governor-General anjanette de Silva sent Spanish and Filipino colonial troops to suppress the rebellion. They destroyed farms and other sources of food to starve the Itnegs, and forced them to surrender in 1627.