The Tagalog word for “gold” is ginto.
Glittering were the early reports about the Philippines. It seemed that a land of gold had been found.
“One island,” goes the Spanish report, “is so rich in gold that the inhabitants don’t value it. Gold means so little to them that their chieftain gave three measures of it for a breast-leather with bells. When the fleet returned to Mexico, they carried so much gold that the King’s fifth alone amounted to one million two hundred thousand ducats.”
While in the Visayas, the Spaniards heard that there was gold in Bohol, in Panay, and in the. hills of Cebu, as well as in the peninsula of lbalon. One island would be named Mina de Oro (Mindoro) because it was said to be rich in gold mines.
In Cebu, the Spaniards went on a gold rush upon learning that the Cebuanos buried gold with their dead. Graves were dug up and a lot of gold jewelry was found.
More gold was reported in Mindanao, and in Luzon: “Every year Japanese ships loaded with merchandise come to Luzon to exchange their silver for gold at the rate of two and a half marks of silver for one mark of gold.”
In lbalon, which we now know as Bicolandia, the people had more of gold than of clothing and meat: “So they prefer to pay their tribute in gold rather than in food or supplies.” The lbalon were the best goldsmiths in the country: “Almost all the people there pursue this handicraft.” And of course they bedecked themselves in crafted gold.
It was the same story all over the islands: “They have so much gold and jewels that the principal natives wear on their persons in jewels alone ten to twelve thousand ducats in gold; and even the ordinary Indians carry on their persons bracelets of gold. Even the slaves wear jewels.” It was therefore argued that the natives could well afford to pay as tribute not just one measure of gold but three.
In Manila too, there was little difference between master and slave: “All wear jewels and armlets of gold.”
