Francisco Maniago

Francisco Maniago was a Filipino revolutionary leader who lived in the 17th century, during the Spanish colonization period in the Philippines. He led a revolt in Pampanga in 1660^[1] against the bandala system, where the locals were forced to sell their agricultural products at low prices,^[2] and the polo y servicio system, a form of forced labor where the locals worked on any government project without payment.^[3]

Francisco Maniago
Bust in Rizal Park
Known for	1660 revolt in Pampanga

Revolt

Under polo y servicio, men in Pampanga worked as timber cutters for eight months,^[4] which led to low agricultural harvests.^[5] To show their opposition against the forced labor system, the men set their campsite on fire, and chose Francisco Maniago, the chief from Mexico, Pampanga, as their leader.^[4]

Under Maniago, the revolting group closed the mouths of the rivers with stakes to disrupt commerce.^[5] They also sent letters to chiefs in provinces outside of Pampanga, asking to join the revolt against Spain.^[6]

Maniago's revolt was however short-lived. He made peace with the Spanish governor-general Sabiniano Manrique de Lara,^[7] and was never heard from again. According to one account, he and his brother were killed.^[8]