Gua'hans Saddest Event in History
In April 2, 1672, Padre San Vitores and his Filipino assistant, Pedro Calansor were killed by a bone-tip lance and cutlass by Chief Mata'pang ("to be made pure by cleansing") of Tomhom {Tumon} and Chief Hurau. Click here for Hurao's Speech. The name Hurau or Hirau means "emotion, caring, attention, heed". Padre San Vitores had baptized the Chief Mata'pang's baby girl without the Chief's consent. Some accounts stated that San Vitores received permission of Mata'pang's wife. Some say that Mata'pang acted on the belief that the deaths of many babies in Hagatna or Agana (due to European diseases) were caused by the holy water. Being villified for centuries, the name Mata'pang evolved to mean "silly". On Guahan, this event is of great significance since it sparked the decimation of the pure Tautaumona Race. According to the book, "Hale'-ta" , early Hacha'maoris valued life and do not generally engage in violence and bloodshed to resolve conflicts. If the mother had given San Vitores permission for baptism, then Mata'pang would not have interfered. No Hacha'maori man, whether chief or commoner, could usurp a woman's authority over her own children. In early Tautaumona society, the Spanish historians described the Tautaumona society as being ranked into class. Padre San Vitores and his companions were bringing about many changes in Hacha'maori society. Central to Spanish Crown interests was Guahans strategic location in the Galleon Trade Route. The frustration of being made obedient to a remote foreign Spanish King had forced societal changes which threatened the nobility. A bid to demoralize the Spanish occupation might be Mata'pang's impetus to kill San Vitores.
One Hundred years earlier, in 1565 a Basque sailor, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi led by his flagship San Pedro, claimed the islands of the Hacha'maori as the property of the Kingdom of Spain. This occurred 44 years after Ferdinand Magellan's {Fernao de Magalhaes} scurvy stricken crew landed on Guahan on March 6, 1521. The inhabitants of the islands did not consent to this declaration of taking. Mata'pang, who himself was baptised by San Vitores turned against the Christian mission and Spanish authority. Mata'pang engaged his final battle on the Northern Island of Luta'(rota) in 1680 with the Spanish military governor Jose de Quiroga. Magalahi (Chief) Mata'pang died from lance wounds incurred during the battle while being transported from Luta' to Guahan.
The death of the Spanish mission leader Padre San Vitores in 1672 lead to all-out war. The battles gave the Marianas mission the reputation of being among the most dangerous in the Spanish dominion. While Padre San Vitores tried to carry out his mission in a peaceful manner, the Spanish military attended to theirs ruthessly to protect their Galleon Route. The last galleon voyage was recorded in 1815. Between 1670 and 1695, many battles took place and thousands of people were killed. During the course of the Spanish occupation of Guahan sources have estimated the Hacha'maoris casualties to number around 150,000 or 200,000. Hacha'maoris after 1695 were forced to settle in five villages: Hagatoa, Hagat, Humatak, Pago, and Fena. Monitored by the priests and military garrison, they were forced to attend Church daily and to learn the Spanish language and customs.
By 1740 the Tautaumona of Northern Tautaumona Islands, except Luta'i(rota), were removed from their home islands and exiled to Guahan. The cultural skill of ocean navigation was extinguished. The Spanish war of extermination plunged the total population of local inhabitants to 5,000 by 1741. Padre San Vitores' mission in Hagatna survived and serves as the center for all other Catholic churches in Guahan and the rest of the Tautaumona Islands.