Pre-colonial period Philippine Navy

before spanish arrived in philippines ancient peoples there engaging in naval warfare, trade, piracy, travel , communication using balangay. flotilla of balangay discovered in late 1970s in butuan city, agusan del norte.

a karakowa ancient battleship lantaka cannons.

philippine ships, such karakao or korkoa of excellent quality , of them used spaniards in expeditions against rebellious tribes , dutch , british forces. of larger rowed vessels held hundred rowers on each side besides contingent of armed troops. generally, larger vessels held @ least 1 lantaka @ front of vessel or 1 placed @ stern. philippine sailing ships called praos had double sails seemed rise on hundred feet surface of water. despite large size, these ships had double outriggers. of larger sailing ships, however, did not have outriggers.

antecedent raids, somethime between a.d. 1174 , 1190, traveling chinese government bureaucrat chau ju-kua reported group of ferocious raiders of china’s fukien coast called pi-sho-ye, believed have lived on southern part of formosa. in a.d. 1273, work written ma tuan lin, came knowledge of non-chinese readers through translation made marquis d’hervey de saint-denys, gave reference pi-sho-ye raiders, thought have originated southern portion of formosa. however, author observed these reaiders spoke different language , had entirely different appearance (presumably when compared inhabitants of formosa).

in battle of manila in 1365 unspecified , disputed battle occurring somewhere in vicinity of manila between forces of kingdoms in luzon , empire of majapahit.

even though exact dates , details of battle remain in dispute, there claims of conquest of area around saludong (majapahit term luzon , manila) according text nagarakretagama

nevertheless, there may have been battle manila occurred during time victory luzon s kingdoms considering kingdom of tondo had maintained independence , not enslaved under ruler. alternatively, luzon may have been invaded able regain independence later.