Juan Cerezo de Salamanca

Juan Cerezo de Salamanca was interim Spanish governor of the Philippines from August 2, 1633 to June 25, 1635.

Cerezo de Salamanca was named interim governor of the Philippines by the viceroy of New Spain, Rodrigo Pacheco y Osorio, marqués de Cerralvo to replace Juan Niño de Tabora, who had died in office July 22, 1632. Cerezo sailed from Acapulco on April 5, 1633, arriving at the Philippines on July 8. Calm did not enable his flagship to reach Cavite, near Manila. Instead the new governor landed at Mindoro and was transported to the capital by an oared vessel. He arrived in Manila and took possession of the government on August 2, 1633.

Although the Philippines were legally part of New Spain, that colony did not have direct control. Cerezo was appointed from New Spain, but he reported directly to the king, Philip IV. The governor sent his first report on August 14, 1633, less than two weeks after taking over the government. It consisted of three letters on different subjects, which included the following information.

The Spanish army in the Philippines consisted of 19 companies. Six of them garrisoned the city of Manila and another one the fort at Cavite. Six were in Ternate (the Moluccas) and three in Formosa (Taiwan). The islands of Oton, Cebu and Caraga each had one company. One company of volunteers was also stationed at Cebu. The Philippines, part of the colony of New Spain, extended from northern Formosa to the Moluccas, in what is now eastern Indonesia.

Cerezo reported that the former trade of the Philippines with China had been largely replaced by the Portuguese in Macao. The Portuguese then brought the Chinese goods to Manila for resale. Cerezo recommended that the Portuguese be prohibited from doing this, in order to restore some or all direct trade with China (despite Portugal and Spain's alliance. Philip IV was still king of both countries.)

Cerezo also mentioned royal Visitador (Inspector) Francisco de Rojas, who was in the middle of a two-year tour of inspection (1632–33) in the Philippines. Among other things, Rojas had suspended two of the four oidores (judges) of the Audiencia.

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