Philippine history : reassessed / Isidro Escare Abeto.

religious missionaries brought the religious artifacts to Arevalo. If this is to
be entertained as true, it was said that due to the frequent Moro raids from
Mindanao, the Dutch buried the treasure to avoid seizure by the Muslims. It
is illogical to believe, they alleged, that the Spaniards owned the gold crown.
Why should the Spanish authorities of Arevalo send it to the king of Spain as
a gift? Besides the religious artifacts, the native residents also found some
Dutch coins. This can be regarded as true because historical records show that
in the 16th century or, precisely, in 1614, ten Dutch warships entered Arevalo
and attacked the Spanish settlement. The Spaniards with their forces fled to
the interior towns of Iloilo. A Spanish reinforcement from Cebu camne, but it
was too late. Previous to this, in 1609, under Admiral Wittert and also, in
1616, under Admiral Spielbergen, and later in 1617, the Hollanders made
their armed incursions. In their latest venture, however, they had to leave in
haste when they suffered devastating losses from the Spanish forces with the
help of the brave Ilongo warriors.
The Bronze Plaque
The author, in 1977, stands in front of the bronze plaque at the
base of the concrete pillar at the center of the public plaza of Villa
de Arevalo. The plaque states the cirscumstances how the gold
crown was found.

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