with the advent of spanish colonialism in the 16th century, the philippines became a closed colony and cultural contacts with other southeast asian countries were limited, if not closed. in 1481, the spanish inquisition commenced with the permission of pope sixtus iv and all non-catholics within the spanish empire were to be expelled or to be "put to the question" (tortured until they renounced their previous faith). with the re-founding of manila in 1571, the philippines became subject to the king of spain, and the archbishop of new galicia (mexico) became the grand inquisitor of the faithful in mexico and the philippines. in 1595, the newly appointed archbishop of manila became the inquisitor-general of the spanish east indies (i.e.,the philippines, guam, and micronesia), and until 1898 was active against protestants, buddhists, hindus and muslims. as was the case in latin america and africa, forced conversions were not uncommon and any refusal to submit to church authority was seen as both rebellion against the pope and sedition against the spanish crown, which was punishable by death.