He was one of at least four sons of Lakandula,[1][Notes 1][3] and thus held the title of Datu under his cousin and co-conspirator Agustin de Legazpi, who had been proclaimed paramount ruler (ruler over other datus) of the indianized kingdom of Tondo after the death of Lakandula, although the position soon became little more than a courtesy title.
As a result, early Filipino historians such as Gregorio Zaide could only definitively say that he was born of noble heritage - presumably somewhere in or near Tondo.
As the Spaniards continued to strengthen their grip on the Philippines, they introduced new elements meant to subjugate the Filipino people, such as Catholicism.
Finally, Martin Pangan, gobernadorcillo of Tondo at the time, also pledged to support the cause, and with their band assembled, a plan came into fruition.
After he had learned of it, Surabao brought what he had heard to his master, Pedro Sarmiento, the Spanish encomendero of Calamianes, who then scampered to Manila on October 26, 1588, and reported it to the Governor-General at the time, Santiago de Vera.
Aside from his participation in the Tondo Conspiracy of 1587, few definite facts about Magat Salamat's life were documented in 20th Century history textbooks until historian Luciano P.R.
Santiago's paper, "The Houses of Lakandula, Matanda And Soliman (1571–1898)" was published by the Philippine Quarterly of Culture & Society Journal in 1990.