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Elcano

The poem describes Juan Sebastián Elcano, a Spanish Basque who took command of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition after Magellan's death in the Philippines and completed the first circumnavigation of the world. It portrays Elcano as a brave and heroic man who was willing to face hurricanes and storms as he sailed around the globe with his Spanish ships. While Rizal saw Elcano as the first to circumnavigate the world, historical research since has determined that the honor actually belongs to Ferdinand Magellan, who reached the Philippines and began the voyage.

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Jester Olave Austria
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513 views

Elcano

The poem describes Juan Sebastián Elcano, a Spanish Basque who took command of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition after Magellan's death in the Philippines and completed the first circumnavigation of the world. It portrays Elcano as a brave and heroic man who was willing to face hurricanes and storms as he sailed around the globe with his Spanish ships. While Rizal saw Elcano as the first to circumnavigate the world, historical research since has determined that the honor actually belongs to Ferdinand Magellan, who reached the Philippines and began the voyage.

Uploaded by

Jester Olave Austria
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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5.

Elcano was a Spaniard, The First to Circumnavigate the Earth

When Rizal was a student at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, he showed a predilection for
historical subjects for his poetic compositions. The following was one of them, bearing the
date, 5 December 1875. The poem AND HE IS SPANISH: ELCANO, THE FIRST TO
CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE WORLD is about Juan Sebastin Elcano, a Spanish Basque,
Ferdinand Magellans second in command, who upon Magellans death on the shores of
Mactan in the Philippines, took over and completed the first circumnavigation of the world.

Where does that frail ship go


That proudly cruises on
And ploughs the distant seas
To seek the lands unknown?

Whos the brave and invincible,


That from far down the West
Sails on the expansive world
To yonder roseate East?

Of Spain hes a heroic son,


A Titan new of pirence,
Who with fury fights against,
If it holds him, the hurricane.

Hes Elcano who undertakes


A task that enchants the world;
To accomplish it he vows
And its vastness him doesnt hold.

And to Red-tailed eagle akin


That soars high in the wind
With an unequalled flight
And with a movement swift,

Of the blowing storm that roars,


He scorns the horrible hiss;
And mocks with kingly air
The lightings shattering noise.

And like a craggy rock


No impetuous ocean in range
Or the Fury of hurricanes
Him can Change or disengage;

Such is the invincible


Elcano, When cruising through
The waves, with his Spanish ships,
Their rage they mightly subdue.

Triumphant crosses he
The vast roundness of the globe
With exceptional bravery
He measured the extensive orb.

A thousand laurels crown


Defender of Spain, your brow;
And a brilliant diadem
Now proudly decorates you.

This is one of the great poem of Dr. Jose Rizal our National Hero. This poem tells us about
Sebastian Elcano who was the first man to circumnavigate the world according to Dr. Jose
Rizal. He describe here the journey of Sebastian Elcano to the Philippines. Rizal describes
Elcano as a brave man whos willing to give his life just to travel the world. Even if theres a
big storm, a huge wave, a howling wind that dragging their ships they still continued their
travel around the world.

But this historical research since Rizals time, has corrected the old belief that Sebastian
Elcano was the first man to circumnavigate the world. The honor is now given to Ferdinand
Magellan, who reached the Philippines in 1521.

Jester O. Austria
BSED 2A

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