MODULE 4: “Content and Contextual Analysis Magallanes, who accompanied, together with

of Selected Primary Sources in the Philippine Juan Sebastián Elcano, in the famous expedition
History: “First Voyage Around the World by to the Moluccas begun in August of 1519 and
Ferdinand Magellan – by Antonio Pigafetta” finished in September 1522.
- He was wounded at the battle of the island of
INTRODUCTION:
Cebu (Philippines) in which Magellan found
- This module critically analyzes Philippine
death. The output of Seville made it aboard of
history from multiple perspectives through the
the Trinity; the return, along with a handful of
lens of selected primary sources. Priority will be
survivors (17 of the 239 who left this
given to primary sources that describe the
adventure), in victory, ship that entered in
important turning points in Philippine history
Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Cádiz)
from prehistoric times up to the contemporary
• On September 6, the designated year. In the
period and articulate various perspectives.
last years of his life, he traveled by land from
- The approach, though historical, will deal with
France to finally return to Italy in 1523. He
interdisciplinary subjects so as to broaden and
wrote the relation of that trip, which was the
deepen the student’s understanding of
first around the world, Italian and with the title
Philippine political, economic, social and
of Relazioni in lathe to the primo viaggio di
cultural history and equip the learner with the
circumnavigation. Notizia del Mondo Nuovo
competencies necessary to analyze and
with figure you dei paesi scoperti, which was
evaluate different types of information: print,
published posthumously, in 1536.
visual and audio-visual, and quantitative.
• The account of Pigafetta is the single most
- The end goal is to develop the historical and
important source about the voyage of
critical consciousness of the students so that
circumnavigation.
they will become versatile, broad-minded,
• He took notes daily, as he mentioned when he
morally upright and responsible citizens.
realizes his surprise at Spain and see that he
- The historian’s primary tool of
had lost a day (due to its driving direction).
understanding and interpreting the past is the
Includes descriptions of numerous animals
historical sources. Historical sources ascertain
• He practiced as an interpreter and came to
historical facts. Such facts are then analyzed and
develop, at least in two Indonesian dialects.
interpreted by the historian to weave historical
• Pigafetta’s work instantly became a classic that
narrative. Using primary sources in historical
prominent literary men in the West like
research entails two kinds of criticism. The first
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, MICHEL de
one is EXTERNAL CRITICISM and the second is
MONTAIGNE, and GIAMBATTISTA VICO referred
INTERNAL CRITICISM.
to the book in their interpretation of the New
- EXTERNAL CRITICISM examines the
World.
authenticity of the document or the evidence
• Pigafetta’s travelogue is one of the most
being used while INTERNAL CRITICISM examines
important primary sources in the study of the
the truthfulness of the content of the evidence.
precolonial Philippines.
Who is Antonio Pigafetta?
• In Pigafetta’s account, their fleet reached what
- Famous Italian traveler born in Vicenza around he called the LADRONES ISLANDS or the “Islands
1490 and died in the same city in 1534, who is of the Thieves.” He recounted: “These people
also known by the name of Antonio Lombardo have no arms, but use sticks, which have a fish
or Francisco Antonio Pigafetta. bone at the end. They are poor, but ingenious,
- Soon he became a great friendship with
and great thieves, and for the sake of that we - On March 31st (Easter Sunday), Magellan
call these three islands the Ladrones Islands.” ordered the chaplain to preside a Mass by the
shore. The king heard about this plan and sent
The Ladrones Islands
two dead pigs and attended the Mass with the
- The Ladrones Islands is presently known as the
other king. Pigafetta then wrote: “…when the
Marianas Islands. Ten days after they have
offertory of the mass came, the two kings, went
reached Ladrones Islands, Pigafetta reported
to kiss the cross like us, but they offered
that they have what he called the Isle of Zamal,
nothing, and at the elevation of the body of ou
now Samar but Magellan decided to land in
Lord they were kneeling like us, and adored our
another uninhabited island for greater security
Lord with joined hands.” This was the first Mass
where they could rest for a few days.
in the Philippines, and the cross would be
- On MARCH 18, nine men came to them and
famed Magellan’s Cross which is still preserved
showed joy and eagerness in seeing them.
at present day. This was the same cross which
Magellan realized that the men were
Magellan explained to the kings as a sign of his
reasonable and welcomed them with food,
emperor who ordered him to plan it in the
drinks and gifts.
places where he would reach and further
• Pigafetta detailed in amazement and
explained that once other Spaniards saw this
fascination the palm tree which bore fruits
cross, then they would know that they had been
called cochos and wine.
in this island and would not cause them
• He characterized the people as “very familiar
troubles.
and friendly” and willingly showed them
• By April 7th, Magellan and his men reached
different islands and the names of these islands.
the port of Zzubu (Cebu) with the help of Raia
The fleet went to Humunu Island (Homonhon)
Calambu who offered to pilot them in going to
and there they found what he referred to as the
the island. The kind of Cebu demanded that
“Watering Place of Good Signs.” for it is in this
they pay tribute as it was customary but
place that they found the first signs of gold in
Magellan refused. By the next day, Magellan’s
the island. They named the island together with
men and the king of Cebu, together with other
a nearby island as the archipelago of St. Lazarus.
principal men of Cebu, met in an open space.
A.
There the king offered a bit of his blood and
• On March 25th, Pigafetta recounted that they
demanded that Magellan do the same.
saw two balanghai (balangay), a long boat full of
• On April 14, Magellan spoke to the kind and
people in Mazzava/Mazaus. The leader whom
encouraged him to be a good Christian by
he referred to the king became closely bonded
burning all of the idols and worship the cross
with Magellan as they both exchanged gifts to
instead. The king of Cebu was then baptized as
one another.
a Christian. After 8 days, all of the island’s
• After a few days, Magellan was introduced to
inhabitant were already baptized.
the king’s brother who was also a king of
• When the queen came to the Mass one day,
another island where Pigafetta reported that
Magellan gave her an image of the Infant Jesus
they saw mines of gold. The gold was abundant
made by Pigafetta himself.
that parts of the ship and of the house of the
• On 26th of April, Zula, a principal man from
king were made of gold. This king was named
the island of Matan (Mactan) went to see
Raia Calambu, king of Zuluan and Calagan
Magellan and asked him for a boat full of men
(Butuan and Caragua), and the first king was
so that he would be able to fight the chief name
Raia Siagu.
Silapulapu (Lapulapu). Magellan offered 3 boats
instead, and went to Mactan to fight the said
chief.
• They numbered 49 in total and the islanders
of Mactan were estimated to number 1,500.
Magellan died in battle. He was pierced with a
poison arrow in his right leg. The king of Cebu
who was baptized offered help but Magellan
refused so that he could see how they fought.
• The kind also offered the people of Mactan
gifts of any value and amount in exchange of
Magellan’s body but the chief refused and
wanted to keep Magellan’s body as a memento
of their victory.
• Magellan’s men then elected Duarte Barbosa
as the new captain.
• Pigafetta also accounted how Magellan’s slave
and interpreter named Henry betrayed them
and told the king of Cebu that they intended to
leave as soon as possible. Henry and the king of
Cebu conspired and betrayed what was left of
Magellan’s men. The king invited these men to a
gathering where he said he would present the
jewels that he would send for the King of Spain.
• Pigafetta was left on board the ship and was
not able to join the 24 men who went to the
gathering because he was nursing his battle
wounds.
• The natives had slain all the men except the
interpreter and Juan Serrano who shouted at
the men on this ship to pay ransom so that he
would be spared but he was left on the island
for they refused to go back to shore.
• The fleet abandoned Serrano and departed.
They left Cebu and continued their journey
around the world.