Vidal, Sheena Mae D.

BSMT-2B

Reading in Philippine History

Activity 4: Comparing and Contrasting

A. Comparative Timeline of Pigafetta and Albo’s Account

Pigafetta’s Account Commonly Mentioned in Albo’s Account
Both Accounts
March 31, 1520: Pigafetta They both mention the March 31, 1520: In Albo’s
recorded in his account start of the expedition of account he gave short and
detailed information that Magellan and its arrival on precise information: “On
they were navigated what they both called March 31, 1520, we
through a narrow passage Ladrones Island passed through a strait
on this day. He wrote that named after Magellan”
they named this strait after
Magellan.

March 16, 1521: Pigafetta The narrow strait that was March 16, 1521: Through
gives a detailed story about named after Magellan was Albo’s story, he recorded
how they sailed on an recorded in their accounts. sailing on an island he
island he called Zamal named Yunagan and on
which was 300 leagues another small island
westward of Ladrones named Suluan
April 27, 1521: Pigafetta The Battle of Mactan was April 27, 1521: Albo
recorded: “On April 27, mentioned in Albo and recorded on his account
1521, we faced great Pigafetta’s account which straightly that Magellan
resistance at the land of also included the death of was killed in the battle with
Mactan. Magellan fell in the Magellan on that land on the locals on Mactan
battle, a deep sorrow for us April 27, 1521 Island on April 27, 1521
all”
September 6, 1522: He It was both mentioned in September 6, 1522:
concluded that on their accounts about the Albo concluded in a short
September 6, 1522, they planting of the cross on the sentence about Magellan’s
 were heading back to mountaintop of the island expedition that on
Spain together with the they were told there was September 6, 1522,
other survivors with only so much gold Victoria arrived back in
one ship remaining among Spain.
five which was the Victoria
ship.
The return of the Victoria
ship to Spain was
recorded in both accounts.

B. Analyzing Historical Conflicts Vs. Modern Pandemic Perspectives

Conflicts and Perspective: 1872 Cavite Parallels Between 1872 Cavite Mutiny and
Mutiny Pandemic
Factors Contribute to the Conflict: Vaccine Mandates
 Spanish Colonial Policies: Imposing It was implemented by the various
heavy taxes and forced labor on the governments and institutions in aiming to
Filipinos. control the spread of the virus and to ensure
 Appointing of Governor-General the safety of the individual. This centralized a
Izquierdo to the revisal of liberal debate of public health and individual rights
reforms and stricter discipline among of freedom to choose whether they would like
Filipino workers. to be vaccinated or not. It is just like the
 Unpaid Wages and Discrimination: Cavite Mutiny where Filipinos felt like they
Exemption of forced labor policy to were robbed of their rights from the Spanish
the people with privilege. Native colonial rules.
workers and soldiers especially in the
Cavite arsenal don’t receive payment
for their labor.
Differing Viewpoints: Economic Disparities
Spanish accounts: During the pandemic, many people lost
 From their perspective, the Indios their jobs and some have experienced
attempted to overthrow the Spanish inequality in service in terms of healthcare.
government in the Philippines. Wealthier individuals have more access to
Filipino Accounts: better healthcare and easily cope with the
  It was a mere mutiny by the native transition of jobs to work from home with the
Filipino soldiers and laborers of the help of technology yet those individuals who
Cvaite arsenal due to their face financial stability face greater challenges
dissatisfaction with the abolition of in accessing even the basic needs, of
their privileges. healthcare and find it difficult to find
alternative way for an income. Just like what
happened to the native Filipino soldiers and
laborers who received unfair justice in terms
of taxes, payment for their labor, and the
abolition of their privileges.
Misinformation
Similarly the execution of the GomBurZa
because of the false information of the one
who testified against the three priests in the
Cavite Mutiny incident. During the pandemic
time, there is also a lot of false information
spread on the internet that causes fear and
confusion among individuals about the virus
complicating more to solve the problem. It is
also due to the irresponsible sharing of
information and easily being manipulated by
what they read on the internet.

Guide Questions:

1. What were the primary causes of conflict during the 1872 Cavite Mutiny, and how
do they compare to the root causes of conflicts during the pandemic?

The primary causes of conflict during the 1872 Cavite Mutiny were forced labor
and the unequal rights and discrimination faced by Filipino soldiers under Spanish rule,
particularly regarding labor pay and taxes. Additionally, a miscommunication related to a
Fiesta fireworks display in a Manila town led the mutineers to mistakenly interpret it as a
signal from their co-mutineers, which contributed to the mutiny's failure. In comparison,
 during the pandemic, people experienced discrimination especially those Chinese
residents in the Philippines and those diagnosed with COVID-19, particularly in the early
months. Many people also experienced labor problems due to the socio-economic
issues that the country’s facing in those times. People began to lose their jobs and ran
out of any source of income. Misinformation further fueled panic and fear, complicating
efforts to address the pandemic effectively and leading to additional conflicts.

2. How did differing perspectives and limited information contribute to

misunderstandings and conflicts in both historical and contemporary situations?

Biases similar to those observed during the Cavite Mutiny arise from differing
perspectives between Spanish authorities and Filipino soldiers regarding labor rights.
This disparity led to conflict because each side had a different view of the situation.
Additionally, multiple accounts of the Cavite Mutiny arise highlighting conflicting
perspectives and interpretations that contradict each other. In contemporary situations,
limited understanding of issues, such as a virus, can contribute to widespread panic and
confusion. This lack of clear information also fuels discrimination as people struggle to
differentiate between credible sources and false claims online. Historically, limited
information which was often conveyed through verbal communication or signals during
those times led to misinterpretations and failed coordination, contributing to the mutiny's
failure.

3. What are some common psychological or sociopolitical factors that drive people
to adopt conflicting viewpoints and resist compromise?

Various factors drive people to adopt certain viewpoints, many of which are
influenced by cognitive biases. People often rely on these biases, leading them to seek
information that reinforces their existing beliefs while ignoring evidence to the contrary.
Fear of losing control, security, or status can make individuals and groups resistant to
change and compromise. This resistance is often influenced by uncertainty about the
future, as maintaining the status feels safer, particularly when political and economic
interests are at stake. In the modern era, social media plays a significant role in shaping
opinions during conflicts. It is easy to manipulate what people read and see online,
 leading them to choose sides based on opinions that align with their own. This makes it
harder for them to consider and understand other viewpoints or perspectives.

4. How can effective communication and information dissemination be improved to

mitigate conflicts arising from differing perspectives in both historical and
modern contexts?

Effective communication and information dissemination can be greatly improved

through education. Teaching individuals from an early age how to evaluate information
sources, recognize biases, and distinguish between facts and opinions is crucial.
Encouraging critical thinking will help mitigate conflicts in both historical and modern
contexts. When teaching history, educators and instructors need to present multiple
perspectives, including accounts from different backgrounds, rather than just focusing on
a single narrative. This approach fosters a more comprehensive understanding of past
events. In journalism, promoting accuracy and fairness while avoiding media-biased
reporting is vital. Journalists should strive to provide balanced coverage, ensuring that
diverse viewpoints are represented. As individuals, we have a responsibility to avoid
spreading false information. It is important to be cautious about what we share online
and to ensure that the content we engage with is accurate. Being media literate helps us
navigate the vast amount of information on social media and prevents us from
contributing to conflicts or “wars” on the internet.