CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED PRIMARY SOURCES

Content & Contextual Analysis

- Is a method of analyzing the sources of information and assuring that the

information inscribed within the source is correct, credible, and logical.

Content Analysis

- Deals with determining whether the information provided by the author is logical
to provide a logical basis leading to the truth.
- The author’s argument, biases, and claims are identified and the author’s claim
should be based on the evidences presented within the source.
- If a source provides too many positive information with little to no negative
information (vice versa), it might show biases from the source.
- Identification of the historical importance of the text.

Reason’s of
Title of Primary Background/Biogr Highlights of its
Writing this
Source aphy of Author’s Content
Primary
Contextual Analysis

- A method of studying the text and its cultural, social, or political context.
- Examination of author’s main argument or point of view.

Importance in
Title of Primary
Main Argument Bias Understanding
Source
Philippine History

FACTORS TO CONSIDER TO ENSURE THAT THE AUTHOR

OF THE SOURCE IS RELIABLE, CREDIBLE, AND LOGICAL

1. Background of the Author

- The author of the primary source should be credible.
- Family background, educational attainment, religion and many others should be
given priority in presenting the biography of the author.
- The author’s intent and authority of the subject must also be determined.
2. Background of the Document/Primary Source
- Basic background of the source like the type of primary source, how long is the
document and where can it be found (location).
- Who are the intended audience or people which the author wants to convey
his/her ideas because most of the sources have a unique type of audience like
academic journal for students and books is for general audience or public.
- Determine the purpose or motive of the source.
Knowing the Purpose or Reason of Creation

1. Understand the historical context.

- Historical Context of the source deals with the context or the time and place
that the information was written at that specific period.

2. Do a background research.

3. Look at the important historical event at the time the source was made.

4. Ascertain the intended audience.

3. Content Analysis of the Important Historical Information Found in the

Document
- Comparison of the primary sources gathered. – comparison of data
- Look for any “bias” or when a source’s information is unbalanced or prejudiced.
1. Positive (in favor)
2. Negative (against)
How to point out the bias in your analysis?
o Provide a direct quote.
o Explain the creators perspective.
o Explain the creators purpose.
4. Contribution and Relevance of the Document in Understanding the Grand
Narrative of Philippine History
- Find the “cause” and “consequences” of the primary source.
• Source – CAUSE refers to a person or thing that causes something to
• Happen – CONSEQUENCES refers to the direct result of the cause.
- Look for the turning point or dramatic moment of change that was caused by the
event or primary source.
5. Relevance of the Documents to the Present Time
- Look for the historical significance or what modern people consider to be
important from the past.
- To determine the significance of the event, follow NAME
o NOVELTY or when something is new or never been seen before.
o APPLICABILITY or when it is similar to the present.
o MEMORY or how it has been remembered over time.
o EFFECT or how people have been affected.
 CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED PRIMARY SOURCES

1. First Voyage Around the World by Antonio Pigafetta

2. Customs of the Tagalogs by Fray Juan de Plasencia
3. Kartilya ng Katipunan by Emilio Jacinto
4. Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan by Emilio Aguinaldo
5. Acta de la proclamacion de la Independencia del Pueblo Filipino by Ambrosio
Bautista
6. Philippine Cartoons: Political caricature of the American Era by Alfred McCoy
and Alfredo Roces
7. Filipino Grievances Against Governor Wood by Commission on Independence
8. President Corazon Aquino’s Speech before the U.S. Congress (Setember 18.
1986)
9. Raiders of the Sulu Sea (Film)
10. Works of Luna and Amorsolo (Paintings)

CUSTOMS OF THE TAGALOG

LAS COSTUMBRES DE LOS INDIOS TAGALOGS DE FELIPINAS

By: JUAN DE PLASENCI

Background of the Author

- Born to the illustrious family of Portocarreros in Plasencia in the region of

Extremadura, Spain in the early 16th century. He was one of the seven children of
Pedro Portocarrero, a captain of a Spanish schooner.
- Juan de Plasencia grew up during the period known as the Siglo de Oro, a
Golden Age when arts and literature flourished in many parts of Spain, among
them his native Extremadura.
- Fray Joan de Puerto Carrero, del Convento de Villanueva de la Serena. Was his
real name.
- Fray Juan de Plasencia came together with the first batch of Franciscan
missionaries in the Philippines.
- Arrived at a port in Cavite, a few kilometers south of Manila on the 2nd of July
1578.
- Aside from the Customs of the Tagalogs, he wrote also the Doctrina Christiana
en Lengua Espanola y Tagala- first printed book in the Philippines.
Historical Background of the Document

- The Customs of Tagalogs were based on the observations of Juan de Plasencia

during his stay in theTagalog region specifically in Region IVA (MiMaRoPa)
from1578-1590.
- The author only wrote this article because he was tasked by the King of Spain to
document the Customs of the natives.
- But for us, the Filipinos, it is an important work for it showed us the Customs of
our natives before and we can understand better our customs today because
some of the stated can still be observed or done up to today.

Government

- The unit of government is called Barangay ruled by a chieftain, and consist of 30

to 100 families together with their relatives and slaves.

Social Stratification System

Tagalog Class Visayas

Lakan or Rajah (Maginoo) Noble Class Tumao or Datu
Maharlika Middle Class Timawa
Alipin (Namamahay or
Lower Class Oripun
Sagigilid)
A. Datu
- Chief, captain of wars, whom governed, obeyed and reverenced.
- He exercised all the powers of the government.
- He is control over the disposition of the Barangay’s real property.
- Family, relatives, elders of the Datu.
- How to become a Datu
▫ By inheritance or marriage.
▫ Through intelligence, wealth, strength and bravery.
- Inheritance
▫ The 1st son of the barangay chieftain inherits his father’s position: if the 1st son
dies, the 2nd son succeeds their father: in the abscence of male heirs, it is the
eldest daughter that becomes the chieftain.
B. Maharlika
- Free-born or freemen, they do not pay taxes.
- Common people.
- Working class.
- Engaged in agriculture.
- Timagua or Timawa.
 C. Alipin or Dependents
- Namamahay
▫ Has land and proper rights.
- Sagigilid, Saguiguilid, or Saguiguilir
▫ No land and proper rights and full time slave.
▫ A person becomes slaves by:
1. By captivity in war.
2. By reason of debt.
3. By inheritance.
4. By purchase.
5. By comitting a crime.
▫ Slaves can be emancipated through:
1. By forgiveness.
2. By paying debt.
3. By condonation.
4. By bravery (where a slave can possibly become a Datu).
5. By marriage.

Administration of Justice

- The chieftain’s executive function includes implementing laws, ensuring order

and giving protection to his subject.
- Disputes between individuals were settled by a court made up of the chieftain
and council of elders.

Trial by Ordeal

- Right to punish disobedience.

- Trial by suffering in public as their judicial process.
- Trial by combat.
▫ Each suspect has witnesses to defend their side.
▫ To prove the honesty and sincerity of the of witnesses, the witnesses took an
oath to this effect:
- “Kainin na lang ako ng buwaya kung ako’y nagsisinungaling.”
- “Nawa’y tamaan na lang ako ng kidlat kung hindi ako nagsasabi ng katotohanan.”
- “Kahit magalit man sa akin ang kalangitan, araw at buwan kung ako’y
nagsisinungaling.”

How Laws Were Made/Created

- If a Datu wants to enact or make a law and/or want to stop or prevent a law, he
must call the council of elders for their approval since they knows what’s best for
the society, they are the most experienced and well off.
 - If there are new laws, the Umalohokan who is the public announcer was
summoned and ordered to go around the barangay to announce the new rules
and regulations in the society.

Customary Laws

- Inheritance (mana), divorce, usury (lending or interest), partnership, crime and

punishment, property rights, family relations, adoption, and loans.
- Major Crimes:
▫ rape, incest (pakikipagrelasyon sa magkapamilya or magkamag-anak),
murder, witchcraft (gamod), insult, trespassing, sacrilegious acts (disrespect
or violation of religious beliefs and practices), lacerny (pagnanakaw).
▫ Punished by death and heavy fine.
- Minor Crimes:
▫ (pangagabit), cheating, petty theft, perjury (dishonesty), disturbance of
peace at night, destroying documents owned by a chief.
▫ Punished by exposure or ant bullets, small fine, beating, cutting fingers,
swimming for a number of hours.

Type of House

- Wood.
- Bamboo.
- Nipa palm.

Mode of Male Dressing

- Headgear is called Putong (symbolizes the number of persons the wearer had
killed)
- (Upper) a jacket with short sleeves called Kanggan.

Mode of Female Dressing

- (Upper) Baro or Camisa.

- (Lower) Saya.

Ornaments

- A decorative object or detail that adds quality or distinction to a person, place or

thing.
- It represents your socio-economic status in the society.
- Trivia: Visayans were the most tattoed among ancient Filipinos. When the
Spaniards came, they called the former as pintados. Tattooing is not for
enhancing beauty only but also signifies war medals. The more tattoos a man
had, the more he was looked up to in the society.
Marriage Customs

- Men were in general, monogamous; while their wives are called asawa.
- Courtship begins with paninilbihan.
▫ The man serve the girl’s parents for months or years such as chopped wood,
fetched water and did chores required of him.
▫ In this situation, the man was not supposedly to talk with the lady, only their
eyes met to show love.
▫ If the man satisfied the parents, they will give their consent to the marriage.
- Prior to marriage the man requires to give a dowry:
1. Bigay-kaya (the man will give a piece of land or gold, and dependents or
slaves).
2. Panghihimuyat (a gift for the brides parents)
3. Bigay-suso (for brides wet nurse)
4. Himaraw (another sum of money)

Marriage Customs

- Marraige between couples belonging to different social classes were not

common.
- Several grounds (dahilan) of divorce (paghihiwalay) are:
1. Adultery
2. Abandonment
3. Cruelty
4. Insanity
- Trivia: Pamumulungan/Pamamalae - A courtship (pamamanhikan) right before
marriage.
▫ Muslims: Panalanguni (betrothal or engagement), pedsungad (settlement
of dowry), pegkawing (wedding festival or ceremony).
▫ Bigay-kaya or dowry consist of land, gold, or dependents.

Burial

- Belief in life after death.

- The dead relative was placed in a wooden coffin (kabaong) and buried under the
house, complete with gold, cloth and other valuable things.
▫ Morotal (pagluluksa sa namatay na babae).
▫ Maglahi (pagluluksa sa namatay na lalake).
▫ Laraw (paglulluksa sa namatay na datu).
▫ Pasiyam (ninth day of death was celebrated).
Religious Belief

- They worship many gods and goddesses:

1. Bathala/Bathalang Maykapal, supreme being; the creator.
2. Idianale & Lacapti god of agriculture; husbandry.
3. Sidarapa/Sidapa, god of death.
4. Agni, god of fire.
5. Balangaw, god of rainbow.
6. Mandarangan, god of war.
7. Lalahon, god of harvest.
8. Siginarugan, god of hell.
9. Dian Masalanta, patron of love.
10. Buaya (water-lizards), they paid reverence/devotion.
- Also believe in sacred animals, trees and many more which believed to be holy
and place of unseen spirits (animism).
- Trivia:
▫ Bathala (Tagalog).
▫ Abba (Cebuano).
▫ Laon (Bisaya).

Religious Belief

- Believed in the immortality of the soul and life after death.

- Disease or illness was cause by the environmental spirits and the soul-spirits of
the dead relatives.
- The Filipinos adored the sun, moon, animals, birds for they are objects of nature
to be respected.
- The Filipinos adored idols are called Anito (Tagalog) and Diwata (Visayan).
Offerings are officiated by ritual leaders, Babaylana/Babaylan (Tagalogs) at
Katalona/Katalonan (Visayans).

Superstitious Beliefs

- Believed in Aswang, Dwende, Kapre, Tikbalang, Patyanak/Tiyanak.

- They also believe in magical power of amulet and charms such as anting-anting,
kulam, and gayuma or love potion.
Prient And Priestess Of Good And The Evil

- They are those ritual leaders and those who have unique and unusual power or
magic:
▫ Catalonan.
▫ Mangangauay.
▫ Manyisalat.
▫ Mancocolam.
▫ Hocloban.
▫ Silagan.
▫ Magtatanggal.
▫ Osuang.
▫ Mangagayoma.
▫ Sonat.
▫ Pangatahojan.
▫ Bayoguin.

Catolonan

- Was either a man or a woman, (also spelled Catalonan, Catalona, Catulunan in

Kapampangan) is a priest in the indigenous religions of the Tagalog and
Kapampangan people.
- Spanish friars and missionaries are called them anitero (male), anitera (female).
They guarded the dambana, along with religious practices, of a community
called barangay.
- A ritual leader na mayroong mataas na ranggo at katayuan sa lipunan.

Mangagauay

- Also knows as goddess of disease.

- Also spelled mangangaway, witches who deceived by pretending to heal the
sick. These priests even induced maladies by their charms, which in proportion
to the strength and efficacy of the witchcraft, are capable of causing death. In
this way, if they wished to kill at once they did so; or they could prolong life for a
year by binding to the waist a live serpent, which was believed to be the devil, or
at least his substance.

Manyisalat

- Which is the same as mangangauay. These priest had the power of applying such
remedies to lovers that they would abandon and despise their own wives, and in
fact could prevent them from having intercourse with the latter. If the woman,
constrained by these means, were abandoned, it would bring sickness upon her;
and on account of the desertion she would discharge blood and matter.
Mancocolam

- A “witch” Mankukulam is a person employing or using “Kulam” - a form of folk

magic practised in the Philippines.
- It puts emphasis on the innate power of the self and a secret knowledge of
Magica Baja or low magic. Earth (soil), fire, herbs, spices, candles, oils, and
kitchen wares and utensils are often used for rituals, charms, spells, and
potions.
- Emit fire from himself at night once a month.

Hocloban

- Another kind of witch, of greater efficacy than the mangagauay.

- She could change herself into any form she desired.
- She could kill someone by simply raising her hand and could heal without any
difficulty as she wished.
- Her name literally means “crone” or “hag” - a witch, especially one in the form of
an ugly old woman.

Silagan

- The Siligan is a creature that tears human flesh through the anus and eats up the
internal organs especially those who clothed in white.
- The Silagan has sharp claws which they use to tear open a human flesh. They
prefer to tear up from the anus where they would proceed to eat the liver. The
Silagans hate a person who are dressed in white and usually takes out those who
are wearing white as their victims.

Magtatanggal

- Cuento-cuento lamang sa kapuluan, subalit pinagtitibayng mga taga-

Catanduanes na nakakita na sila ng mga magtatangal (manananggal ang tawag
ngayon) na pugot ang ulo at wala ang sikmura (stomago, intestines) at kalahati ng
katawan. Lumalakad daw gabi-gabi, dala-dala ang kanyang ulo at pagsikat ng
araw, bumabalik sa katawan at nabubuo uli.

Osuang

- Same with Tiktik/Wakwak/Aswang

- They have seen him fly, he murdered and ate human flesh.
- Equivalent to Sorcerer.

Mangangayoma

- They made charms for lovers out of herbs stones, and wood, which would infuse
the heart with love. Thus did they deceive the people, although sometimes,
through the intervention of the devil, they gained their ends.
 - Today the Gayuma is known as a Filipino love spell to help the love lives of those
with lonely or broken hearts.

Pangatahojan

- Was a soothsayer, and predicted the future.

- Sames as Manghuhula who can predict the future.

Bayoguin

- Signifies “cotquean” - lalalking aktibo or ginagawa ang mga gawaing pambabae.

- Are priest dressed in female garb. Almost all are impotent for reproductive act,
and thus they marry other males and sleep with them as a man and wife and
have erotic and sensual knowledge.

Philippine Mythical Creatures

Multo

- The Tagalog word for ghost, comes from the Spanish word muerto, which means
“dead”. Superstitious Filipinos believe that some kind of multo, often a spirit of
their former kin, regularly visits them.

Sarangay

- Is a creature resembling a bull with a huge muscular body and a jewel attached
to its ears.

Siyokoy

- Are mermen, sea creatures that have a human form and scaled bodies . The
Siyokoy is the male counterpart of the Sirena. The lower extremities of a
Philippine merman can either be a fish tail or scaled legs and webbed feet. They
could also have long, green tentacles. They drown mortals who trespass into
their territory. Siyokoy have gill slits, are colored brown or green, and have scaly
skin, comparable to that of a fish.

Tamawo

- Also called as tamao are mythological creatures believed to be handsome,

having very fair to white skin with fangs and claws of gold. They were known by
their different names: the bumalabag, a male fairy who viewed and visited
places; the manupongtupong, a male fairy who dresses like an ordinary man;
the manlawla-aw who looked out from behind an anthill; manilag-nilag, a
female a fairy who attended social gatherings and festivities; and the manbukay,
a female fairy who dwelt in shallow wells.
- Diwatang lalake.
Tikbalang

- Also called tigbalang (demon horse) is half-man and half-horse creature. It has
a horse’s head, the body of a human but with the feet of the horse. It travels at
night to rape female mortals. The raped women will then give birth to more
tikbalang. They are also believed to cause travelers to lose their way particularly
in mountainous or forest areas like Kapre. Tikbalang are very playful with people,
and they usually make a person imagine things that aren’t real. Sometimes a
tikbalang will drive a person crazy. It is said that a person can render the
Tikbalang’s tricks futile somehow by wearing their shirt inside out. One can avoid
the tikbalang all together by just keeping quiet or by asking politely to pass it by.
Legends say that when rain falls while the sun is shining, a pair of tikbalang are
being wed.

Tiyanak

- Are the babies who died before receiving baptism rites. After death, they go to a
place known as Limbo, a chamber of Hell which unbaptized dead people fall
into, and are transformed into evil spirits. These phantasms return into the
mortal realm in the form of goblins to eat living victims. The tiyanak can also be
the offspring of a woman and a demon. It can also be an aborted fetus which
comes back to take revenge on its mother. Most Tiyanaks are said to live in
forests. If they see a human, they transform into what looks like a normal baby.
When the person notices the Tiyanak and comes near to take a look at it, the
Tiyanak changes back to its true form and eats its prey.

Economic Life

- Agriculture in the plane lands: planting of rice, corn, banana, coconut, sugar
canes and other kinds of vegetable and fruits.
- Hunting in high lands.
- Fishing in river banks and sea.
- Shipbuilding, weaving, poultry, mining and lumbering.
- Domestic trade of different barangays by boat.
- Foreign trade with countries like Borneo, China, Japan, Cambodia, Java, and
Thailand through barter system (exchange goods or services for other good or
services without using money).
- Trivia: Piloncitos or Bulawan (considered as first monetary system of the
country). The inconvenience of barter later led to the use of some objects as a
medium of exchange like Piloncitos, it was made up of Gold.
 Language And System of Writing

Baybayin

- Is an old writing system that was used in the Philippines.

- Major languages: Tagalog, Ilocano, Pangasinan, Pangpangan, Sugbuhanon,
Hiligaynon, Magindanaw and Samarnon this languages is originated from the
Malayo-Polenisian language.
- System of writing: the alphabets consisted of 3 vowels and 14 consonants called
Baybayin.
- They wrote on large plant leaves, bark of a tress or bamboo tubes.

Relevance/Importance Of The Document

- Take Note: Filipinos were already civilized and maintained an organized lifestyle
that was on par or better than that of the people from other countries in South
East Asia..
 FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD

By ANTONIO PIGAFETTA

Historical Sources

- Historians primary tool of understanding and interpreting the past.

- It ascertains historical facts.
- Facts are then analysed and interpreted by the historian.

2 Kinds of Criticism

- External Criticism: Authenticity of the document or evidence being used.

- Internal Criticism: Examine the truthfulness of the content of the evidence.

The Age of Discovery or Exploration (1492 to1682)

- An era of worldwide exploration and expansion that resulted from the desire to
gain new lands, power, and wealth for the explorers and their countries.
- The Europeans were able to establish commerce with the Orient through trade
routes.
- Spices like ginger, pepper, nutmeg, onions and garlic were the most important
items of trade from the east because of the Europeans desire to enhance the
taste of their food and to preserve meat during winter time.
- The fall of Constantinople (1453) and the emergence of the Ottoman Turks
closed this route, causing the monarchs and navigators of Europe to find new
routes across the seas.
- the Portuguese were a few years ahead of the Spaniards in the discovery of new
trade routes.
- The Navigator (1394-1460): Inspired by Prince Henry, Portuguese navigator
sailed down the African coast to reach the East.
- Bartolome Diaz (1487): He led the Portuguese and rounded the Cape of Good
Hope.
- Vasco De Gama (1498): Reached Calicut, India, by sailing eastward from the
cape.
- 1492: The end of reconquintas (Reconquista's) (wars against the Moors); New
World (America) was discovered by Spain.
- Christopher Columbus: Failed to convince the king of Portugal that he could
reach the East by sailing westward, but supported by the Spain.
- Portugal and Spain became keen rivals in colonizing new lands because of gold,
spices, and other merchandise found in the Orient, and to convert the natives.
 - Pope Alexander VI:
o Issued a papal bull known as Inter Caetera as his attempt to settle the
rivalry between Portugal and Spain.
o The decree states that the Spanish zone of exploration should be west of
the imaginary line drawn North to South, 100 leagues West of the Azores
and Cape Verde Islands.
o All lands to the east of demarcation line should belong to Portugal.
- Treaty of Tordesillas - The demarcation line will be move to 370 leagues (1,100
miles) West of Cape Verde Islands which allowed Portugal to claim what is now
Brazil and Spain was given the rest of the America (Perry, et al., 1988:353).

Magellan: From Portugal to Spain

- Magellan proposed to king Manuel of Portugal his plan to travel a westward route
to the Moluccas but the king refused and cancelled his promotion probably
because of charges of financial irregularities while he was in Morocco.
- He renounced his Portuguese citizenship and went to Spain in 1517.
- Through the help and support of some influential persons like Bishop Juan de
Fonseca (head of the Royal Council of the Indies), Magellan was commissioned
by Spain (King Charles I which later known as Holy Roman Emperor Charles V)
and the contract was signed on March 28, 1518, Magellan being the captain
general.

BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR

Antonio Pigafetta: The First Voyage Around The World

- Known by the name Antonio Lombardo or Francisco Antonio Pigafetta.

- Born in Vicenza around 1490 and died in 1534.
- Famous Italian traveller who studied astronomy, geography, and cartography.
- Worked in the ships owned by the knights of Rhodes.
- Joined the Magallanes-Elcano famous expedition to the Moluccas which begun
in August 1519 and finished September 1522.
- He served as Magellan’s assistant.
- He kept a journal accounting everything that seemed fascinating and foreign to
him.
- He was one of the 18 men who completed the trip, returning to Spain in 1522,
under the command of Juan Sebastian Elcano.
- His work is important not only as a source of information about the voyage, but
also includes an early Western description of the people and languages of the
Philippines.
- It is an accurate ethnographic and geographical account of the first
circumnavigation of the globe.
- Magellan wanted to prove that the world was round which he was able to proved.
- It is one of the most important primary source.

ABOUT THE BOOK

- Antonio Pigafetta was one of the survivors who kept a journal that became the
main source about the first encounter of the Spaniards and the Filipinos.
- The original journal of Pigafetta did not survive in history and what was handed
down to us are copies of the manuscript that never came out of the press during
his life time.
- Three of them were in French and two are kept in the Bibliotheque Nationale in
Paris.
- The third one was originally owned by the British Collector Sir Thomas Phillipp.
- Later, Beinecke Rare Book bought it and it is now kept in the Manuscript Library
of Yale University in New Haven.
- The fourth copy was written in mixed Italian, Spanish and Venetian language and
could be found in Ambrosian Library in Milan.
- In 1800, Carlo Amoretti published an Italian version of it and the following year a
French version came out in Paris.
- Pinkerton of his part translated it to English and published it in 1819.
- James A. Richardson made his own English version of the Ambrosian copy and
it appeared in The Philippine Islands. This copy is widely circulated in the
Philippines.
- Pigafetta’s travelogue contributed immensely to the enrichment of Philippine
historiography.
- His writing described vividly the physical appearance, social life, religious beliefs
and cultural practices of the people they encountered in the islands of Samar,
Leyte and Cebu.
- His account also contains information about the economic activities of the local
folks and the goods they offered for trade.
- He got all this information through the help Enrique de Malacca, Magellan’s
slave/interpreter.
- Lastly, Pigafetta gave us an eyewitness account of the Battle of Mactan which
resulted to the death of Magellan and him getting wounded.
- Taken from the chronicles of contemporary voyagers, navigator of 16th century,
and was an Italian nobleman, Antonio Pigafetta.
- Antonio Pigafetta’s work instantly became a classic that prominent (well-known
writer) literary men in the West.
- Pigafetta’s travelogue is one of the most important primary source in the study of
pre-colonial Philippines.
- Pigafetta’s account was also a major referent to the events leading the
Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines.
- Pigafetta’s encounter with the local leaders, Magellan’s death with the hands of
Lapu-Lapu’s forces in the battle of Mactan and the departure of what was left of
Magellan’s fleet from the islands.
- The first voyage around the world by Magellan was published after Pigafetta
returned to Italy.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND/CONTEXT

- Written by Antonio Pigafetta in one of the five (5) ships that first circumnavigate
the world with 270 men.
- Trinidad, Concepcion, Santiago, San Antonio, and Victoria.
- It covers the time when Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet “Armadade Molucca” started
the voyage (1519) until it was successfully went back to Spain.
- His travelogue entitled THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD consist of 203
pages which officially published after Pigafetta returned to Italy.
- Upon arrival in Europe, he presented copies of his account to several high
personages including Pope Clement VII and to the mother of King Francis I of
France.
- His original diary was lost and not known in what language it was written but
survived in 4 manuscript versions:
o 1 Italian (Carlo Amoretti).
o 3 French.
- Spain vs. Portugal:
o Ferdinand Magellan was born in Portugal but gave his service to Spain
because the king of Portugal declined his proposal of “Westward
Voyage” going to the Spice Island (Moluccas).
o In which, King Charles I of Spain supported and provided the Spanish fleet
named “Armada de Molucca” which was led by Magellan.
- Ferdinand Magellan set out from Spain in September 20, 1519 with a fleet of five
ships with 270 men to discover a western sea route to the rich Spice Islands of
Indonesia.
 5 Ships

Santiago

- 32 crew.
- Under the command of Juan Serrano.
- Smallest of the 5 ships.
- Called as “caravel”.
- First ship that has been lost.

San Antonio

- 60 crew.
- Under the command of Juan de Cartagena.
- Later led by Alvarado De Mesquita.
- Largest fleet.
- Second ship that has been lost.

Concepcion

- 43 crew.
- Under the command of Gaspar de Quesada.
- The captain was executed because of mutiny.
- Burned.
- Third ship that has been lost.

Trinidad

- 55 crew.
- The flagship.
- Under the command of Ferdinand Magellan.
- Accompanied by Fr. Pedro de Valderama (fleet chaplain), Antonio Pigafetta
(chronicler of the expedition), Duarte Barbosa (Magellan’s brother-in-law) and
Enrique of Malacca (slave and interpreter).
- Was attacked by the Portuguese ship.
- Ship was wrecked.
- Fourth ship that has been lost.

Victoria

- 43 crew.
- Under the command of Luis Mendoza.
- Later led by Juan Sebastian Elcano (del Elcano).
- Antonio Pigafetta (kept a journal about the expedition).
- First ship to circumnavigate the world.
- Only ship to complete the voyage.
 HISTORICAL CONTENT

- Their fleet reached what was called Landrones (Ladrones) Island or the “Island
of the thieves”.
- Ladrones Island is recently known as the Marianas Island.
o Located at South-Southwest of Japan, West-Southwest of Hawaii, North
of Papua New Guinea and East of Philippines.
o “these people have no arms, but use sticks, which have a fish bone at the
end. They are poor, but ingenious, and great thieves, and for the sake of
what we called these three is lands the Ladrones Islands.”

March 16, 1521

- “At dawn on Saturday, March 16, 1521, we came upon a high land at a distance
of three hundred leguas from the islands of Latroni — an island named Zamal
[i.e., Samar].”

March 17, 1521 (Sunday)

- The following day, the captain-general (Magellan) decided to land in another

uninhabited island for greater security where they could rest for a few days.

March 18, 1521 (Monday)

- After 2 days, 9 men came to them and show joy and eagerness in seeing them
and welcomed them with food, drinks and gifts.
- “The captain seeing that these people were reasonable, ordered food and drink
to be given them, and he gave them some red caps, looking glasses, combs,
bells, ivory, and other things.”
- “When these people saw the politeness of the captain, they presented some
fish, and a vessel of palm wine, which they call in their language Uraca; figs more
than a footlong, and other smaller and of a better savour, and two cochos.”
- Pigafetta characterized the people (Zuluan) as “very familiar and friendly” and
willingly showed them different islands and the names of these islands.
- “Humunu Island” (Homonhon). Magellan called it “Acquadada li buoni
Segnialli” (Watering place of God Signs).
o They found the first sign of gold!!!
- There were many circumjacent islands (nearby islands) which they named as
“Las Islas de San Lazaro” (Islands of Saint Lazarus) Archipelago of St. Lazarus
in some sources.
March 22, 1521 (Friday)

- Zuluan people returned as they had promised in 2 boats with resources.

- Meets the Lord (King/Datu/leader), an old man with his face painted had gold
rings suspended to his ears, which they name Schione, and the others had many
bracelets and rings of gold on their arms, with a wrapper of linen round their
head.

March 25, 1521

- Monday of Passion week and feast of our Lady.

- Being ready to depart from the place, Pigafetta slipped and fell into the sea
without anyone seeing him until he cried for help until help came and pick him
up with the boat.
o He attributed his narrow escape from death as a grace obtained through
the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on her feast-day.
- “That same day we took the course between west and southwest, and passed
amidst four small islands, that is to say, Cenalo, Huinanghar, Ibusson, and
Abarien.”
o The route taken by the expedition after leaving Homonhon was "toward
the west southwest, between four islands: namely, Cenalo, Hiunanghan,
Ibusson and Albarien." Very probably "Cenalo" is a misspelling in the
Italian manuscript for what Pigafetta in his map calls "Ceilon" and Albo
calls "Seilani": namely the island of Leyte. "Hiunanghan" (a misspelling
of Hinunangan) seemed to Pigafetta to be a separate island, but it is
actually on the mainland of Leyte (i.e. "Ceylon"). On the other hand,
Hibuson (Pigafetta's Ibusson) is an island east of Leyte's southern tip.
Thus, it is easy to see what Pigafetta meant by sailing "toward the west
southwest" past those islands. They left Homonhon sailing westward
towards Leyte, then followed the Leyte coast southward, passing between
the island of Hibuson on their port side and Hiunangan Bay on their
starboard, and then continued southward, then turning westward to
"Mazaua".
March 28, 1521 (Thursday)

- In the morning of Holy Thursday, 28 March, they anchored off.

- An island where the previous night they had.
- “at the morning we came to anchor at this island; where we saw a small boat
which they call Boloto, with eight men inside, which approached the ship of
the captain-general. Then a slaves of the captain’s, who was from Sumatra,
otherwise named Traprobana, spoke from afar to these people, who
understood his talk, and came near to the side of the ship, but they withdrew
immediately, and would not enter the ship from fear of us.”
- Two hours afterwards, or thereabouts, we saw come two longboats, which
they call Ballanghai (Balangay), full of men.
- They remained seven days on Mazaua Island.

March 31, 1521

- Sunday morning, easter Sunday.

- Magellan ordered the chaplain to preside a mass by the shore of Mazua
(Limasawa).
- It was officiated by reverend Father Pedro de Valderrama.
- “the captain sent the chaplain ashore early to say mass, and the interpreter went
with him to tell the king that they were not coming on shore to dine with him, but
only to hear the mass. The king hearing that sent two dead pigs. When it was time
for saying mass, the captain went ashore with fifty men, not with their arms, but
only with their swords, and dressed as well as each one was able to dress, and
before the boats reached the shore our ships fired six cannon shots as a sign of
peace.”
- After the mass, Magellan ordered that a large wooden cross be planted on the
summit of a hill overlooking the sea.
- He named the country as Las Islas de San Lazaro (St. Lazarus Island or
archipelago of St. Lazarus).
- Then he had across brought, with the nails and crown, to which the kings made
reverence, and the captain had them told that these things which he showed
them were the sign of the emperor his lord and master, from whom he had
charge and commandment to place it in it all places where he might go or pass
by. He told them that he wished to place it in their country for their profit,
because if there came afterwards any ships from Spain to those islands, on
seeing this cross, they would know that he had been there, and therefore they
would not cause them any displeasure to their persons nor their goods; and if
they took any of their people, on showing them this sign, they would at once let
them go. Besides this, the captain told them that it was necessary that this cross
 should be placed on the summit of the highest mountain in their country, so that
seeing it every day they might adore it, and that if they did thus, neither thunder,
lightning, nor the tempest could do them hurt.

April 4, 1521 (Thursday)

- They left Mazaua, bound for Cebu. They were guided by the king of Mazaua who
sailed in his own boat. Their route took them past five "islands": namely:
"Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baibai, and Gatighan."
- Pigafetta thought that Ceylon and Baibai were separate islands. Actually, they
were parts of the same island of Leyte. "Canighan" (Canigao in our maps) is an
island off the southwester tip of Leyte. They sailed from Mazaua west by
northwest into the Canigao Channel, with Bohol Island to port and Leyte and
Canigao Islands to starboard. Then they sailed northwards along the Leyte coast,
past Baibai to "Gatighan". The identity of Gatighan is not certain. But we are told
that it was twenty leagues from Mazaua and fifteen leagues from "Subu" (Cebu).
- At Gatighan, they sailed westward to the three islands of the Camotes Group,
namely, Poro, Pasihan and Ponson. (Pigafetta calls them "Polo, Ticobon, and
Pozon.") Here the Spanish ships stopped to allow the king of Mazaua to catch up
with them, since the Spanish ships were much faster than the native balanghai—
a thing that excited the admiration of the king of Mazaua.
- From the Camotes Islands they sailed [south westward] towards "Zubu".

April 7, 1521 (Sunday)

- At noon on Sunday, they entered the harbor of "Zubu" (Cebu).It had taken them
three days to negotiate the journey from Mazaua northwards to the Camotes
Islands and then southwards to Cebu.
- Magellan and his men encountered some struggle when first entering the port of
Zubu (Cebu), the largest and most trade island.
- Houses were made of logs.
- Tension between the king of Zubu (Lapu-Lapu) and the voyagers.
- Magellan and Kolambu made a blood compact (sanduguan or Spanish: Pacto
de sangre) as a sign of peace and friendship.

April 14, 1521

- A mass was held with Raja Humabon and baptized about 800 Filipinos.
- Pigafetta showed the wife of Humabon the image of child Jesus and a cross and
asked to keep in place of her idols.
- The Child Jesus is known today as Santo Niño, which is celebrated every January
in Cebu.
April 27, 1521

- Rajah Humabon and Datu Zula, chief of the Island (Mactan) welcomed the
Spaniards.
- The chief of Mactan, Lapu-lapu (Cilapulapu, Si Lapulapu, Salip Pulaka, Cali
Pulaco, and LapuLapu Dimantag) refused to obey the king of Spain.
- Magellan invaded Mactan by leading an army of 60 steel-clad Spaniards in three
vessels and 1,000 Cebuano warriors in 30 boats.
- The natives outsmarted the voyagers.
- Magellan was shot in the right leg with a poisoned arrow and a bamboo spear
struck his face.

September 6, 1522

- Victoria
o The only ship survived among the 5 ships finally arrived at San Lucar,
Spain, with only 18 survivors, ending the Magallanes-Elcano expedition.
o The voyage around the world lasted 2 years, 11 months, and 16 days.
o The crew of San Antonio (deserted the expedition) had been imprisoned
until Elcano’s return. Then, they were tried and convicted.