Readings in Philippine History
Readings in Philippine History
Readings in Philippine History
GROUP 1
1. Topic Title:
Researcher
Belgira, Cassidy Blythe A. Reporter (The Departure, The Land of Verzin, Patagonia,
Researcher
Dela Peña, Angela Princess Reporter (The Strait of Magellan, Pacific Sea, Arrival in
Researcher, Proof-reader
3. Abstract
Antonio Pigafetta’s journal entitled The First Voyage Around the World is a primary source that
provides in-depth accounts of the breakthroughs and occurrences that happened during Ferdinand
Magellan's trip. The aforementioned circumnavigation took place during the Age of Discovery, an
era wherein European countries started their global exploration. They found unprecedented
passageways to the Far East, the Americas, and India. The researchers used a hermeneutical
approach to examine the topic's contextual interpretation and ramifications. This study also
includes the preconceptions, inefficiencies, and modern implementations that happened during the
said expedition.
KEY WORDS: Antonio Pigafetta, The First Voyage, Ferdinand Magellan, circumnavigation, Age
of Presentation
4. Pre-Recorded Video of
The natives of the Philippines resided in little communities known as barangays prior to
Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition. The barrio was the first unit of governance for the Filipinos. It
was a separate community made up of thirty to one hundred households that was often located
near a riverbank or at a river's mouth where it empties into the sea. The Malay word “balangay”,
meaning sailboat, is where the name "barangay" originally came from. The indigenous Filipinos
traveled to different parts of the Philippine islands using the barangays to carry them and their
belongings (Funtecha, 2006). A datu, sometimes referred to as raha or rajah, headed each social
unit. Some of them were superior compared to others due to their distinct skills like superior
strength, which earned them prestige. Sovereign authority was not present in that era because of
the country’s lack of political outlook. The datus were not powerful enough to convert the island
into a single country. Renato Constantino (1975) claimed that the datu was not the ultimate head
of state. His power was constrained by a long-standing set of conventions and protocols. Because
of his contributions to society, he got recognition, which led to people freely offering him
assistance. If, for any reason, he was determined to be unqualified to serve as the community's
leader and his power was compromised, he may be dismissed. In turn, the citizens fought with the
datu and accompanied him on expeditions. Additionally, they offered agricultural goods as buwis,
The languages during this epoch could have been adversely affected by this approach to
life. The citizens of the Philippines had many local dialects and many multiple types of each
language, and they were not all consolidated under a distinct, broader authority. Several barangays
engaged in open commerce during this period. Additionally, there was international trade with
China, Japan, Cambodia, Borneo, Sumatra, Thailand, and other archipelagos (Stevens, 1999).
The Society
Despite the Catholic Church's dominance, there were many other forms of religion practiced
during the Middle Ages in addition to orthodox Christianity. Long-standing pagan rituals and
beliefs intertwined with those of the new faith throughout the Early Middle Ages, making many
of those who identified as Christians socially ostracized by orthodox leadership authorities (Mark,
2019). When the Ottoman Empire seized the sovereignty of Constantinople in 1453, it greatly
constrained trade by denying Europeans accessibility to the region. Additionally, it obstructed the
entrance to the Red Sea and North Africa, two crucial commercial channels to the Far East. A
system of trade channels known as the Silk Road linked the Mediterranean and Europe with China
and the Far East. The Silk Road networks were built when the Han Dynasty in China initially
began trading with the West in 130 B.C. They were utilized until the Ottoman Empire shunned
commerce with China and abolished them in 1453 A.D. Despite the fact that it has been
approximately 600 years since the Silk Road was utilized for global commerce, the routes still
The sixteenth century was an era of transformation. After Nicholas Copernicus shifted the
position of the world from being at the center of the universe, Christopher Columbus found
America and Martin Luther took on the religious order of Western Europe, this convergence of
small, particularistic areas started to realize that there was an entire planet out there waiting to be
examined. The Portuguese undertook the earliest expeditions connected to the Age of Discovery.
Even though the Portuguese, Spanish, Italians, and other seafarers had been cruising the
Mediterranean for centuries, the majority of mariners stuck close to shore or followed well-
established passages between harbors. That was altered by Prince Henry the Navigator, who
encouraged sailors to venture outside of the known sea lanes in search of uncharted trading posts
in West Africa.
The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed on June 7, 1494, was an accord involving Spain and
Portugal intended to end disputes over territories that Christopher Columbus and other travelers
from the late 15th century had just found or visited (McKenna, 2019). When the Spanish
discovered a nautical path to Asia through the Pacific Ocean, Spain overthrew the Aztecs, while
Portugal went beyond the Indian Ocean. The pact between the two kingdoms was put to the fullest
test. The two empires quarreled over individuals and nations at the edge of Europe as a result of
this imperial conquest. The border itself was shifted to 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands
when Spanish and Portuguese representatives met in Tordesillas, northwest Spain, to reiterate the
canonical partition. In 1506, Pope Julius II ultimately approved the modification. As a result of the
new line, Portugal was given permission to claim Brazil's coastline after Pedro lvares Cabral
explored it in 1500. Brazil's assertions to significant sections of South America's heartland are
firmly supported by ages of expedition and habitation well to the west of the line of partition.
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator, and adventurer who was born Fernão de Magalhães
in 1480 traveled under the banners of competing nations, Portugal and Spain. He joined Francisco
de Almeida's army at the beginning of 1505, joining King Manuel's voyage to limit Muslim naval
power off the shores of India and Africa and to forge a significant Portuguese presence in the
Indian Ocean. Magellan returned to India in 1507. He actively participated in the famous Battle of
Diu, which took place on February 2 and 3, 1509, and witnessed the Portuguese vanquish a Muslim
His main objectives for this expedition were motivated by prestige and fortune. Religion
is also one of the factors involved. After arriving on the mainland of Cebu, Magellan's crew
continued to the Philippine islands. There, he made connections with the natives and, overcome
by a new enthusiasm for religion, tried to introduce them to Christianity. Even though Magellan
was coming closer than ever to the Spice Islands, he chose to assist the Rajah of Cebu in defeating
their rivals on the island of Mactan. With his powerful European armaments, he believed he could
win easily, thus, despite the advice of his troops, Magellan personally took the initiative. When
Magellan was struck by a poisonous arrow during a violent battle with the troop of Mactan, he
Although the first attempt to sail around the world was coordinated by him, Magellan
failed to finish the expedition. Fortunately, it was recorded in history, and because his quest was
the first to cover the entire globe, it is now well recognized on a worldwide scale. His successor,
Juan Sebastian de Elcano, who took over after his passing, became the first European to finish the
circumnavigation.
Antonio Pigafetta
Antonio Pigafetta was his aide in the expedition. There is not much known about Pigafetta's past
other than the fact that he participated in the first journey around the globe. Pigafetta mastered
navigation in addition to various things and was raised in a prosperous Vicenza household. In
addition to traveling to Spain with Monsignor Chieregati, the papal nuncio, he embarked on deck
one among the 18 survivors that sailed the Victoria back to Spain. In addition to circumnavigating
the globe completely, Pigafetta also authored a book titled The First Voyage Around the World
that included a complete account of the journey. His work evolved into a significant primary source
The Account
Image retrieved from https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/pages-from-the-nancy-manuscript-of-antonio-
pigafettas-account-of-picture-id173305354?s=2048x2048
Pigafetta was able to survive with the journal that we know and use today. We use this
journal as a basis for everything we know about the expedition today. Pigafetta’s work was a
detailed western route to the Moluccas. And many lands were discovered along the way and many
people were. Also, in the part of the Pacific, the fleet discovered the Marinas Archipelago,
including the Philippines. All of these are written by Antonio Pigafetta – a veteran scholar and
explorer. He joined the expedition describing the events, stories, and experiences in a first-person
perspective.
The text, it had no clear style or format. The grammar was impossible to improve even by
English-speaking analysis. Since the translations of the text and meaning can depend on the
nationality of the readers. Many debated about it and the authenticity of the original manuscript. It
was widely accepted as a reliable account of the said crusade. The first voyage that Pigafetta wrote
was written in Italian, and many people say that it was sent over dozens of monarchies around
Europe.
Pigafetta has recorded in his journal one of the most major events in Philippine history.
The first time Europeans and Filipinos interacted. The original journal was lost, however there
were four manuscripts that were produced based on the original journal. The four manuscripts are
The Crew
magellan-voyage-around-world-only-18-finished-it
King Charles V was the one who provided the Spanish fleet and it was named Armada de
Molucca, the one led by Magellan. There are 5 ships on their journey, those 5 ships are. Santiago
had 32 crew members and was led by Juan Serrano. San Antonio had 60 crew members and was
led by Juan De Cartagena. Concepcion had 43 crew members and was led by Gaspar de Quesada.
Trinidad had 55 crew members and was led by Ferdinand Magellan. And the last ship, the only
ship to survive. Victoria had 43 crew members and was led by Luiz Mendoza. This was the ship
that Antonio Pigafetta boarded. And the crew also had different nationalities around the world.
The Voyage
After completing the first globe voyage, the crew of the Victoria anchored in the Spanish
city of Seville's harbor on September 8, 1522. A young Italian nobleman named Antonio Pigafetta,
who had joined the voyage three years earlier and assisted Ferdinand Magellan on the way to the
Molucca Islands, with the goal of finding spices in the "Spice Islands'', was on board. When
Magellan died, the remaining ships in the fleet were lost: the Trinidad was abandoned, the
Concepcion was torched, the San Antonio was overtaken, and the Santiago was lost at sea. 18 of
the 237 seamen that left Seville came back on the Victoria. Together with his diary, which
contained notes outlining the finding of the western path to the Moluccas, Pigafetta had managed
to escape. Along the trip, the fleet also encountered new lands and peoples: on the opposite side
of the Pacific, the Marianas archipelago, and some three hundred leagues to the west, the
Philippines. Some of Pigaffeta's observations in the new land that he went on included interisland
trading, alliances among local chiefs, boat construction, bodily adornment, abundance of gold, and
marriage and burial practices. In order to establish his authority when dealing with unfamiliar
people, Pigafetta bombards them with details. He provides us pages and pages of words from
Patagonia, Cebu, and Tidore in an effort to reconstruct their world for us, including what they look
like, where they live, what they eat, and what they say. However, there isn't much humility, which
7. Inter-Textual Analysis
I. External Criticism
Author’s Credibility
Pigafetta: First Voyage Around the World was written by Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian
scholar, explorer, soldier. He joined the expedition to the spice islands that was led by Ferdinand
Magellan under King Charles V of Spain. During his time exploring the world he was loyal to
Magellan and stayed comprehensive and detailed in his journal to comply with the demands of the
King. The whole document was made by Pigafetta, based on his experience.
18 Individuals were the only remaining survivors, these 18 individuals were able to survive the
journey and Antonio Pigafetta was one of these 18 individuals. In 1522 they returned to Spain
while being led by Juan Sebastian Elcano, in all 270 crew men who sailed 3 years before, these 18
individuals were the first to ever to travel all the way around the globe.
Time, Place, and Situation at the period the Source was made
Antonio Pigafetta’s First Voyage Around the World was first written on Aug 10 1519,
when the 5 ships began their long journey in search of a route to the Spice Islands. It was led by
Ferdinand Magellan. In the journal everything was covered even the death of Magellan and the
time they were able to get back home to Spain while being led by Juan Sebastian Elcano. And it
Source survival
Ferdinand Magellan's voyage around the world between 1519 and 1522 is described in a
book around 1525, this manuscript book was created. The book was written by Antonio Pigafetta.
a Venetian scholar who accompanied Magellan and was born in Venice Vicenza 1940, Italy.
Pigafetta's eyewitness account is the most detailed and complete account of this event. Their pages
noteworthy because not only in Philippine history, but also in global history, because he reported
events in such a way that they were widely circulated. has also given his journal readers a clear
picture of what happened during the time of the expedition. In the process the original journal was
lost but there were four copies that had been preserved in Italian and French languages.
German maritime journal Marine-Rundschau written in April 1911 by Dr. Walther Vogel
One of the most prestigious pages in history is the journal kept by Antonio Pigafetta. However, it
is believed that the journal assigned viewpoints and prejudices that demonstrated an imbalanced
assessment of the events. In particular, he expressed prejudices in his account about Magellan's
bravery in the Battle of Mactan. His Eurocentric views of the Christian religion also displayed
bias. Because he saw the expedition firsthand, his narrative is often regarded as the major source
expedition is the most comprehensive and beautifully constructed text (Yale University Library,
n.d.).
Pigafetta's narratives on Magellan's death made it indisputable to say that he had biases as he
depicted the events of the battle of Mactan and neglected the roots and contingencies of it that may
have led to Magellan's death. The majority of Magellan's terrible circumstances may have begun
before the combat because he made choices that were at odds with the King's directives and
objectives. With the other substantial facts presented in his document, Pigafetta had, in one way
or another, described the story from a position in which he made assertions that were biased and
one-sided. He gave the most in-depth accounts of the expedition, therefore his account is still a
In spite of that, there is an additional firsthand account about Magellan’s voyages, written by
Fernando Oliveira from the excerpts of Karl Heinz Weiznor and Pedro Sastre. Dr. Walther Vogel,
a German historian, authored an article about Fernando Oliveira in the German maritime journal
Oliveira's narrative had never been fully translated into English. Because Oliveira's Magellan
story was hidden within the pages of a larger, more extensive work based on his scholarly guides
on the Art of Naval Warfare and the Art of Shipbuilding in the 16th century, it was overlooked and
Here is a direct quote from Fernando Oliveira about the Battle of Mactan in April 27, 1521:
"Magellan, undertook to do him (CiLapu Lapu) some damage or humble him, and decided to set
out for that land with some armed men and make a strike in his lands, as in fact he did set out with
sixty men armed with (h)arquebuses, and commenced to burn his huts and cut palm trees. At this
the king took steps to defend his land with many people, and gave battle against him. However, as
long as our gunpowder lasted, those of that land did not dare to close with them; but when it was
used up, they surrounded us on all sides, and since they were incomparably more numerous, they
prevailed, and our men were not able to defend themselves or escape, and fighting until they were
exhausted, some died, and Magellan among them, who, when he was alive, did not want the king
his friend to aid him with his men who were there at that time, saying that with divine favor, the
Christians would be enough to conquer that whole rabble. But when he was dead the king
(Humabon) rushed in and saved those many who were wounded and ordered them carried back to
the ships, because he was afraid that all those other enemies of his would get together and seize
them."
In summary, Oliveira's account differs considerably from Pigafetta's account regarding to the
thought that Magellan's men were helped in their retreat by rival tribe leader Humabon's men
instead of fighting back on their own. In conclusion, Oliveira's account was less poetically
embellished than Pigafetta's and looks to be more strategically sound because Lapu Lapu's
soldiers are unlikely to have pursued the fleeing Spaniards by wading into dangerous waters where
Author’s Credibility
First Voyage Around the World featuring Ferdinand Magellan and his circumnavigation
was written by Antonio Pigafetta. A prime example of a primary source considering that Pigafetta
was one of the passengers of the ship who had written in expounded detail the timeline of events
that took place during the expedition, therefore validated. In accordance, the English language
translation is a precise counterpart reference for the sole reason that it flows directly from the
fountainhead. Translated versions were also published by other validated and legitimate sources
like the French translation of the First Voyage Located at Yale University Library. Parallel to that
there were also several journals created on the same time frame as Pigafetta Created the First
Voyage Around the World bringing about truth and solidarity as well as to strengthening the claims
as far mentioned.
The book was originally titled Primo Viaggio Intorno al Mondo. The creation took place
between year 1519 on the 10th of August up until year 1522, mainly a talk through of the day-to-
day events of Ferdinand Magellan’s voyage. The book not only stated significant events but also
those of commonality from their life occurrences reflecting to the present day. Written about was
his understanding, thoughts, and takeaways about the succession of events occurring as they
Antonio Pigafetta is a testimony of eyewitness for he was there firsthand experiencing the
First World Voyage with the Captain General, therefore making his Journal a primary source.
Siting the findings and different practices observed from different groups of different islands
located beyond the boundaries of their own lands. Very descriptive details describing their way of
life and how they lacked knowledge not only on the aspect of archipelago of the earth but also in
to the writings of Pigafetta wherein heavy storms hinder their journeying fleets thus they pray to
the Saints (St. Elmo, St. Nicholas, St. Clara) and as they appear the dark stormy clouds start to
perish out of sight and resumes the clear skies and calm seas that enables them to continue their
sail.
Filipinos were said to be exhibiting great pleasure upon seeing them. They described them
as “caphri” having holes in their ears so large that their arms could pass through them. It is also
said that they go naked, with woven cloths from trees covering their private parts but some chiefs
wear cotton cloth embroidered with silk at the ends using needles. Dark, fat, and painted are the
words used to described Filipinos physical appearance, black hair up to their waist. They used
coconut and beneseed seed oil to protect themselves against the sun and the wind.
The first mass that was commenced in the Philippines was held on the 31st of March year
1521 on a Sunday. Headed by Father Pedro de Valderama at the shores of Mazua. Before the mass
took place the Kings were showered with musk water by the captain. Afterwards went upfront to
kiss the cross but not to offer thy sacrifice. Remaining on their knees to worship with clasped
hands.
Inaccuracy of Maps
Ferdinand Magellan’s primary goal was to sail to Maluku where the Spice Islands were
located. The captain general thus thought better that by taking the west route and not the east by
sailing through the strait in South America, that it was possible for him to discover a new route to
The centralized idea as to why Antonio Pigafetta wrote The First Voyage Around The
World is to put in document the succession of events that are pivotal in the founding of the said
Islands and the people inhabiting them which are the Filipinos. Also for him to take note of his
trip across the globe and to learn more about the world that they uncover as they journeyed further
8. Exegesis
The First Voyage Around the World by Antonio Pigafetta, was written due to his driven
passion to discover the world in a more extensive manner. Laid out in this work of his is how he
viewed the world, an understanding from his own eyes of how and what the existing things beyond
interpretations. Jotting down notes of the crucial succession of events that is possible to catch the
attention of the readers and to pique their interest as well whilst learning about the history and
main events (ex.: March 16, 1521 – Arrival at Island Zamal in the Philippines) that happened that
The context of how it was written describes mainly the different inhabitants they crossed
paths with alongside the different Islands they reached as they progress their journey to the Spice
Islands. It gave a very specific view on how our ancestors lived. This mainly includes their
The journal also paved way in answering questions that had no contextual background to
it due to the lack of information surrounding certain events. He did so by conveying much detail
where it was possible for the reader to envision the scenario being portrayed in the text. The journal
is there to be remembered not just now, but for the future generations to come.
Significance in Society
It was for the journal that raised awareness of the different existing tribes and not
just confined to those they know of or their own personal tribes. They are able to discover
what is quite the difference of from their own way of living and learn more about the
highly important in a sense that we can, piece-by-piece, put together the past and reflect it to the
present time and to those historical pieces yet to be discovered for future references. Also giving
us context of what traditions, culture, and beliefs, our ancestors had that were passed down and
Significance in Religion
Journal, they were the ones to influence us by the commencement of the first Holy Mass in the
Island of Mazuza. The concept of reaching out to the Saints which was mentioned early on. Led
accomplishments
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he
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July 2006,
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text=The%20barangay%20was%20the%20Filipino%27s.
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mb.com.ph/2021/05/31/where-and-when-was-the-first-mass-held/.
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