HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY

School of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Civil Engineering

Alamat ni Lapu-Lapu
Video Content Analysis

__________________________________________________________
Group Name:
Group 6
Submitted To:
Mrs. Charlene Manese - Chua

Submitted By:
Jenelle Ferrer
Kyle David Pamintuan
James Gabriel Santos
Allen Villavicencio

Subject: Readings in Philippine History

Class Code: 4370
Section: CE-305
Date Submitted: January 27, 2023
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1. Background of the author

Antonio Pigafetta was an Italian explorer and chronicler. He is best known for his role as
a crew member and chronicler on the expedition of Ferdinand Magellan, the first
voyage to circumnavigate the world (Pigafetta, 1874). Pigafetta joined the expedition as
a translator and was one of only 18 men out of a crew of over 250 who completed the
journey. Pigafetta was born in 1491 in Vicenza, Italy and was a member of a wealthy and
well-educated family (Pigafetta, 1969). He was fluent in several languages, including
Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, which made him an ideal candidate for the expedition
led by Magellan (Pigafetta, 1992). During the expedition, Pigafetta kept a detailed
journal of the voyage, including descriptions of the places they visited, the people they
met, and the challenges they faced. His journal, which was later published as "Primo
viaggio intorno al mondo" (First Voyage Around the World), provides valuable
information about the expedition and is considered one of the most important primary
sources of information about the voyage (Pigafetta, 1525). After the expedition,
Pigafetta returned to Italy where he published his journal and presented it to King
Charles V of Spain. He later served as a courtier in the service of the King. Pigafetta died
in 1534, but his journal remained an important historical document, providing valuable
information about the expedition and the early exploration of the world.

2. Historical background of the document

The document in question is considered a major accomplishment in the field of naval

exploration, as noted by Ettore (2017). In his account of the journey, Pigafetta detailed
the unique aspects of the places visited (De Carvalho, 2020). He also wrote about the
challenges faced during the expedition, the friendly nature of the locals encountered,
the spices and gold discovered, the diverse cultures encountered, interactions with
leaders, the defeat of the fleet, and even instances of betrayal. Due to the document's
thoroughness, it has become a widely referenced source among historians and remains
a primary source of information to this day. The document also contributed to the
understanding of geography, by showing that the world is not flat, but an oblate
spheroid (Limos, 2019).

The Battle of Mactan, in which Filipinos fought for freedom against foreign conquerors,
is a significant event in Philippine history. The details of this battle, as well as other
information about Ferdinand Magellan's voyage around the world in 1519-1522, were
recorded in a manuscript volume attributed to Antonio Pigafetta, a Venetian scholar
who accompanied the voyage. This document, known as "The First Voyage around the
World (1519-1522)", was written between 1522 and 1525 and includes four manuscript
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versions, with one written in Italian and three in French. It also features 23 illuminated
maps and provides early descriptions of the languages and people of the Philippines. It
is considered to be a highly accurate account of the voyage and has earned a reputation
as a valuable resource among historians studying early contact between the East Indies
and Europe. Additionally, the document is credited with providing evidence for
Magellan's expedition being the first to prove that the world is round by sailing from
East to West, leading to further expeditions from Spain and the colonization of the
Philippines in the centuries that followed.

3. Content presentation and analysis of the important historical information found in the
document

4. Contribution and relevance of the document in understanding the grand narrative of

Philippine History

5. Personal Insights

Pamintuan, Kyle David

After watching a video about the Battle of Mactan and Lapu-Lapu's role, I
became aware of my lack of knowledge about this important historical figure who is
considered a hero and warrior in the Philippines. Previously, I only knew that Lapu-Lapu
had killed Magellan, but the video provided new perspectives and information that
showed there was more to the story. This made me realize the importance of
researching accurate documentation, such as "The First Voyage around the World
(1519-1522)" by Pigafetta, before forming opinions about history. This experience also
highlighted the impact of our understanding of history on the development of our
culture and attitudes in the Philippines.
Santos, James Gabriel
While watching this video, I see the difference of Rajah Humabon and Lapu-lapu,
because as you can see in the video Rajah Humabon just go with the flow with
Magellan, because he can see this as an opportunity to have “kalakalan” with other
people as well as an allies, so Humabon is being wise, while Lapu-lapu is being patriotic
and want to fight for his people because he doesn't want to be Magellan’s pet. I am so
proud of Lapu-lapu because even though he knows western countries have the
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advantage in weapons and equipment, he still used strategies like the triangle formation
to bait Magellan.

6. References

De Carvalho, T. N. (2020). Magallanica journal of early modern history. Documenting the

tropical natural world in the account of Antonio Pigafetta, 7(13), 288-314.
http://fh.mdp.edu.ar/revistas/index.php/magallanica/article/view/4839

Ettore, A. (2017, September 26). First voyage around the world by Antonio Pigafetta.
Inkroci Magazine.
https://www.inkroci.com/culture_movie/review-from-the-world/literatures-
from-the-world/first-voyage-around-the-world-by-antonio-pigafetta.html

Limos, M. (2019, April 25). Magellan's death: a detailed description by Antonio Pigafetta.
Esquire Philippines. https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/magellans-death-
history-a00293-20190425-lfrm
Pigafetta, A. (1874). Magellan's Voyage: A Narrative Account of the First
Circumnavigation.
https://books.google.com.ph/books/about/Magellan_s_Voyage.html?
id=sclFZPrPVhsC&redir_esc=y