I. Content and Contextual Analysis: Topic 1

I.
Content and Contextual Analysis: Topic 1
Assigned Group to present: Group 1

Assigned Reading 1: All students must read
After the group presentation, prepare for Q&A as part of the recitation (names will be randomly pick)
II. A Brief Summary of the First Voyage Around the World by Magellan by Antonio Pigafetta
Pigafetta’s work instantly became a classic that prominent literary men in the West like William Shakespeare, Michel De Montaigne,
and Giambattista Vico referred to the book in their interpretation of the New World. Pigafetta’s travelogue is one of the most
important primary sources in the study of the precolonial Philippines.
First Voyage Around the World
In Pigafetta’s account, their fleet reached what he called the LADRONES ISLANDS or the “Islands of the Thieves.” He recounted:
“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 that we call these three islands the Ladrones Islands.”
The Ladrones Islands is presently known as the Marianas Islands. Ten days after they have reached Ladrones Islands, Pigafetta
reported that they have reach what he called the Isle of Zamal, now Samar but Magellan decided to land in another uninhabited
island for greater security where they could rest for a few days. On MARCH 18, nine men came to them and showed joy and
eagerness in seeing them. Magellan realized that the men were reasonable and welcomed them with food, drinks and gifts.
Pigafetta detailed in amazement and fascination the palm tree which bore fruits called cochos and wine. He characterized the people
as “very familiar and friendly” and willingly showed them different islands and the names of these islands. The fleet went to Humunu
Island (Homonhon) and there they found what he referred to as the “Watering Place of Good Signs.” for it is in this place that they
found the first signs of gold in the island. They named the island together with a nearby island as the archipelago of St. Lazarus.
On March 25th, Pigafetta recounted that they saw two balanghai (balangay), a long boat full of people in Mazzava/Mazaus. The
leader whom he reffered to the king became closely bonded with Magellan as they both exchanged gifts to one another. After a few
days, Magellan was introduced to the king’s brother who was also a king of another island where Pigafetta reported that they saw
mines of gold. The gold was abundant that parts of the ship and of the house of the king were made of gold. This king was named
Raia Calambu, king of Zuluan and Calagan (Butuan and Caragua), and the first king was Raia Siagu.
On March 31st (Easter Sunday), Magellan ordered the chaplain to preside a Mass by the shore. The king heard about this plan and
sent two dead pigs and attended the Mass with the other king. Pigafetta then wrote: “…when the offertory of the mass came, the
two kings, went to kiss the cross like us, but they offered nothing, and at the elevation of the body of our Lord they were kneeling
like us, and adored our Lord with joined hands.” This was the first Mass in the Philippines, and the cross would be famed Magellan’s
Cross which is still preserved at present day. This was the same cross which Magellan explained to the kings as a sign of his emperor
who ordered him to plan it in the places where he would reach and further explained that once other Spaniards saw this cross, then
they would know that they had been in this island and would not cause them troubles.
By April 7th, Magellan and his men reached the port of Zubu (Cebu) with the help of Raia Calambu who offered to pilot them in
going to the island. The king of Cebu demanded that they pay tribute as it was customary, but Magellan refused. By the next day,
Magellan’s men and the king of Cebu, together with other principal men of Cebu, met in an open space. There the king offered a bit
of his blood and demanded that Magellan do the same. On April 14, Magellan spoke to the kind and encouraged him to be a good
Christian by burning all of the idols and worship the cross instead. The king of Cebu was then baptized as a Christian. After 8 days, all
of the island’s inhabitant were already baptized.
When the queen came to the Mass one day, Magellan gave her an image of the Infant Jesus made by Pigafetta himself. On 26th of
April, Zula, a principal man from the island of Matan (Mactan) went to see Magellan and asked him for a boat full of men so that he
would be able to fight the chief name 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.

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Content and Contextual Analysis: Topic 1

Assigned Group to present: Group 1

First Voyage Around the World

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