1.

Analysis of Pigafetta’s Chronicle

Antonio Pigafetta was a key player of one of the most amazing world exploration trips. He was
born in Vicenza in 1492, and he was an Italian seafarer and geographer.
The relevance of his own venture, fundamentally lies in the fact that he took part to the first
globe circumnavigation, between 1519 and 1522, and he was able to accomplish it after the
murder of Ferdinand Magellan, leaving a detailed description of the journey in the Report of the
first trip around the world, a lost manuscript that was rescued later, in 1797, and today is
considered one of the most important documentary evidence relating the geographical
discoveries of the Sixteenth Century. Antonio Pigafetta, fascinating and fleeing personality, for
scholars he still represents a partial mystery. About he too little is known to define a satisfactory
profile on the biographical side. Documents and the testimony of contemporaneous are scarces,
and his own character primarily appears from what he wrote in his own report.
His own narration about the first world circumnavigation was one of the greatest achievements in
the history of navy exploration and discovery. In this narration can be found descriptions of
peoples, countries, goods and even the languages that were spoken, of which the seafarer was
trying to assemble some brief glossaries. Pigafetta tells how, being in Barcelona in 1519, he
heard about Magellan’s expedition, and being wishful to learn about the world, he asked for and
obtained the permission to join in the voyage. Magellan’s fleet weighed anchor from Seville on
August 10th of the same year with five smaller vessels, heading towards Canary Islands and
down along the African coast, and across the Equator. From there they sailed towards Brazil
coast, where they stayed for some time, making supplies and weaving friendly contacts with the
cannibalistic natives who dwelled there.
Moving on, then they arrived in Patagonia, where they spent winter months in a desolate
solitude. They met local people, who looked like giants in their eyes full of wonder, because of
their robust body types. They survived the mutiny of one of the captains and some disgruntled
sailors, and continued the exploration of the coast. One of the vessels was drowned, but the
whole crew managed to be saved. They proceeded until the discovery of the strait, named after,
Magellan himself, on October 21st 1520, and went through, although one of the ships deserted,
sailing back to Spain. Finally, they arrived in the Philippines, where they became acquainted
with the natives who proved hospitable and welcomed them as guests in the king’s palace. The
indigenous people, affected by the celebration of Mass and the crucifix planted in the island,
promised to convert to Christianity.

Quickly they developed commerce and trade, and the king, the queen and other notables of Cebu
were converted, until the entire population rapidly followed them in the new religion.
Shortly after, happened the disastrous episode that changed the course of the expedition.
Magellan took part in a conflict between some local tribes and was killed. The rest of the
expedition managed to escape and retired, preparing to leave, but a trap set by Magellan’s
interpreter and the king of Cebu, led to another massacre of the Europeans. The surviving ships
continued toward Borneo and to the city of Brunei, where they managed to stock up, then from
there, traveling southbound, they came to the Moluccas, 27 months after the departure from
Spain, finding a warm welcome by an astrologer king who had predicted their arrival. But at this
point, despite the perspective of good business and the rich exchanges that would lie ahead, their
desire to return to Spain urged them and pushed them to a quick return.

2. Analysis of Kartilya ng Katipunan

Kartilya ng Katipunan was primarily written by Andres Bonifacio. Emilio Jacinto later made
revisions creating a new rulebook known as Decalogue. It served as a guidebook for newcomers
those people who are willing to join the group. The original version has 14 paragraphs that
contains the values that a Katipunero should have. Each paragraph is unique in such a way that
they tackle different aspects of a person’s life. In which case, anyone may have different
interpretation. Hence, it is only appropriate to have a better understanding or explanation to its
contents.
The first tenet highlights the importance of living a purpose-driven life. A Katipunero who does
not have a purpose lives a useless life. The second rule is all about doing the right thing. A deed
carried out for the sake of fame is not worthy of praise. The third tenet shows what kindness
really means. True act of kindness for a Katipunero is in the love and service he render to other
people and not the other way around. The fourth tenet highlights equality. Every Katipuneros are
treated equally no matter what race or educational background he has. The fifth shows what
honor should mean for a Katipunero. A true Katipunero values honor more than his personal
interest.
The sixth tenet is all about being a man of word. A Katipunero who has a sense of shame must
be a man of his word. The seventh rule gives importance to time. A Katipunero must give
importance to time. For the Katipunan, a time that is lost will never be back. The eighth tenet is
all about fighting for what is right. A Katipunero must protect the weak and fight those who
oppress the weak. The ninth tenet highlights the importance trust. A Katipunero is careful with
what he says and keeps the things that must be kept secret. The tenth principle is all about being
able to lead a family. A Katipunero must lead his family to the right path. If the leader is
consumed by evil, so does his followers. The eleventh principle is all about women. A
Katipunero must give importance to a woman. He must not see her as an object, nor a past time.
That whenever a Katipunero sees a woman, he will remember his mother who nurtured him.

The twelfth principle gives importance to every actions that one has to make. A Katipunero must
not do the things that he does not want to be done to him or to his family. The thirteenth
principle is about having the right character. A Katipunero’s life is not measured by what is his
status in life nor with the things that he possess. Instead, it is in his character and his love for the
native land. The last tenet, shows a glimpse of what the author desire. It shows the sense of
hopefulness for the motherland and that all the sacrifices made is not all for nought. And while
we have different interpretation with what was intended by Bonifacio, there is one thing that
everyone can agree on: Kartilya ng Katipunan was meant to guide us in living our everyday life
it’s fullest. More importantly, it highlights the importance of having the right attitude towards
other people.

3. Analysis of the Proclamation of the Philippine Independence

With a government in operation, Aguinaldo thought that it was necessary to declare the
independence of the Philippines. He believed that such a move would inspire the people to fight
more eagerly against the Spaniards and at the same time, lead the foreign countries to recognize
the independence of the country. Mabini, who had by now been made Aguinaldo's unofficial
adviser, objected. He based his objection on the fact that it was more important to reorganize the
government in such a manner as to convince the foreign powers of the competence and stability
of the new government than to proclaim Philippine independence at such an early period.
Aguinaldo, however, stood his ground and won. 
On June 12, between four and five in the afternoon, Aguinaldo, in the presence of a huge crowd,
proclaimed the independence of the Philippines at Cavite el Viejo (Kawit). For the first time, the
Philippine National Flag, made in Hongkong by Mrs. Marcela Agoncillo, assisted by Lorenza
Agoncillo and Delfina Herboza, was officially hoisted and the Philippine National March played
in public. The Act of the Declaration of Independence was prepared by Ambrosio Rianzares
Bautista, who also read it. A passage in the Declaration reminds one of another passage in the
American Declaration of Independence. The Philippine Declaration was signed by ninety-eight
persons, among them an American army officer who witnessed the proclamation. The
proclamation of Philippine independence was, however, promulgated on August 1 when many
towns has already been organized under the rules laid down by the Dictatorial Government.
The most significant achievement of Aguinaldo's Dictatorial Government was the proclamation
of Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898. The day was declared a national
holiday. Thousands of people from the provinces gathered in Kawit to witness the historic event.
The ceremony was solemnly held at the balcony of General Emilio Aguinaldo's residence. The
military and civil officials of the government were in attendance.
A dramatic feature of the ceremony was the formal unfurling of the Filipino flag amidst the
cheers of the people. At the same time, the Philippine National Anthem was played by the band.
Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista solemnly read the "Act of the Declaration of Independence" which
he himself wrote. The declaration was signed by 98 persons. One of the signers was an
American, L.M. Johnson, Colonel of Artillery.
5. Analysis of Cory Aquino’s Speech
In this year, when in so many parts of world we see so many people struggling to achieve human
rights, one must be frank to be relevant. I see this occasion as a chance to share with oppressed
people everywhere my experience of how change is brought about. To be free, you can, as a
people, appeal to the international standards of human rights set by others, such as the United
Nations. But in end, to vindicate those rights and achieve freedom, you are on your own.
The United Nations stays out of the affairs of other nations; the Charter orders that this be so.
This has been an invitation to hypocrisy. The value of this chamber should rest with us, its
members, doing what we preach.
There should be concern about those who abuse this chamber, who claim one standard but follow
another back home.
Even diplomacy, which is pre-eminently about states, cannot ignore, without peril of
embarrassment, how states treat their people. And so, as leader of country which has this year
achieved the sweet taste of freedom, let me reconfirm our support for what the U.N. stands for:
peace, freedom and partnership of mankind. But let me serve warning to those denied freedom
and dignity: do not look beyond yourselves to find them. Masters of Own Fates
But when the authors of the U.N. Charter stopped short of endorsing any right of interference in
any nation's international affairs, they were reflecting a lasting truth about how man prefers to
order his life on this planet. People must be masters of their own fates.

References:
 https://www.inkroci.com/culture_movie/literatures/literatures-from-the-world/first-
voyage-around-the-world-by-antonio-pigafetta.html
 https://brainly.ph/question/1583855
 http://msc.edu.ph/centennial/independence.html
 https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/23/world/excerpts-from-aquino-s-speech-to-un-
united-nations-ny-sept-22.html