SSC 001 Readings in Philippine History USI Vincentian Learning Module

Lesson 3: The First Voyage Around the World

by Antonio Pigafetta

Overview
This chapter will give us an exercise on how to analyze a primary source. A primary source,
as what was discussed in the previous lesson, is a historical evidence that is needed to create
historical narratives. It offers an inside view of a particular event. But in dealing with primary sources,
critical analysis is important.

We are now to journey back in time and take a glimpse of what happened in our history as
Filipinos. Looking back from the historical evidences of our country, we will take into account the
travel of Magellan as narrated to us by Antonio Pigafetta.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lesson, you will:

1. Identify important details in the primary source “The First Voyage Around the World.”
2. Analyze the context of the said primary source.
3. Explain the relevance of The First Voyage Around the World as a primary source in
Philippine history.

Learning Content

https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780486280998 https://www.dw.com/en/magellan-and-the-worlds-first-circumnavigation-500-years-ago/a-4994604

This lesson is taken from Candelaria and Alphora (2018) who also adapted their writings from
the sixteenth-century chronicles of Antonio Pigafetta, a voyager of that time. Remarks from the
authors narrated how Pigafetta’s book became a “classic literary work” drawing comments in the
world and among writers, that it has a good description and interpretation of the new world. What
Pigafetta wrote stimulated the minds of western culture.

Adapted from the Module of Ms. Maridi Palma, MAEd

SSC 001 Readings in Philippine History USI Vincentian Learning Module

It can further concur in this account that Europeans were impressed by the terrain, a land
with many islands, a government ruled by rulers with his people, a people with cultural practices
and traditions, and a way of life too different from them.

The chronicles of Pigafetta began when Ferdinand

Magellan, a Portuguese, left Spain along with his 270 men. The
travel’s purpose is to go westward sea route to the Spice Islands.
The events that marked Pigafetta’s travel started from
Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines, Magellan’s meeting with the
local leaders, and death in the hands of the chieftain of Mactan,
Lapu-lapu and his men who outnumbered Magellan’s men.
The primary sources left the usual point of view in writing
https://www.geo.de/wissen/21807-rtkl-ferdinand-
history since this was written from a personal point of view. magellan-1082-tagen-um-die-welt

Antonio Pigafetta wrote his experience in full detail as he was

assigned by Magellan himself to document the voyage. Written in his chronicle where his general
impression of the Far East. He wrote his observation of the natives they met as they landed in the
Visayas. The island they first reached was Zamal (Samar).
In his chronicle, he wrote the customs and traditions of the people. Their character and
superstitions. He recounted the familiarity, joy and friendliness of the people upon seeing them. They
were met by nine men whom Magellan perceived as reasonable men. They were given food, rice, fish
and wine (a palm wine). Pigafetta noted their way of clothing as very light and some were almost
naked. Their amazement at the gifts they gave got his interest.

At the onset of their arrival, Magellan sought an uninhabited island where they could rest for
the night. One may ask how was Magellan able to communicate with the natives? His slave Enrique
was the one who facilitated the communication, he came as a Malay interpreter, though his roots
were doubted to be a Filipino from Cebu (Flores, 2015).

The Philippines, as he viewed it, has too many islands and in each island are rulers whom
Pigafetta referred to as kings. The first king to greet them was Rajah Siagu brother to Rajah Calambu,
king of Zuluan and Calagan (Butuan and Caragua) whom Pigafetta noted that the latter is a handsome
man. “Pigafetta described the second king as most handsome of all the men that he saw in this place”.
Rajah Calambu of Samar, as Pigafetta narrated has an abundance of gold. With a golden dagger, the
rajah is adorned with silk and gold accessories. The exchange of gifts expressed the desire of
Magellan and the Rajah to become brothers.

Adapted from the Module of Ms. Maridi Palma, MAEd

SSC 001 Readings in Philippine History USI Vincentian Learning Module

March 31st fell on an Easter Sunday. A mass was made by the chaplain as Magellan ordered. In
this mass, the two rajah brothers attended the prepared celebration. Pigafetta described, the natives
knelt and adored the Lord. The two brothers kissed the cross. Magellan told the natives that he was
ordered by the king of Spain to plant the cross in the places that he reached. He also assured the
natives that if there will be Spaniards who will hold them captive, the cross, when they see it, would
free them from such captivity.

http://langyaw.com/2016/07/04/limasawa-islands-historic-magellan-shrine/
Replica of the cross that was planted by Magellan’s men atop
the hill which has more than a hundred steps.

Magellan, according to the record of Pigafetta, spoke to the natives about God. They found
pleasure in his speech. The chronicler further described the peoples’ point of view of old age. The
natives believed that they considered their parents in old age coz it is their children who are the new
leaders. Magellan countered that faith teaches that children have to honor and obey their parents. He
further taught them about faith which showed that they are convinced. It must be noted that
Magellan and his men came from a land that has a strong Christian faith. They have almost baptized
the natives in the islands they came across. He asked them to burn their idols and instead convert
their beliefs to Christ. Some of them burned the villages of those who did not obey their native king
or Magellan. Every day, according to Pigafetta, there would be celebrated masses on the shore.

Magellan further moved to other islands to have more supplies. Raia Calambu offered to assist
them as they would like to go to Zzubu(Cebu), the largest and richest of the islands. The king of Cebu
told Magellan that they should pay respect. But Magellan replied to them through his interpreter that
he is an emissary of a king of a greater empire and thus it is better that they don’t have animosity but
instead friendship. The native king’s belief in Magellan gave way to a lot of Christian converts.

However, there came to Magellan a man of importance by the name of Zula and asked for him to
give him a boat full of men, he intended to fight a chieftain named Silapulapu (Lapulapu). He
explained that Lapulapu rejected obedience to the king and Magellan. But instead, it was Magellan
who expressed to go to Mactan and fight.

Adapted from the Module of Ms. Maridi Palma, MAEd

SSC 001 Readings in Philippine History USI Vincentian Learning Module

But the story of Pigafetta as narrated, Magellan’s man is

only 49, including Pigafetta himself. They were outnumbered by
the men of Lapulapu which were composed of 1,500 natives.
Pigafetta recounted the said ending on how the men were hit by
poisoned arrows. The men fought hard especially when Magellan
ordered to burn the entire village just to scare the natives but such
acts of Magellan angered the natives more as they rush to them
from all sides. The natives rushed to Magellan when they saw him
wounded.

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/death-of-
ferdinand-magellan-colour-litho-mike-
white.html?product=acrylic-print

Through it all Magellan kept looking back at his men as giving them the chance to retreat.
Pigafetta narrated how Magellan fell face down in the battle of Mactan. The king of Cebu offered the
Chief of Mactan gifts in exchange for Magellan’s body but it was not released to him for the reason
that it is a reminder of their winning.
Pigafetta narrated that they were betrayed by Magellan’s interpreter and the king of Cebu. As
the latter was convinced by the interpreter that he can have the ships and other valuables. They were
invited to a gathering; 24 men went except Pigafetta since they were wounded but later on, they
heard cries. All of the men were killed except for the interpreter and Juan Serrano who pleaded them
across the shore to pay a ransom. But Pigafetta and his companions decided to back away and nobody
was instructed to go offshore. The fleet departed leaving behind Serrano.

Analysis of Pigafettas Chronicle

As a Primary Source

It can be understood that the narrative of Pigafetta about Magellan’s travel to the Far East
was not for the purpose of coming to the Philippines, instead, it was in the search of the Spice Islands.

https://www.google.com/search?source=univ&tbm=isch&q=images+of+the+spice+island&sa=X&ved=
2ahUKEwiAsryu9N3qAhVM2EKHTvOAPEQ7Al6BAgBEDI&biw=1366&bih=625#imgrc=a_27xEzHyvlXBM&

Adapted from the Module of Ms. Maridi Palma, MAEd

SSC 001 Readings in Philippine History USI Vincentian Learning Module

imgdii=DQ6PMPG8D6J9IM

The Spice Island or Mollucas is very important to western people since spices were used to
give taste to their food. The flavors of spices were highly valued in Europe. It can preserve food and
take away the taste of meat that has gone bad. The repetitive mention of their search for spices and
the Spice Island is quite strange for a Filipino since spices grow naturally in the Philippines. Although
reading it from the context of Pigafetta, one can see the rarity of this commodity in Europe.

The obsession with the spices might be unusual for Filipinos because of its ordinariness in
the Philippines but understanding the context would reveal that spices are rare in Europe hence,
were seen as prestige goods. In that era, Spain and Portugal coveted the control of the Spice Islands
because it would have led to a certain increase in wealth influence and power. Europeans had
reached the Spice Islands by sailing east, but none had yet to sail west from Europe to reach the other
side of the globe. Magellan was determined to be the first to do so.
In Pigafetta’s account, we see the motive or the purpose of their voyage. Aside from
Magellan’s determination to be the first circumnavigator of the world. Although in the account, we
can see that the chronicler has viewed the events not from the standpoint of the natives that they
found but interpreted it from his own viewpoint, that of a European.

In his account, we have seen how he interpreted the local indigenous way of life. He thinks
that it is below their own belief as civilized and Christian Europeans. He recounted the way people
would have idols instead of Christ. Magellan asked the natives to do away with them by burning these
idols.
In the 15th century, the Roman Catholic Church is in great dominion. Kings and queens would
seek the advice of the Pope in state or business matters. Thence, other beliefs that were not congruent
to Christianity were considered pagan, “blasphemous, demonic and barbaric”. It is only the Christian
faith that was recognized. It must be noted that all contentions were viewed from Pigafetta’s personal
standpoint. It is always in comparison to what he knew and understood in his culture.
On the other hand, it is also noted how Pigafetta would observe the natives’ way of dressing,
their manners and culture. He would describe the women’s clothes as well as that of the men.
Observing that the native’s attire was almost naked. With this point of view as a well-dressed
European- fully covered in a sense defines the climate they have. Of course, a man who comes from a
cold country whose temperature drops to zero can’t be expected to dress as scantily as the natives.
It must be a delimiting observation for the local natives. Pigafetta has to be aware that they
discovered an island in the east, a place of tropical climate, a climate which can be really hot and
humid. This observation also goes to the kind of houses the native settlers have. He wrote down that
the houses were made of palm and bamboo, constructed as it is to allow the cool air to enter their
houses. Magnifying a cool shade for the extreme heat of the climate. From here one can analyze that
the writer is coming from the context of a prosperous European culture.
The chronicler was amazed at how gold was abundant on the island. Noting down that the
island is a gold mine. It can be seen the repeated mention of the wealth found on the island in terms
of this precious metal. The king possesses “a golden dagger, adorned with silk and gold accessories
and a rich goldmine” which displays how gold can be so valuable in Europe. It can be a valuable
commodity in his time.

Adapted from the Module of Ms. Maridi Palma, MAEd

SSC 001 Readings in Philippine History USI Vincentian Learning Module

The 15th century is also noted as the age of mercantilism. In Europe way back then the wealth
of kingdoms is commensurate to precious metals amassed, like silver and gold. The mercantilist
economy where the chronicler came from must have been fascinated by the abundance of this
precious metal, there is no doubt why he always made mention of this in his document.
One other thing that Pigafetta’s document show is his incredulity in the local native’s
illiteracy. They were astonished by the Spanish artillery, the gifts and the goods that the Spaniards
gave them. On the other hand, the Spaniards believed that they could defeat the natives because of
their strong artillery, as Pigafetta had recounted and their fascination with their gifts. Their trust in
their civilization and advance artillery failed them to recognize that the natives moved with ease in
their unclothed manner. Their heavy body armor failed to protect them in fighting the battle that they
faced in Mactan.
This has been constantly repeated in his account. But likewise, from the author’s travelogue
one can see how Pigafetta is also astounded by the native’s ginger and gold. It is exactly one of the
things they came looking for, spices and wealth of metals like gold. With 15th century Europe and
having Spain as one of the leading empires of that time, it will not be a wonder how they can be a
leading empire upon discovering an island like the Philippines.

References
Candelaria, J.L. & Alporha, V.C. (2018). Readings in Philippine history (1st ed.). Rex Bookstore Inc.

Pigafetta, A. (n.d.). The first voyage around the world, 1519-1522. Google Books.
https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=Mcgy9Xn2KkEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=The%2BF
irst%2BVoyage%2Baround%2Bthe%2Bworld&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiO67W229DyAh
XOBd4KHVfpDF0Q6AEwAXoECAoQAg#v=onepage&q=The%20First%20Voyage%20around
%20the%20world&f=false.

Adapted from the Module of Ms. Maridi Palma, MAEd