WORKSHEET 1

Canson, Sheena Mae C. August 16, 2023

BA Comm 1-A

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines, former chairman, Rene Escalante,
obtained copies of Pigaffeta's manuscripts. The Philippine government spent 125,000 pesos to
obtain copies of all the manuscripts and promised to abide by the conditions settled. According
to Escalante, bringing home Pigafetta's manuscripts is one way to promote the study of history.
The manuscripts are considered primary sources since they were produced by Pigafetta himself.
Antonio Pigafetta was one of the few crew members who made the first
circumnavigation of the globe together with Captain Ferdinand Magellan on August 10, 1519.
During the expenditure, Pigafetta kept a detailed journal, which was written around 1519–1522.
The journal contains information about the discovery of places, including the Philippines, and
how the lives of the people were during the pre-colonization period.
It also proves Magellan's belief that the world is round, as it gives accurate geographical
accounts. Pigafetta was also a cartographer, painting geographic locations such as "Mattan,"
"Zubu," "Bohol," "Zuluan," "Humunu," and Palawan," which are now the Mactan, Cebu, Bohol,
Guiuan, Homonhon, and Palawan, which is shown in the manuscripts bought by Escalante.
Pigafetta's travelogue, 'First Voyage Around the World', is considered a primary source
since he was a firsthand witness to what happened during the major events of the journey.
According to Cambridge University Press, the travelogue was first published in 1874, consisting
of four manuscripts: two French versions at the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris; an Italian
version, which is believed by many scholars to be the oldest and most complete, at the
Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan; and the French version, which is now at Yale University.
It has made a great contribution to Philippine history and the Filipinos, tackling how
Christianity was introduced, the geography and names of places in the country, and the
vocabulary, food, attire, customs, and traditions of the natives. 'The Battle of Mactan' was also
documented, narrating how Ferdinand Magellan was defeated by Datu Lapu-Lapu. Bisaya words
'taghai, bolan, songhot, adlo, abaca, sabun, ayam, ido, balay, boloto', were documented in
Pigafetta's travelogue.
Escalante obtaining the manuscripts has helped to fix misconceptions from the past,
such as that Lapu-Lapu was the one who killed Magellan, when in truth it was a swarm of Lapu-
Lapu's men who killed Magellan.