VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD
BY ANTONIO PIGAFETTA
ANTONIO PIGAFETTA
PIGAFETTA’S EXACT YEAR OF BIRTH IS NOT KNOWN,
WITH ESTIMATES RANGING BETWEEN 1420 AND 1491.
ANTONIO PIGAFITTA WAS AN ITALIAN SCHOLAR AND
EXPLORER.
PIGAFETTA BELONGED TO A WEALTHY FAMILY FROM
THE CITY OF VICENZA IN NORTHEAST ITALY AND
STUDIED NAVIGATION, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
HE JOINED THE EXPEDITION TO THE SPICE ISLANDS LED
BY EXPLORER FERDINAND MAGELLAN UNDER KING
CHARLES I OF SPAIN.
HE KEPT A DETAILED AND COMPREHENSIVE JOURNAL
OF HIS JOURNEY WITH FERDINAND MAGELLAN.
HE WAS ONE OF THE 18 OF MAGELLAN’S ORIGINAL
CREW WHO, HAVING COMPLETED THE WORLD’S FIRST
CIRCUMNAVIGATION, RETURNED TO SPAIN ON BOARD
ANOTHER VESSEL, THE VICTORIA.
FERDINAND MAGELLAN
FEBRUARY 3, 1480 – APRIL 25, 1521
PORTUGUES EXPLORER WHO ORGANIZED THE SPANISH
EXPEDITION TO THE EAST INDIES FROM 1519-1522 TO
SEARCH FOR A WESTERN ROUTE TO THE MALUKU
ISLAND (SPICE ISLAND) RESULTING IT THE FIRST
CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF EARTH COMPLETED BY JUAN
SEBASTIAN ELCANO.
KING MANUEL
BY NOW AN EXPERIENCED SEAMAN, MAGELLAN
APPROACHED KING MANUEL OF PORTUGAL TO SEEK
HIS SUPPORT FOR A WESTWARD VOYAGE TO THE SPICE
ISLANDS. THE KING REFUSED HIS PETITION REPEATEDLY.
IN 1517, A FRUSTRATED MAGELLAN RENOUNCED HIS
PORTUGUESE NATIONALITY AND RELOCATED TO SPAIN
TO SEEK ROYAL SUPPORT HIS VENTURE.
KING CHARLES I
JUST 18 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME, KING CHARLES I
GRANTED HIS SUPPORT TO MAGELLAN, WHO IN TURN
PROMISE THE YOUNG KING THAT HIS WESTWARD SEA
VOYAGE WOULD BRING IMMEASURABLE RICHES TO
SPAIN.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE
DOCUMENT OR DOCUMENTARY FILM
DID YOU KNOW?
SPICES WERE IN-DEMAND COMMODITIES AMONG THE
EUROPEANS BECAUSE OF THEIR NUMEROUS BENEFITS
SUCH AS FOOD PRESERVATION, FLAVOR
ENHANCEMENT, AND MEDICINE.
PORTUGAL AND SPAIN WERE INVOLVED IN AN INTENSE
RIVALRY TO SEE WHO COULD FIND AND CLAIM NEW
TERRITORY TO SOURCE THE SPICES COVETED BY
EUROPEAN ARISTOCRATS.
THE TREATY OF TORDESILLAS WAS EFFECTIVE AT THAT
TIME. IT IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN SPAIN AND
PORTUGAL TO SETTLE CONFLICTS OVERLANDS NEWLY
DISCOVERED OR EXPLORED BY CHRISTOPHER
COLUMBUS.
IN 1505, MAGELLAN, IN SERVICE TO PORTUGAL, JOINED
THE FIGHT, TRAVELING TO INDIA, MALAYSIA, AND
INDONESIA. HOWEVER, HE WAS ACCUSED OF ILLEGAL
TRADING AND FELL OUT WITH MANUEL I WHO TURNED
DOWN HIS PROPOSAL TO LOCATE A NEW SPICE ROUTE.
MAGELLAN ABANDONED HIS PORTUGUESE LOYALTY,
TRANSFERRED HIS ALLEGIANCE TO SPAIN THROUGH
KING CHARLES V, AND EVENTUALLY GAINED HIS TRUST.
IN SEARCH OF SPICES, THE SPANIARDS APPROVED
MAGELLAN’S PLAN TO GO TO THE EAST VIA A
WESTWARD DIRECTION AFTER PORTUGAL TURNED
DOWN HIS PLAN.
MAGELLAN LED AN EXPEDITION OF FIVE SHIPS WITH
235-280(NO SPECIFIC) MEN, NAMELY; SAN ANTONIO,
CONCEPTION, VICTORIA, AND TRINIDAD.
THE TRINIDAD UNDER MAGELLAN’S COMMAND
SAN ANTONIO COMMANDED BY JUAN DE CARTAGENA
CONCEPTION COMMANDED BY GASPAR DE QUESADA
SANTIAGO COMMANDED BY JUAN RODRIGUEZ
SERRANO
VICTORIA COMMANDED BY MENDOZA, WI=HICH
CARRIES THE SUPPLIES AND OTHER PROVISIONS.
HOWEVER, ONLY ONE REMAINED AND RETURNED TO
SPAIN AFTER THE EXPEDITION, VICTORIA. PIGAFITTA
WROTE THE CHRONICLE ON BOARD IN ONE OF THE FIVE
SHIPS THAT WERE FIRST TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE
WORLD DURING AN EXPEDITION.
THE ” FIRST VOYAGE AROUND HE WORLD” WAS ONE OF
THE ACCOUNTS WRITTEN BY ANTONIO PIGAFITTA IN
HIS NARRATIVE AND CARTOGRAPHIC RECOED JOURNAL
“CHRONICLES OF MAGELLAN EXPEDITION.”
TREATY OF TORDESILLAS
BOTH SPAIN AND PORTUGAL HAVE CLAIMS IN THE
ATLANTIC.
TREATY WAS SIGNED TO SETTLE COMPETING CLAIMS
TO ATLANTIC DISCOVERIES BETWEEN SPAIN AND
PORTUGAL.
SPAIN GOT THE WEST
PORTUGAL GOT THE EAST
CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL;
ANALYSIS OF THE IMPORTANT
HISTORICAL INFORMATION FOUND IN
THE DOCUMENT OR FILM
ON MARCH 16, 1521, MAGELLAN AND HIS CREW
ARRIVED IN THE PHILIPPINES ISLAND, OR WHAT THEY
CALLED AS ISLANDS OF LADRONI. THEY FIRST REACHED
THE ISLAND ZAMAL (SAMAR).
ON MARCH 18, 1521, THERE CAME SOME NATIVES
GIVING SIGND OF JOY FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE CREW
OF MAGELLAN. THE NAÏVE FILIPINO DID WELCOME THE
FOREIGNER WARMLY. AS DESCRIBED BY PIGAFETTA,
“THEY EXHIBITED GREAT SIGNS OF PLEASURE AT SEEING
US.”
SEEING THAT THE NATIVE ARE REASONABLE MEN,
MAGELLAN GAVE THEM RED CAPS, MIRRORS, COMB,
AND OTHER THIGHS. IN RETURN, THE NATIVES OFFERED
FISH, WINE, COCONUTS, AND OTHER RESOURCES.
MAGELLAN, NAMED THE PLACE (ISLANDS OF HUMUNU)
AS THE “ARCHIPELAGO OF SAN LAZARUS” DUE TO THE
SEVERAL ISLANDS LOCATED IN THAT DISTRICT.
“ARCHIPELAGO OF SAN LAZARUS” WAS THE PRIMITIVE
NAME OF THE PHILIPPINES.
MAGELLAN SUCCEEDS IN HIS PLAN TO INFLUENCE THE
FAITH OF THE PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND HE HAS
COMQUERED.
THE FIRST MASS IN OUR COUNTRY HAPPENED ON
MARCH 31 AND EASTERN DAY. THE FIRST CROSS WAS
THEN SET UP IN MAZUAN (LIMASAWA) AS WICHED BY
MAGELLAN FOR THE BENEFITS OF THE NATIVES.
THE NATIVE FILIPINO HAVE THEIR IDOLS BEFORE AND
GOD, WHICH THEY CALLED “ABBA,” BUT THEY TREW
THIS BELIEF AWAY AS THEY EMBRACED CHRISTIANITY
WHICH MAGELLAN INTRODUCED.
FIRST MAS IN LIMASAWA
MAGELLAN AND HIS CREW WENT TO ZUBU (CEBU) ON
APRIL 7, UPON HEARING GOOD REPORTS ABOUT THE
ISALAND FROM THE KING OF MAZAUA.
THEY ARE NOT IMMEDIATELY WARMLY WELCOMED,
FOR THEY WERE ASKED TO PAY TRIBUTE, BUT
MAGELLAN REFUSED TO DO SO.
THERE WAS A NEGOTIATION THROUGH A NOTARY. THE
KING OF ZUBU ASKED FOR A DROP OF THEIR BLOOD AS
A SIGN OF THEIR FRIENDSHIP BOTH AGREED.
ON ZUBU, THE CAPTAIN’S POWER TO INFLUENCE THE
FAITH OF PEOPLE WORKED.
ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENT AND CONTEXT
1. THE PRIMARY SOURCE ITSELF IS NOT AN ESSAY BUT A
NARRATIVE DEPICTION OF THE EVENTS THAT
OCCURRED.
2. THE JOURNAL WAS WRITTEN FROM THE AUTHOR’S
EXPERIENCE OR MEMORY DURING FERDINAND
MAGELLAN’S VOYAGE WORLDWIDE, MOST
SPECIFICALLY IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
3. IT WAS VERY DETAILED AND SUPPLIED A LOT OF
INFORMATION.
4. THE NARRATIVE WAS IN “IN MEDIA’S RES.” IT
STARTED DURING THE BATTLES IN MACTAN THEN
PROCEEDED TO A FLASHBACK WHEN MAGELLAN AND
HIS CREW CAME TO THE ISLAND AND THEIR
EXPERIENCES DURING THEIR STAY.
5. IT CONTAINS VIVID DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PRE-
COLONIZED FILIPINOS’ LIVES AND CULTURES, SUCH AS
THEIR FOOD, RICH NATURAL RESOURCES, APPEARANCE,
LIVELIHOOD, AND RELIGION. IT ONLY PROVES THAT
THERE WERE ALREADY CIVILIZATIONS AND POLITICAL
SYSTEMS, EVEN BEFORE THEY CAME TO THE
ARCHIPELAGO.
6. MAGELLAN AND HIS CREW WERE THE PEOPLE WHO
CONVERTED SOME OF THE NATIVES TO CHRISTIANITY.
CONSEQUENTLY, THEY WERE ALSO THE ONES
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRST MASS IN THE PHILIPPINE
ISLANDS.
7. FERDINAND MAGELLAN, INDEED, DIED IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
CONTRIBUTION AND RELEVANCE OF
THE DOCUMENT OR DOCUMENTARY
FILM
CONTRIBUTION AND RELEVANCE TO PHILIPPINE
HISTORY
THE ACCOUNT IS PROOF OF THE RICHNESS,
GOVERNANCE AND, INDEPENDENCE IN OUR COUNTRY
IN THE PRE-COLONIAL ERA.
CHRISTIANITY, AS THE LARGEST RELIGION IN THE
WORLD, WAS PROPAGATED IN THE PHILIPPINES BY
FERDINAND MAGELLAN.
THE FAITH OF THE NATIVES BEFORE IS JUST ABOUT
RAISING HANDS AND CLAPPING, BUILDING DIFFERENT
IMAGES OF THEIR IDOLS, UNTIL MAGELLAN
INTRODUCED CHRISTIANITY TO THEM. IT WAS
ACCEPTED AND PRACTICED BY FILIPINOS AND HAS BEEN
A CONSIDERABLE PART OF OUR CULTURE AND BELIEFS.
THE ACCOUNT OF PIGAFETTA ENRICHED PHILIPPINE
HISTORIOGRAPHY BECAUSE IT CONTAINS ESSENTIAL
DETAILS ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF THE VISAYAN
ISLANDS IN THE 16TH CENTURY.
LOCAL TEXTBOOK WRITERS USE HIS BOOK AS THEIR
HISTORICAL INFORMATION SOURCE ABOUT THE
BEGINNING OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE PHILIPPINES.
THE DOCUMENT ALSO NARRATED THE STATUS
(INFERIORITY) OF THE FILIPINOS IN WARFARE,
MANNERS OF DRESSING, AND SYSTEM OF WRITING.
THE PIGAFETTA DOCUMENT GAVE A DETAILED
CHRONICLE OF THE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OF THE
EXPLORATION OF FERDINAND MAGELLAN.
PIGAFETTA’S CHRONICLE CONTRIBUTED IMMENSELY TO
EUROPEAN HISTORIOGRAPHY AS IT RESERVED AND
POPULARIZED THE MAGELLAN-ELCANO EXPEDITION’S
ACHIEVEMENTS.
IT PROVIDED A DESCRIPTION, LOCATION, AND
DISTANCES OF THE PLACES VISITED, THEREBY
ENHANCING CARTOGRAPHY KNOWLEDGE AT THAT
TIME.
HE PROVED TO OTHER EXPLORERS AND THE PEOPLE
TODAY THAT CIRCUMNAVIGATING THE WORLD WAS
POSSIBLE.
THEY PROVED THAT THE EARTH IS NOT PLAT BUT ON
OBLATE SPHERE.
THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE PORTUGUESE ROUTE IS
NOT THE ONLY WAY TO THE SPICE ISLANDS. THEY
DISCOVERED A LARGE BODY OF WATER ON THE SIDE OF
THE AMERICAN CONTINENT, WHICH THEY NAMED THE
PACIFIC OCEAN.
THEY FOUND S STRAIT THAT CONNECTED THE ATLANTIC
AND PACIFIC OCEANS AND CALLED IT THE STRAIT OF
MAGELLAN.
VERY INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT
MAGELLAN’S CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF
THE WORLD!
1. MAGELLAN’S EXPEDITION HAD A MULTINATIONAL
CREW.
2. MAGELLAN’S VOYAGE WAS SPARKED BY A TREATY
BETWEEN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.
3. MAGELLAN WAS CONSIDERED A TRAITOR TO HIS
HOME COUNTRY OF PORTUGAL.
4. MANY OF MAGELLAN’S CREW MUTINIED OR
DESERTED THE EXPEDITION.
5. MAGELLAN’S EXPEDITION CLAIMED TO HAVE
ENCOUNTERED GIANTS IN SOUTH AMERICA.
6. MAGELLAN GAVE THE PACIFIC OCEAN ITS NAME.
“MAR PACIFICO,” WHICH MEANS “PEACEFUL SEA” IN
PORTUGUESE.
7. MAGELLAN WAS A STAUNCH CHRISTIAN EVANGELIST
—AND THIS MAY HAVE COST HIM HIS LIFE.
8. MAGELLAN’S SLAVE MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST
PERSON TO TRULY CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE GLOBE.
9. MAGELLAN ONLY DESERVES PARTIAL CREDIT FOR THE
CIRCUMNAVIGATION.
10. THE NEXT CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE GLOBE
TOOK PLACE NEARLY 60 YEARS AFTER THE RETURN OF
MAGELLAN’S EXPEDITION.
TIMELINE OF THE MAGELLAN’S
EXPEDITION
SEPTEMBER 20, 1519
- THE VOYAGE BEGINS. MAGELLAN AND HIS
CREW DEPART FROM SANLÚCAR DE
BARRAMEDA, SPAIN, AND CROSS THE ATLANTIC
TO REACH RIO DE JANEIRO IN BRAZIL.
SEPTEMBER 26, 1519
- MAGELLAN AND HIS CREW SAIL
SOUTHWESTWARD AND REACH THE CANARY
ISLANDS TO TAKE IN PROVISIONS. A FAST-
SAILING SHIP OVERTAKES HIM, BRINGING A
MESSAGE FROM HIS FATHER-IN-LAW WHO
WARNS HIM OF TREACHERY AMONG HIS MEN.
DECEMBER 13, 1519
- MAGELLAN AND HIS MEN ENTER RIO DE
JANEIRO. MAGELLAN NAMES THE PLACE
"SANTA LUCIA" BECAUSE UPON REACHING THE
ISLAND IT IS SANTA LUCIA'S DAY. HERE THEY
TRADE WITH THE LOCAL TRIBES. THEY
EXCHANGE THEIR STUFF FOR FOOD AND
WATER.
MARCH 31, 1520
- MAGELLAN CONTINUES HIS EXPEDITION GOING
SOUTH UNTIL WINTER STORMS CAME AND
 FORCE HIM TO STAY IN PUERTO SAN JULIAN IN
ARGENTINA.
APRIL 1, 1520
- A MUTINY BREAKS OUT. THIS IS LED BY
QUESADA, THE CAPTAIN OF CONCEPTION;
MENDOZA, CAPTAIN OF VICTORIA; AND
CARTAGENA, CAPTAIN OF SAN ANTONIO. JUAN
SEBASTIAN DE ELCANO ALSO PARTICIPATED.
END OF THE APRIL
- THE SHIP SANTIAGO IS SENT ON ANOTHER
MISSION TO FIND A PASSAGE. THE SHIP IS
CAUGHT IN A STORM AND IS WRECKED.
OCTOBER 21, 1520
- MAGELLAN ARRIVES AT THE CAPE OF THE
ELEVEN THOUSAND VIRGINS, KNOWN TODAY
AS THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN.
NOVEMBER 28, 1520
- MAGELLAN BEGINS HIS TRANS-PACIFIC VOYAGE
WITH ONLY THREE SHIPS. DURING THE
EXPEDITION, MAGELLAN AND HIS CREW ARE
LOST IN THE PACIFIC FOR MORE THAN THREE
MONTHS. THE CREW MEMBERS GO MAD DUE
TO SICKNESS AND HUNGER THAT FORCES THEM
TO EAT WORMS, RATS, SAWDUST, AND WATER-
SOAKED LEATHER. THEY SUFFER SCURVY.
NINETEEN OF HIS MEN DIE AND 30 OF THEM
BECOME VERY ILL.
MARCH 16, 1521
- AFTER BEING LOST IN THE PACIFIC FOR MORE
THAN THREE MONTHS, MAGELLAN SIGHTS AN
ISLAND IN SAMAR AT THE DAWN OF MARCH 16,
1521. SOME CALL THIS EVENT THE “DISCOVERY
OF THE PHILIPPINES."
- NOTE: "DISCOVERY OF THE PHILIPPINES" IS A
TERM USED BY FOREIGNERS. OUR ANCESTORS
HAVE LONG BEEN IN THE PHILIPPINES AND
ALREADY HAD A CONNECTION WITH DIFFERENT
PEOPLE AND COUNTRIES.
SEPTEMBER 26, 1519
- MAGELLAN LANDS IN HOMONHON.
MARCH 18, 1521
- MAGELLAN AND HIS HUNGRY CREW ARE
WELCOMED BY OUR ANCESTORS FROM THE
NEIGHBORING ISLAND OF SALUAN. THEY FEED
THE FOREIGNERS BANANAS, FISH COCONUTS,
AND PALM WINE.
MARCH 25, 1521
- MAGELLAN LEAVES HOMONHON. DURING HIS
EXPEDITION, MAGELLAN IS CAUGHT IN A
STORM, FORCING HIM TO SAIL SOUTH. HE
SEEKS SHELTER FROM THE TYPHOON AT THE
NORTHEAST TIP OF MINDANAO TOWARD
BUTUAN BAY.
MARCH 28, 1521
- MAGELLAN LANDS IN MASAO, BUTUAN,
AGUSAN DEL NORTE, WHICH IS RULED BY KING
RAHA KOLAMBU. UPON MAGELLAN'S ARRIVAL,
KOLAMBU AND HIS BROTHER ARE HUNTING.
KOLAMBU WELCOMES MAGELLAN.
MARCH 29, 1521
- A BLOOD COMPACT IS MADE BETWEEN
MAGELLAN AND KING KOLAMBU TO SEAL THEIR
NEWFOUND FRIENDSHIP AND BROTHERHOOD.
THIS IS THE FIRST BLOOD COMPACT RECORDED
IN THE COUNTRY.
MARCH 31, 1521
- THE FIRST CATHOLIC MASS IS HELD ON
LIMASAWA ISLAND. THE MASS IS OFFICIATED
BY REV. PEDRO DE VALDERAMA, THE FLEET
CHAPLAIN. THE MASS IS ATTENDED BY
MAGELLAN, KING KOLAMBU, SIAGU, SPANISH
VOYAGERS, AND FELLOW FILIPINOS.
APRIL 7, 1521
- AFTER HE IS DIRECTED BY KING KOLAMBU,
MAGELLAN LANDS IN CEBU THAT IS RULED
UNDER RAHA HUMABON. ON THE SAME DAY,
MAGELLAN AND HUMABON MAKE A BLOOD
COMPACT.
APRIL 14, 1521
- A MASS IS HELD IN CEBU. AFTER THE MASS,
MAGELLAN PLANTS A WOODEN CROSS THAT
STILL EXISTS TODAY AND IS NOW KNOWN AS
THE MAGELLAN'S CROSS. HARA AMIHAN, THE
WIFE OF RAHA HUMABON, IS BAPTIZED ALONG
WITH 800 NATIVES. HARA AMIHAN IS THEN
NAMED QUEEN JUANA IN HONOR OF KING
CHARLES I’S MOTHER, JUANA. BEFORE HER
BAPTISM, QUEEN JUANA IS PRESENTED WITH A
SMALL SCULPTURE, THE IMAGE OF THE SANTO
NIÑO. THIS EVENT MARKS THE FOUNDATION OF
THE SINULOG DANCES WHEREIN QUEEN JUANA
HOLDS THE STO. NIÑO IN HER ARMS AND
BLESSES HER PEOPLE.
APRIL 27, 1521
- MAGELLAN INVADES MACTAN WITH HIS ARMY
OF 60 SPANIARDS FROM THE THREE VESSELS
AND 1,000 CEBUANO WARRIORS. HIS GOAL IS
TO DEFEAT DATU LAPU-LAPU. ON THIS DAY,
THE BATTLE OF MACTAN HAPPENS. THOUGH
MAGELLAN AND HIS MEN ARE ARMED, THEY
ARE GREATLY OUTNUMBERED. MAGELLAN IS
WOUNDED IN HIS RIGHT LEG BY A POISON
ARROW AND A BAMBOO SPEAR IS PIERCED TO
HIS FACE. FALLING ON HIS FACE, MAGELLAN IS
KILLED BY LAPU-LAPU AND HIS MEN. AFTER THE
DEATH OF MAGELLAN, HIS MEN FLEE MACTAN.
LAPU-LAPU IS THEN NAMED THE FIRST FILIPINO
HERO WHO FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM.