Lesson 1

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD BY

ANTONIO PIGAFETTA

Introduction

Good day! Now we are going to travel around the world via imagination. I hope you can
duck on time. This lesson is all about: The First Voyage around the World by Antonio Pigafetta,
in module two, presenting the two methods of analysis mentioned as it applies to historical
research, using primary resources from across the periods of Philippine History as sampler of
analyses. Expected to be done within three (3) days. Enjoy reading!

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this lessons, you are expected to:

 To understand the meaning of history as an academic discipline and to be familiar

with the underlying philosophy and methodology of the discipline.
 To appreciate the importance of history in the social and national life of the
Philippines.

 ACTIVITY

I. Directions: Write the purpose of expeditions. Complete the graphic organizer.

Achieve goal
Challenge

EXPEDITIONS

See the world

Knowing
nature and
culture

 ANALYSIS

1. Have you experienced travelling outside from your hometown?

 If yes, what are the reasons?
If no, why?
Yes, I wanted to know the world alone and relieve my own pains and hurtful moments
when I’m in the midst of great dilemma by which travelling outside my hometown really
make myself even better. In other words, I travel with a purpose of helping myself out of
pain and by start recalibrating my mind to reminisce the world of its own.

2. Search a group of people/organization today that has objectives of expedition?

Plan and prepare for a expedition, student envision the planning and preparation needed
for an expedition to remote and dangerous site. Then they determine the actual
preparation from a video about an expedition the site. They plan their own to answer and
think through steps needed during planning and preparation.

Tell me about their objectives/goals in a paragraph form?

Learning objectives we cannot stop at course goals; we need to develop measurable

objectives. Once you have written your course goals, you should develop learning
objectives. Learning objectives are different from goals in that objectives are narrow,
discrete intentions of student performance, whereas goals articulate a global statement of
intent. Objectives are measurable and observable, while goals are not.

FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD BY MAGELLAN BY ANTONIO PIGAFETTA

This book was taken from the chronicles of contemporary voyagers and navigators of the
sixteenth century. One of them was Italian nobleman Antonio Pigafetta, who among the
accompanied Ferdinand Magellan in his fateful circumnavigation of the world. Pigafetta’s work
instantly became a classic that prominent literary men in the West like William Shakespeare,
Michel de Montaigne, and GiambattistaVico 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. His account was also a major referent to the event leading to
Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines, his encounter with local leaders, his death in the hands of
lapulapu’s forces in the Battle of Mactan, and in the departure of what was left of Magellan’s
fleet from the islands.

Examining the document reveals several insights not just in the character of the
Philippines during the precolonial period, but also on how the fresh eyes of the Europeans regard
a deeply unfamiliar terrain, environment, people and culture. Locating Pigafetta’s account in the
context of its writing warrant a familiarity on the dominant frame of mind in the age of
exploration, which pervaded Europe in the fifteenth and sixteenth century. Students of history
need to realize the primary sources used in the subsequent written histories depart from certain
perspectives. Thus, Pigafetta’s account was also written from the perspective of Pigafetta’s
himself and was a product of the context of its production. The First Voyage around the World
by Magellan was published after Pigafetta returned to Italy.

For this lesson, we will focus on the chronicles of Antonio Pigafetta as he wrote his first
hand observation and general impression of the Far East including their experiences in the
Visayas. In Pigafettas’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 called these three
4
islands the Landrones Islands.”
 The Landrones islands is presently known as the Marianas Islands. These islands are
located south-southeast of Japan, west-southwest of Hawaii, north of New Guinea, and east of
the Philippines. Ten days after they reached Landrones Islands, Pigafetta reported that they
reached what Pigafitta called the island of Zamal, now Samar but Magellan decided to land in
another uninhabited island for greater security where they could rest for a few days. Pigafetta
recounted that after two days, March 18, nine men came to them and showed joy and eagerness
in seeing them. Magellan realized that the men were reasonable and welcomes them with food,
drinks and gifts. In turn, the natives gave them rice (umai), cocos, and other food supplies
Pigafetta detailed in amazement and fascination the palm tree which bore fruits called cocho, and
wine. He also described what seem like coconut.

Pigafetta 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 what Pigafetta referred to as the “Watering Place of Good Signs.” It
is in this place where Pigafetta wrote that they found the first signs of gold in the island. They
named the island with the nearby island as the archipelago of St. Lazarus. They left the island,
then on March 25th, Pigafetta recounted that they saw balanghai (balangay) a long boat full of
people Mazzava/Mazaua. The leader, who Pigafettareffered to as the king of balanghai, sent his
men to ship of Magellan. The European entertained these men and gave them gifts. When the
King of balangay offered to give Magellan a bar of gold and a chest of ginger, Magellan
declined. Magellan sent the interpreter to the king and asked for money for the needs of his ships
and expressed that he came into the islands as a friend and not as an enemy. The king responded
by giving Magellan the needed provisions of food in chinaware. Magellan exchanged gifts robes
in Turkish fashion red cap, and gave the people knives and mirrors. The two then expressed their
desire to become brothers. Magellan also boasted of his men in armor who could not be struck
with swords and daggers. The king was fascinated and remarked that men in such armor could be
worth one hundred of his men. Magellan further showed the king his other weapons, helmets,
and artilleries. Magellan also shared with the king his charts and maps and shared how they
found the islands.

After the few days, Magellan was introduced to the king’s brother who was also a king of
another island. They went to this island and Pigafetta reports that they saw mines of gold. The
gold was abundant that parts of the ship and of the house of the second king were made of gold.
Pigafetta described this king as the most handsome of all the men that he saw in this place. He
was also adorned with silk and gold accessories like a gold dagger. Which he carried with him in
a wooden polished sheath. This king was named RaiaCalambu, king of ZUluan and Calagan
(Butuan and Caragua), and the first king was RaiaSiagu. March 31 st, which happened to be
Easter Sunday, Magellan ordered the chaplain to preside a Mass by the shore. The king heard of
this plan and sent two dead pigs and attended the Mass with the other king. Pigafetta reported
that both kings participated in the mass.

After the Mass, Magellan ordered that the cross be brought with nails and crown in place.
Magellan explained that the cross, the nail, and the crown were the signs of his emperor and that
he was ordered to plant it in the places that he would reach. Magellan further explained that the
cross would be beneficial for their people because once other Spaniards saw this cross, then they
would know that they had been in this land and would not cause them troubles, and any person
who might be held captives by them would be released. The King concurred and allowed for the
cross to be planted. This mass would go down in history as the first Mass in the Philippines, and
the cross would be the famed Magellan’s Cross still preserved at the present day.

After seven days, Magellan and his men decided to move and look for islands where they
could acquire more supplies and provisions. They learned of the islands of Ceylon (Leyte),
Bohol, and Zzubu (Cebu) and intended to go there. RaiaCalambu offered to pilot them in going
to Cebu, the largest and the richest of the islands. By April 7 th of the same year, Magellan and his
men reach the port of Cebu. The king of Cebu, through Magellan’s interpreter, demanded that 5
they pay tribute as it was customary, but Magellan refused. Magellan said that he was a captain
of a king himself and thus would not pay tribute to other kings. Magellan’s interpreter explained
to the king of Cebu that Magellan’s king was the emperor of a great empire and that it would do
them better to make friends with them than to forge enmity. The king of Cebu consulted his
council. 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.

The following day, Magellan spoke before the people of Cebu about peace and God.
Pigafetta reported that the people too pleasure in Magellan’s speech. Magellan then asked the
people who would succeed the king after his reign and the people and the people responded that
the eldest child of the king, who happened to be a daughter, would be the next in line. Pigafetta
also related how the people talked about, how at old age, parents were no longer taken into
account and had to follow the orders of their children as the new leaders of the land. Magellan
responded to this by saying that his faith entailed children to render honor and obedience were
reported to their parents. Magellan preached about their faith further and people were reportedly
convinced. Pigafetta wrote that their men were overjoyed seeing the people wished to come
Christians through their free will and not because they were forced or intimidated.

On the 24th of April, the people gathered with the king and other principal men of the
island. Magellan spoke to the king and encouraged him to be a good Christian by burning all the
idols and worship the cross instead. The king of Cebu was then baptized as a Christian. After
eight days Pigafetta counted that all of the island’s inhabitant were already baptized. He admitted
that they burned a village down for obeying neither the king nor Magellan. The mass was
conducted by the shore every day. When the queen came to the Mass one day, Magellan gave her
an image of the infant of Jesus made by Pigafetta himself. The king of Cebu swore that he would
always be faithful to Magellan. When Magellan reiterated that all the newly baptized Christians
need to burn their idols, but the native gave excuses telling Magellan that they needed the idols
to heal a sick man who was relative to the king. Magellan insisted that they should instead put
their faith in Jesus Christ. They went to the sick man and baptized him. After the baptismal.
Pigafetta recorded that the man was able to speak again. He called this a miracle.

On the 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 named
Silapulapu (Lapulapu). Such chief, according to Zula, refused to obey the king and was also
preventing him from doing so. Magellan offered three boats instead and expressed his desire to
go to Mactan himself to fight the said chief. Magellan’s forces arrived in Mactan in daylight.
They numbered 49 in total and the islanders of Mactan were estimated to number 1,500. The
battle began. Pigafetta recounted.

Magellan died in the battle. The native, perceiving that the bodies of the enemies were
protected with armors, aimed for their legs instead. Magellan was pierced with poisoned arrow in
his right leg. A few of their men charged at the native and tried to intimidate them by burning an
entire men charged at the natives and tried to intimidate them by burning an entire village but
this only enraged the natives further. Magellan was specifically targeted because of the natives
knew that he was the captain general. Magellan was hit with his lance in the face. Magellan
retaliated and pierced the same native with his lance in the breast and tried to draw his sword but
could not lift it because of wounded arm. Seeing that the captain has already deteriorated, more
natives came and attack him. One native with great sword delivered a blow in Magellan’s left
leg, brought him a face down and the natives ceaselessly attacked Magellan with lances, swords,
and even with their bare hands.

Pigafetta also said that the king of Cebu who was baptized could have sent help but
Magellan instructed him not to join the battle and stay in the balangay so that he would see how
they fought. The king offered the people of Mactan gifts of any value and amount in exchange of
Magellan’s body but the chief refused. They wanted to keep Magellan’s body as a momento of
their victory.
6
 Magellan’s men elected Duarte Barboosa as the new captain Pigafetta also told how
Magellan’s slave and interpreter named Henry Betrayed them and told the king of Cebu that they
intended to leave as quickly as possible. Pigafetta alleged that the slaved told the king that if he
followed the slave’s advice, then the king could acquire the ship and the goods of Magellan’s
fleet. The two conspired and betrayed what was left of Magellan’s men. The King invited these
men to gathering where he said he would present the jewels that he would send for the king of
Spain. Pigafetta was not able to join the twenty-four men who attended because he was nursing
his battle wounds. It was only a short time when they heard cries and lamentation. The native has
slain all of the men except the interpreter and Juan Serrano who was already wounded. Serrano
was presented and shouted at the men in the ship asking them to pay ransom so he would be
spared. However, they refused and would not allow anyone to go to the shore. The fleet departed
and abandoned Serrano. They left Cebu and continued their journey around the world.

(The entire content of this lesson was adopted from: Reading in Philippine History of
Candelaria, JL & Veronica, 2018)

Now proceed to the link provided, then copy and watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlyVCU4zZCE, https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=e3Y3zUG7vVk, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P96F4dC6uoM,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8JxS3e_tak

 APPLICATION

Think and Explain

Based on your readings about the first voyage around the world by Antonio Pigafetta, answer the
questions below.

CONTENT CREATOR
What is the main idea? Who creates the source?
Is a research paper is an expanded essay Any author, male or female brings a set
that present your own interpretation or of assumption and values that shape the
evaluation or argument. In fact this source. Understanding those
guide is designed to help you navigate assumptions and values is one of the
the research voyage, through developing first steps in understanding the source.
a research question and thesis doing the If an author can be identified a next
research, writing the paper and steps is to learn more about his or life.
correctly documenting your source.

CONTEXT CONNECTION
What is going on when the source is What is your prior knowledge and your
created? newly acquired knowledge?
-is the background, environment, -is the prior knowledge is the
setting, framework or surroundings of information and educational context a
event or occurrences. Whenever writers learn new information. A learners
use a quote or a fact from the sole understanding of educational material
source. It becomes necessary to provide can be improved by taking advantages
their readers some information about of their prior knowledge before dealing
the source to give context to its use. This with new material
piece of information is called context.

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Make Connections
 1. What traits did the Filipinos show when they supported the Spaniards against other
invaders? Check your answers.

___/___ Bravery ____/___ Loyalty _____/____Trustworthiness

______Selfishness _______ Mercenarian _________Opportunism

______Cruelty ____/___Cowardly _____/____Indifference

______ Disunity __/_____ Dependability _____/____Resourcefulness

2. Which of these traits do Filipinos possess at present? Justify you answer by describing
what they do that show these traits.

Best traits for work and resume, your character traits as based on your personality, moral,
ethics and beliefs. Knowing you best character traits help you develop them further and
use them to your advantages in your careers from writing a compelling resume or cover
letter to requesting a promotion. In this article we define 13 character traits that can boost
your career.
-
3. Are you proud of these Filipino traits? Why? Why not?

Yes because every country has differing values and stereotypes and the Philippines is no
exception. We Filipinos firmly believe that our country has the best values and traits in the
world. Although we have been colonized by several countries, many core values from our
ancestors remained intact and are still honored to this. Filipino are not perfect, but we have
great characteristics and qualities every one of the most well know positive and negative
traits of Filipinos.

 CLOSURE

You made it! For more information, do your own research which is relevant to this lesson.