I ntroduCtion (purpose of presentation/ relevance of discussing the topic)

• The topic (Pigafetta's Document) is proof of the richness, governance, cultures, and
independence in our country in the pre-colonial era.

• Antonio Pigafetta's document narrated the status of the Filipinos in warfare, manner of
dressing, and system of writing.

• Studying this document establishes a decent foundation in studying Philippine History or

knowing about Philippine History in general.

• Pigafetta's document gave a detailed chronicle of the significant events of the

exploration of Ferdinand Magellan

• It provided a description, location, and distances of the places visited, thereby enhancing
cartography knowledge at that time

• The voyage proved that the earth is not flat but an oblate sphere, and that the
Portuguese route (eastwards) is not the only way to the Spice Islands.

• The document contributed to cartography by providing information about the locations

visited such as their names, coordinates, and distances.

• The expedition helped prove that the world is not flat, but an oblate sphere, and that the
Portugues path (Eastwards) was not the only way to the Spice Islands.

Main Content and Analysis (primary source, title of the work, author)

“The First Voyage Round the World by

Magellan” was written by Italian scholar
and explorer, Antonio Pigafetta.

This book details the first-hand

experiences of Pigafetta at Magellan's
fleet and his observations throughout the
entire voyage.

This serves as the earliest known record

of Pre-colonial Philippines. It describes
the life of the ancient Filipinos, their culture and livelihood through the eyes
of Pigafetta.
Antonio Pigafetta's Biography

• Antonio Pigafetta was a famous Italian

traveller born in Vicenza around 1490 and died in
the same city in 1534.
• He was also known by the name of Antonio
Lombardo or Francisco Antonio Pigafetta.
• He was the author of First Voyage Around
the World (La Relación del Primer Viaje
Alrededor del Globo), the primary chronicle of
the voyage.
• He arrived in Spain in 1518, with the
entourage of the papal nuncio (Francesco
Chieregati), and enlisted in the armada for the
Maluku (Spice) Islands as a member of
Magellan's circle, to whom he offered effusive
compliments on account of his knowledge, nautical expertise, bravery, and
tenacity.
• During the expedition, he served as Magellan's assistant and kept an accurate
journal, which later assisted him in translating the Cebuano language. lt is the
first recorded document concerning the language.
• Pigafetta was one of the 18 men who made the complete trip, returning to Spain
in 1522, under the command of Juan Sebastián Elcano, out of the approximately
240 who set out three years earlier.
• These men completed the first circumnavigation of the world. Pigafetta's
surviving journal is the source for much of what is known about Magellan and
Elcano's voyage. lt is a first-person account by an eyewitness which is worth
reading for its detailed account of events, as well as details about the inhabitants
and nature of the lands they visited.
-NOTES-
• papal nuncio - a Vatican representative accredited as an ambassador to a civil
government that maintains official diplomatic relations with the Holy See.
• Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) - was an agreement between the monarchs of
Spain and Portugal to divide the world between them into two spheres of
influence.
• Charles I - King of Spain
• Manuel I - King of Portugal
 • lslas de Ladrones (Ladrones Islands) - The Island of Thieves
• 270 Men and 5 ships (The Trinidad, The San Antonio, The Concepcion,
The Victoria, and The Santiago)
• Enrique of Malacca (Henry) - The slave/guide/interpreter of Magellan
• Sandugo - Blood compact (Spanish: Pacto de sangre, Filipino: Sanduguan)
was an ancient ritual in the Philippines intended to seal a friendship or treaty,
or to validate an agreement. The contracting parties would cut their wrists and
pour their blood into a cup filled with liquid, such as wine, and drink the
mixture.

EXCERPTS FROM “THE FIRST VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD BY MAGELLAN”

In analysing the Pigafetta's document, we have to question WHY Pigafetta or

Magellan's crew gave certain places their names. One of these is the Ladrone Islands
which translates to the Island of the Thieves.

• The Ladrone Islands sighted

Names of places are significant because of the context or the story behind it.

In First Voyage is greaL gulf between vzhaL Pigafetta sees and what PigafeLLa knows. I gre ' up, in the /.Marianas,
hearing about Lh1s gulf. It is part of why travel Eli iting can be so fraught for me no ' . On reaching the /ñai Danas
after nearly four months aL sea v Cth no i e ' pi ovisions,'The captain-general wished to stop at the lai ge island and
get some fresh food. but he was unable Lo do so because the inhabitai Ls of that island engel ed the ships and stole
whatever they could lay their hands on. in such a manner that ' e could not defend oui selves." (27). The sat loi's
did not understand that this was custom, thaL for the lslandei's, property was communal and vlsltors were expected
to share vzhaL they had.

5o in that fi i sL moment of contact. r.Magellan and his starving c i ev i eLaliated. They went ashore and burned, by
Pigafetta's account, foi ty to fifty houses. They killed seven men. mutual astonishn end at the i e ' and the ' ondrous
Look a dark Sum:

“\’/hen we wounded any of those people v/Jth our c i ossbavz shafLs, ' hich passed completely through Lhei i loins from
one side Lo the other, they. looking at It, pulled on the shaft non oil this and no ' on thaL side, and then drew it
out, with great astonishment, and so died: others who were wounded in the breast did the same, which moved us Lo
great compassion. [.. .] be save some women in their boats who were crying out and fearing Lhei i hai i, foi love. I
believe, of Lhei i dead.“(27)
 • The Pre-colonial Filipinos and their Hospitality

-1 . ! = ..:! .' ! . .•. • ' '

In this context it shows that being hospitable is already an innate characteristic of

Filipinos even before the influence of Foreigners.

4• The economic status of the pre-colonial Philippines

One thing that made Magellan interested in the Philippines is the abundance of
spices and the numerous gold mines. At that time, spices were scarce in the
European region and having large amounts of supplies meant fortune. It goes to show
how rich the island of the Philippines was. On another note, Magellan started naming
the islands and it shows that he's already started claiming the areas of the country for
Spain.

4• The Trading of ancient Filipinos and Spaniards

This also portrays the economic status of the pre-colonial Philippines, whereas, we are
already trading with other neighbouring countries. Trading seems to be the main
essence of this entire Voyage. “We gave them what they did not have and they gave us
what we did not have”.

• The First Mass in the Philippines

The first mass to ever be held in the Philippines happened on an Easter Sunday.
Pigafetta described that both kings were very participative.
It was after the mass that Magellan planted the first mark of Spain in the Philippines;
The Magellan's Cross. He disguised this act as a form of protection for the islanders
but in reality, it was already a stepping stone to Spain's colonization.

Magellan explained that the cross, the nail, and the crown to which he ordered to be
brought, were the signs of his emperor and that he was ordered to plant it in places
that he will reach. He told the kings that the cross will be beneficial for their people.
So that when other Spaniards saw this cross, then they would know that Magellan have
been in this land and would not cause troubles, and any person who might be held
captives will be released

4• Baptism of the Filipinos to Christianity and the first “miracle"

Ancient Filipinos welcomed

Christianity with open arms
according to Pigafetta. After
eight days, they were able to
baptize all of the island's
inhabitants.

But there were also natives that

held unto their idols because
they believed it would heal a
sick man who was a relative to
the king. Magellan instead went
to the sick man and baptized
 him. Pigafetta noted that the man was able to speak again after the ceremony, which
he described as a miracle.

• Battle of Mactan

Ott the 28th of April. sZulu, principal mm fYem the i•lnnd of gnten
tbtnetnriJ went to Mng•llan •iid risked him for a It full & men m thnt
hO would be •ble to £gbt the chiaf turned Silnpulgpu (LnpulnpuJ. Such
chief, rdictg to Zuln, refused uiobey the king rind wcs plan preventing him
from doing eo. Mnge1l•n offered three boots insWd rind eapreooed hi• dmire
to go to Maet n himoeF to flght the said chief. Msgellnn's for arrived in

Mnetnn
"When we reverted laad we fouad tke i•l•uAza flAeen hundred
in Buasber, drawn up ia tbree aguadrona: ¢hey' caa¥e down
uPoo ua with tersñble ebouta, two agusdzaaa cttacktag ua oa
the 8coka. and ttta tkird in ñ'ont.’T1se csptala tben divided
bra men in two bnnda. Our inusketeero rind erocoboo•men
fired for half rim hour for a distance, but did nothing, •i
the bullets •nd nrreoo. though they paamd through tliclr
ehielda

guns did them little or no hnrm would riot retire, but

shouted wore kaidly. and springing from one eidu to the
other to cveid Our akot8. they •t thP tif¥te dreW DOfrer
IO u6, thYOo2Ztg nrrowo. j•Wlinn. sperm hardened in Are,
clone. •nd even
-n‹t - that we could hardly defend ouraclm. 8ome of them
cent lnnceo ‘ ted with imn st the en turn- nernl.‘

Here you can see the events that took place during Magellan's fight with Lapu-lapu.

Silapulapu was the only chief that refused to obey the king, contrary to the other chiefs
that welcomed the Spaniards with open arms.

On the 26th day of April, Zula, a principal man in Mactan, told Magellan about
Lapu-lapu's disobedience, Magellan decided to bring three boats to fight the
chief himself.

When they arrived, they were severely outnumbered by Lapu-lapu's army. Magellan's
men were 49 in total while Lapu-lapu's men were 1,500.

btagetlan died in th•t batde. The natives. pemetv'iog tbat tke

of the eneazies weze pzotec6ed with alzned for their Pegg instead.

man‹finrged ut th• nnuve• rind tried to intimidntethcin by burnmg’nn gg

but this only enraged the nntivm ñuther. Hngetlnn rug s
thrg9ted Off Hoc the nnttveu kztew thnt he yen the enptnin genepgJ,
•s hit with n ln ee in the kce. Mngellnn rotnlintud nod pierced the
o•tive with his lnnoe in the brenat nod tried to drnW hli award but could
< I li it of hiG Wounded errD. ROing thnt ter cnptnin hug c{rB•dy

••fety. a» though hi» oti•tinnte $glit hnd no other obj than

to give en opPortuaity’ for the ¥etzest of' kie zoezt."
The battle ended with Magellan getting killed and his troops retreating. However, it
was never stated who truly killed Magellan since it was a poisoned arrow that weakened
him in the fight. He also did not go face-to-face with Lapu-lapu. Instead, he was
defeated by an army of natives that overpowered his weak body.

• Pigafetta's exit from the Philippines

Duarte Barbosa was elected as the new captain after Magellan's death. However, Henry
(Magellan's slave and interpreter) has conspired with the king of Cebu to ambush
Magellan's men. A total of 24 men were invited to a gathering they planned, however,
Pigafetta was not able to join due to his wounds. Not long after, cries were heard and
all of Magellan's men were slain except for Henry and Juan Serrano, who was held
captive. Serrano could only be spared if Pigafetta and the rest of what's left of
Magellan's army would pay ransom. But they refused and left Cebu to continue their
journey around the world.

Analytical: Contextual and Content

• The chronicle of Pigafetta was one of the most cited documents by historians
who wished to study the pre-colonial Philippines.
• Since it was believed to be the earliest detailed documentation, Pigafetta's
writings account for the “purest" pre-colonial society.
• However, there needs to be a more detailed understanding of the source with
respect to the contextual backdrop.
• It is important to remember that Pigafetta was a chronicler assigned by the King
of Spain to accompany Magellan with the intention of expanding the Spanish
empire.
• He was also raised from a rich family in Italy and those factors might have
influenced his narrative, his selection of details in the text, his characterization
of the people and the species he encountered, and his interpretation and retelling
of the events.
• Due to Pigafetta's background, it can be seen in his writings, whether implicitly
or explicitly, that he regards indigenous beliefs and way of life as inferior to
Christianity and Europeans.
• He would emphasize how the natives were “naked” but he actually meant that
they were wearing lesser clothes due to the country's climate.
• He also described how the natives were amazed and how illiterate they
were when it came to European artillery, merchandise and goods. At the same
time, he repeatedly mentioned the abundance of spices like ginger and of
precious metals like gold.
• Pigafetta's understanding were deemed “narrow” when it comes to indigenous
lifestyle since he constantly compare it with the European lifestyle.
• Pigafetta's survival along with his document was crucial to World history (this
made proving that the world is a Globe much easier due to his document)