RPH Notes by irish 
by Magellan By Antonio Pigafetta
Lesson 1: HISTORY
- Comes from the Greek word “Historia”
which means “knowledge acquired
through inquiry or investigation”
Roles of History
1. Used to unite a nation
2. Lessons from the past can be used to
make sense of the present
3. Learnings of past mistakes can help
people to not repeat them
4. Can serve as an inspiration to keep their
good practices
2 types of Historical Sources
1. Primary – tells you about an event and
is from the time of the event
Examples: Speeches, photographs,
letters
 External Criticism – verifying
authenticity of evidence through its
physical characteristics, consistency
with historical characteristics of the
time it was produced, materials used
for evidence like the type of ink, quality
of the paper
 Internal Criticism – examining content,
author of the source, agenda behind its
creation
2. Secondary – tells you about an event
from a time after the event, talks about
primary sources
Examples: Textbooks, magazines,
encyclopedias
Task of a Historian
 look at the available historical sources
and select the most relevant
 organize the past for historical
understanding for both the present and
the future
Lesson 2: The First Voyage Around the World
- Written by Antonio Pigafetta – Italian
- Accompanied Ferdinand Magellan in his
circumnavigation around the world
- His book is vital in studying the pre-
colonial history of the PH
- Referent to events leading to
Magellan’s Arrival, encounter with Local
Leaders, Death in the Hands of
LapuLapu’s forces in the Battle of
Mactan, departure from the Islands
- Written from the perspective of
Pigafetta himself
- Published after he returned to Italy
FIRST ISLAND VISITED: LADRONES ISLAND
- Presently known as “Marianas Islands”
- “Island of the Thieves”
- People here use sticks that have a fish
bone at the end
- Poor but ingenious
SECOND: ISLE OF ZAMAL
- Now, “Samar”
- Nine men came to them and showed
joy and eagerness in seeing them
- Magellan welcomed them with food,
drinks and gifts.
- Natives gave them fish, palm wine
(uraca), figs and two cochos, and rice
(umai)
- “cocho” or coconut
- Pigafetta chracaterized them as
“friendly and and very familiar”
THIRD: HUMUNU ISLANDS
- Or Homonhon
- “Watering Place of Good Signs” because
of the first signs of GOLD.
Then left the island, and on March 25th:
- Saw two ballanghais, a long boat full of
people in Mazzava/Mazaus, these men
entered Magellan’s ship
- Met Raia Siagu
- Magellan declined gifts of a bar of gold
and a chest of ginger, wanted to ask
money for his men instead.
- Magellan shared about his men in
armored suits
- Both expressed wanting to be brothers
Then they met Raia Siagu’s Brother: Raia
Calambu
- Raia Calambu King of Zuluan and
Calagan (Butuan and Caragua)
- They saw mines of gold, gold was very
abundant in his ships and house
On March 31st: FIRST MASS IN THE PH
- Father Pedro Valderrama
- Easter Sunday, a mass was held by the
shore
- Both kings participated and brought 2
dead pigs
- Magellan ordered that this cross would
be kept alongside with the nails and
crown in place so that if other Spaniards
visit their island, they would not harm
them
FOURTH ISLAND: ZZUBU (CEBU)
- Raia Calambu offered to pilot them
- The King of Cebu demanded a tribute
Lesson 3: KKK and the Kartilya ng Katipunan
but Magellan refused because he was a
captain of a king himself and would not
pay tribute to other kings
- BLOOD COMPACT
- People wanted to be Christian through
their free will
th
On the 14 of April:
- The King of Cebu was baptized as a
Christian
- The Queen of Cebu was given an image
of the Infant Jesus made by Pigafetta
himself
- Magellan ordered all statues and idols
to be burned but the people made an
these statues as an excuse to heal a sick
man, when this man was baptized, he
was able to speak again. This was
referred to as a Miracle.
On the 26th of April:
- Zulu, a principal man from the island of
Mactan asked Magellan for a boat full
of men so that he will be able to fight
against SiLapuLapu
- Zulu said that Silapulapu refused to take
orders from the king
- Magellan offered 3 boats and wanted to
fight Silapulau himself
- Magellan: 49
Silapulapu: 1,500
- Magellan died by being hit by a
poisoned arrow in his leg
After Magellan Died:
- His men elected Duarte Barbosa as the
new captain.
- Magellan’s slave and interpreter, Henry,
betrayed them
- Henry and Juan Serrano were left by
the Spaniards because they betrayed
them
 KKK – Kataastaasan Kagalang-galangang
Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan
- Total independence of the country from
the Spaniards
Armed Revolts before KKK:
1. Diego Silang
- An Illocano who led one of the longest
running revolts in the country.
 - The imagination for the nation was
absent because he was too focused on
locality and referred himself as "El Rey
de Ilocos" or "The King of Ilocos".
2. The Illustrados
- Marcelo del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena
and Jose Rizal did not envision a total
separation of the country from Spain,
but only equal rights, representation,
and protection from the abuses.
Kartilya ng Katipunan
- Most important document of the
Katipunan
- “Manga Aral Nang Katipunan ng Mga
Anak ng Bayan”
- English: “Lessons of the Organization of
the Sons of the Country”
- Written by Emilio Jacinto in 1896
- Contains teaching on honoring one’s
word, self-development, rules treating
another’s wife, children and brothers
the way one wants to be treated, how
Katipuneros should treat their
neighbors.
Emilio Jacinto
- Was only 18 when he joined the
movement,
- law student at the Universidad de Santo
Tomas
- became secretary of the organization
and took charge of short-lived printing
press.
- Bonifacio appointed Jacinto as
commander of Katipunan in Northern
Luzon at 22 yrs old
- died of malaria at 24 in Magdalena,
Laguna
The Kartilya
- 14 rules how a Katipunero should
behave
- Can be divided into two:
1. Contains rules that will make the
member an upright individual
2. Guide a member the way he treat
his fellowmen
I. The life that is not consecrated to a
lofty and reasonable purpose is a tree
without shade, if not a poisonous weed
II. To do good for personal gain and not
for its own sake is not virtue.
III. It is rational to be charitable and love
one's fellow-creature, and to adjust
one's conduct, acts, and words to what
is in itself reasonable.
IV. Whether our skin be black or white, we
are all born equal: superiority in
knowledge, wealth, and beauty are to
be understood, but not superiority by
nature.
V. The honorable man prefers honor to
personal gain, the scoundrel, gain to
honor.
VI. To the honorable man his word is
sacred.
VII. Do not waste thy time: wealth can be
recovered, but not the time lost.
VIII. Defend the oppressed and fight the
oppressor before the law or in the field.
IX. The prudent man is sparing in words
and faithful in keeping secrets.
X. On the thorny path of life, man is the
guide of woman and of the children,
and if the guide leads to precipice,
those whom he guides will also go
there.
XI. Thou must not look upon woman as a
mere plaything, but as a faithful
companion who will share with thee the
penalties of life; her weakness will
increase thy interest in her and she will
remind thee of the mother who bore
thee and reared thee.
XII. What thou dost not desire done unto
thy wife, children, brothers and sisters,
 that do not unto the wife, children,
brothers, and sisters of thy neighbor.
XIII. Man is not worth more because he is a
king, because his nose is aquiline and
his color white, nor because he is priest,
a servant of God, nor because of the big
prerogative that he enjoy upon earth,
but he is worth most who is a man of
proven and real value, who does good,
keeps his word, is worthy and honest;
he who does not oppress, nor consent
to being oppressed, he who loves and
cherishes his fatherland, though he be
born in the wilderness and know no
tongue but his own.
XIV. When these rules of conduct shall be
known to all and the longed-for sun of
Liberty shall rise brilliant over this most
unhappy portion of the globe and its
rays shall diffuse everlasting joy among
the confederated brethren of the same
race, the lives of those who have gone
before, the fatigues and the well paid
sufferings will remain. If he who desires
to enter has informed himself of all this
and believes he will be able to perform
what will be his duties, he may fill out
the following application for
admission."
Lesson 4: Proclamation of the Philippine
Independence
- Proclaimed on June 12, 1898, Cavite
- Signaled the end of the 333 years
Spanish Colonization
- 2000 word document
- contains the reason behind the
colonization of Spain, the war for
independence, and the future new
republic under Emilio Aguinaldo.
Proclamation Proper
- commenced with a characterization of
the conditions in the PH during the
Spanish Colonization
- SPECIFICALLY mentioned the abuses
and inequalities in the colony.
The Declaration (Justification Behind the
Revolution)
- Contains the justifications behind the
revolutions against Spain
- Condemns the unequal protection of
the law between Filipino people and the
important people
- Mentions the avarice and greed of the
clergy
The Declaration (Historical Overview)
- Brief overview of the Spanish
occupation since Magellan’s arrival until
the PH Revolution
- Also mentions Dr. Jose Rizal’s execution
by the firing squad
- Narrates Cavity Munity of January 1872
which caused the execution of
GOMBURZA Priests
Emilio Aguinaldo’s Claim
- the established republic would be led
under the dictatorship of Emilio
Aguinaldo
The Declaration (Explanation of the Flag)
 White Triangle – represents the
Katipunan Society
 3 Stars – Luzon, Mindanao and Panay
 Sun – Manila, Cavite, Bulacan,
Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna,
Batangas
 Colors – RED, BLUE, YELLOW to
commemorate USA for the protection
she is extending to use and will
continue to extend
 Treaty of Paris
- An agreement between Spain and USA
regarding the ownership of the
Philippine Islands and other Spanish
colonies in South America.
- Ended the Spanish-American war
- The PH was sold to USA for 20 million
dollars
Lesson 5 – Philippine Political Caricatures
By Alfred McCoy – Philippine Caricature of the
American Era (1900-1941)
Caricatures – exaggerating human features and
poking fun at its subjects.
- Became a part of the print media as a
form of social and political commentary
- Targets persons of power and authority
- Became a tool in publicizing opinions
through heavy use of symbolism.
- Historians should examine these
because of its unique way of voicing out
opinions and views
 Alfred McCoy and Alfredo Roces –
compiled cartoons in newspapers and
periodicals
First example: Published on The
Independent on May 20, 1916
- Cartoon shows a politician from Tondo,
Dr. Santos passing the crown to his
brother Dr. Barcelona. A Filipino guy
was trying to stop Santos since it was
not his to begin with. This shows
political dynasties.
Second example: Also published on The
Independent on June 16, 1917, by Fernando
Amorsolo
- Commentary on the workings of the
Manila Police
- A child stealing a skinny chicken is being
chased by the police. Juan dela Cruz
was grabbing the police telling him to
stop chasing after small pickpockets and
smaller problems in society and focus
more on the bigger issues while
pointing to a warehouse of rice, milk
and grocery products.
Third Example: Published by the Philippine
free Press
- A commentary on unprecedented cases
of colorum automobiles in city streets.
- Published when fatal accidents
involving colorum vehicles and taxis
occurred too frequently because of
mediocre implementation of laws, rules
regarding drvier’s license were loose
and traffic police weren’t doing their
jobs properly.
Fourth Example: Cinema
- An officer on the screen saying couples
are not allowed to neck and make love
in the theater, two youngsters look
horrified while two older couples
seemed amused.
- “Sexual revolution” – disturbed the
conservative Filipino Mindset
Fifth example: Published by The
Independent on November 27, 1915.
- A famous American cartoon names
Uncle Sam riding a chariot pulled by
Filipinos wearing school uniforms
bringing baseballbats, whiskey and
boxing gloves which were the influences
of the Americans to the PH.
- McCoy said this cartoon was based on
the real-life event during 1907 when
Wiliam howard Taft was the president
of the USA was brought to Manila on a
chariot pulled by students of Liceo de
Manila
Sixth example: Published by Lipang - Cory attributed the EDSA to the
Kalabaw on August 24, 1907 martyrdom of Ninoy

- Uncle Sam rationing porridge to Ideology

politicians and members of the
- Contrasted the previous gov’t to the
Progrerista Party or Federelista Party
present by expressing a democratic
while members of the Nacionalista
constitution drafted by an independent
party wait for their turn. This depicts
commission.
the patronage of the US being coveted
by politicians from either party.
- The essence of competing political
parties to enforce choices among voters
was cancelled out.
- Politicians transfer from one party to
another depending on which party is
powerful.

Lesson 6: Cory Aquino, People Power

Revolution

Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino

- symbol of Restoration of Democracy

- Overthrow of Marcos Dictatorship in
1986
- EDSA People Power overthrowing a
dictator through peaceful means

The People Power Revolution of 1986

- After the death of Benigno Aquino on

August 21, 1983, the Marcos regime
suffered crisis of legitimacy.
- Marcos called for a Snap Election in
February 1983 where Cory was forced
to run against Marcos. This was rigged
to Marcos’ favor but the people
protested against the injustice.
- September 18, 1986 seven months
since Cory became president, she went
to the USA , talked about being
president and about Ninoy’s sufferings
during the first detention
- Ninoy was then accused of other things
and was forced to take a 40-day fasting
in an attempt to kill him
- Ninoy’s third and last death