CHAPTER 2, Lesson 1

“First Voyage Around the World by Magellan”

Lesson 1 discussed about the First Voyage around the World by Magellan (written by
Antonio Pigafetta) this is where Ferdinand Magellan began his historic journey to
circumnavigate around the world.

Based on the explanation of the discussant, Magellan was Portuguese, but sailed on
behalf of Spain, and he was formidable captain but his crew were hated him.

At the time, Portugal and Spain were involved in an intense rivalry to see who could find
and claim new territory where they could source the spices coveted by European
aristocrats.

Meanwhile, the discussant says that we should be thanked Antonio Pigafetta for
recording these event happened at the time they travelled together with the crew of
Magellan and because of their discovery, the map of the world was updated and able to
see what’s exactly look like.

At the end of the video, I learned that we should immerse and enrich ourselves to
travelling around the world as long as we have our own resources to able to see and
explore the new discoveries.

LESSON 2

“Customs of Tagalogs”

Lesson 2 is all about the Customs of Tagalog (authored by Juan de Plasencia) was one
of his writings that tackles about everyday living of the ancient Filipinos, their social
status, customs, traditions and beliefs of the tagalog.

According to the video, it was mentioned that Datu is considered as highest classes
among social classes because they are the leader of our community, and serves as
decision-maker in our community and being intelligent in all aspects.

Plasencia also observed Tagalog beliefs about gods, devils, witches, funerals, and
afterlife beliefs; despite the fact that he just witnessed these customs and traditions, he
was able to picture out of how early Filipinos thought and lived by their customs and
traditions.

All of these traditions were observed by the Tagalogs, or early Filipinos, long before the
Spaniards arrived in the Philippines.

With this facts, it is possible to infer that the early Filipinos had their own way of
controlling their people and having a fair judicial system.
Lesson 3

“Kartilya ng Katipunan”

Lesson 3 discussed about the Kartilya ng Katipunan (created by Emilio Jacinto) a

codified document or a small pamphlet that listing all duties and responsibilities of old
and new members of the Katipunan.

Based on the video, the major goal of this guidebook is to educate the members to
show some good manners and principles of being a Katipunero.

Kartilya ng Katipuan demonstrates the route to living a meaningful life for every Filipino,
with each lesson being unique in that it addresses different parts of a person's life.

According to the handbook, Katipunan was more than just an organization battling for
Filipino liberation; it was based on the ideological and political basis laid by men and
women who gave themselves out of love for the country and the people.

Through Kartilya ng Katipunan, Filipinos were united to fight for what they own. Kartilya
ng Katipunan became an oath the every Katipuneros must follow to show their
determination in being a part of the people who wanted a change.

Lesson 4

“Declaration of Philippine Independence: Biak-na-bato”

Lesson 4 tackled about the Declaration of Philippine Independence, a document in

which Filipino revolutionary forces led by General Emilio Aguinaldo declared the
Philippine Islands' sovereignty and independence from Spanish colonialism after it was
defeated at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.

The revolution began in 1896, and in December of the following year, the Spanish
government and the revolutionaries signed a settlement.

The Pact of Biak-na-Bato was named for the fact that the Spanish agreed to pay the
revolutionaries 800,000 pesos in exchange for Aquinaldo and other leaders being
banished to Hong Kong.

The declaration was never acknowledged by either the United States or Spain in 1898,
but Spain conceded the Philippines to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, and
this is how ended the Spanish-American War.

Furthermore, this document is presently at the National Library. It was supposedly

stolen in 1990s during the peak of historical document pilferage, and its return was
negotiated by Professor Milagros Guerrero of University of the Philippines.