Assignment # 2

1. Who is Antonio Pigafetta? His role in Magellan – Elcano Expedition.

Antonio Pigafetta was born around 1490 in the town of Vicenza, Venice, Italy. He was an
Italian scholar who studied astronomy, geography, cartography and worked in the ships owned
by the Knights of Rhodes. For his love for adventure and avid curiosity of the world he applied
and was fortunately admitted as one of the sobresalientes in Magellan's voyage to the Spice
Islands under the flag of King Charles I of Spain. During the expedition, he served as Magellan's
assistant and kept an accurate journal which later assisted him in translating the Cebuano
language. It is the first recorded document concerning the language. Even after the catastrophe
and challenges the expedition had suffered, along with Magellan's death in the Philippines
Pigafetta survived along with Juan Sebastian They returned to Spain in 1522, under the
command of Juan Sebastián Elcano, out of the approximately 240 men who set out three years
earlier. These men completed the first circumnavigation of the world. Antonio Pigafetta kept a
detailed journal that serves as the source for much of what is known about Magellan and Elcano's
voyage.

2. According to Pigafetta, How did the locals

of the Island welcome Magellan and his
crew?
-According to Pigafetta, Magellan ang his
crew was welcome peacefully in the Island of
Raia
Colambu and Raia Siaui and in the Island,
named Zubu. Meanwhile Lapu-lapu, one of
the chief in
the village of Mactan refused to cooperate
and obey the King of Spain which made
Magellan
angry which results to a war
2. According to Pigafetta, How did the locals
of the Island welcome Magellan and his
crew?
-According to Pigafetta, Magellan ang his
crew was welcome peacefully in the Island of
Raia
Colambu and Raia Siaui and in the Island,
named Zubu. Meanwhile Lapu-lapu, one of
the chief in
the village of Mactan refused to cooperate
and obey the King of Spain which made
Magellan
angry which results to a war
2. According to Pigafetta, How did the locals
of the Island welcome Magellan and his
crew?
-According to Pigafetta, Magellan ang his
crew was welcome peacefully in the Island of
Raia
Colambu and Raia Siaui and in the Island,
named Zubu. Meanwhile Lapu-lapu, one of
the chief in
the village of Mactan refused to cooperate
and obey the King of Spain which made
Magellan
angry which results to a war
2. According to Pigafetta, How did the locals
of the Island welcome Magellan and his
crew?
-According to Pigafetta, Magellan ang his
crew was welcome peacefully in the Island of
Raia
Colambu and Raia Siaui and in the Island,
named Zubu. Meanwhile Lapu-lapu, one of
the chief in
the village of Mactan refused to cooperate
and obey the King of Spain which made
Magellan
angry which results to a war
2. How did the locals of the island welcome Magellan and his crew?

On Saturday March 16, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan, after leaving the islands of Canoyas,
later called the Landrones, named after the thievish propensities of its inhabitants, (now
known as Marianas Islands) sailing westward looking for the Moluccas, sighted an island
which has very lofty mountains. Soon after they learned that it was Zamal (Legaspi's account
called this island Cibabao), the present day Samar Island, a distant three hundred leagues
from the islands of the Ladrones. On the following day the sea-worn expedition, landed on a
little uninhabited island south of Samar which Pigafetta called Humunu, which is known
today as Homonhon a barangay in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

According to him, in March 16, 1521, upon arriving in the Philippines, specifically in
Samar, the voyagers set up tents near the shore of that island and have their rest. The
presence of the voyagers in the Philippines has different impacts and effects to the locals of
the island. They explained to them through an interpreter, that the King of Spain had sent
them not to do any damage, but to spread the Faith of Christ and convert them to the True
Religion.

On the positive side, when the island men had their first encounter to the voyagers, the
voyagers became cautious at first because they might be a potential threat but the captain
general of the voyagers, Ferdinand Magellan, had a positive impression to the island men
seeing that they are reasonable men so they offered red caps, mirrors, combs, bells, ivory
bocasine which is a woven linen fabric, and other things. The offerings of the voyagers were
appreciated by the island men so as a return; they also offered some local products like
fishes, palm wine, bananas, coconuts and others.

The first encounter of the Spanish and the Filipinos is in good state as it can be reflected
to what Antonio Pigafetta stated to his journal. The locals of that island welcomed the
voyagers in a positive sense like how Filipinos nowadays welcomed the people from
different countries or foreigners. It can be learned that even the Filipinos in the olden days
has its well-known hospitality trait.

The locals and the voyagers became very close and their companionship became stronger
as Antonio Pigafetta said in his journal that the locals became familiar with them (the
voyagers). He stated in his journal that the locals told many things like their names and some
of the islands in the place. He described them as very pleasant and conversable.

On the other hand, the captain general also showed his merchandises and weapons in the
ships to the locals or the island men. Then, the island men gave coconuts, sweet oranges,
palm wine and a rooster to the voyagers as their promise. In these happenings, the good
relationship of the voyagers and locals on that place were maintained.

When the voyagers were in another island, there was a time that the captain general asked
the king for food and said that they came in that island as friends. Then, the king responded
positively as he gave porcelains jars of full of raw rice, fishes like orade, and other things.
This leads to deeper relationship of the two as they were like brothers. In the island of Zubu,
the voyagers were also welcomed peacefully by the king.
 There were also some locals who also welcomed the voyagers in a positive way like
Rajah Humabon, and the king and queen of Mazaua. On the other hand, not all island men
were very welcoming to voyagers like Lapu - lapu and his crews which the first war of
Spaniards and Filipinos happened that leads to the death of the captain general.

3. Based on Pigafetta account, how did battle of Mactan start?

According to Pigafetta, they arrived at the shores of Mactan three hours before sunrise.
Magellan sent a message to the natives saying that if they still refused to recognize the
Spanish king and pay them tribute, they would demonstrate how effective their swords were
at wounding people.

In reply, Lapu-Lapu’s men told Magellan that although the Spaniards had lances, they,
too, were armed with bamboo and stakes hardened with fire. The natives requested
Magellan’s party to wait until morning before attacking so they could gather more warriors,
to which Magellan obliged.

When the sun rose, Magellan, including his crew of 49 (11 remained on the ship)
witnessed how the natives were highly organized at warfare:

“When we reached land, those men had formed in three divisions to the number of more
than one thousand five hundred persons. When they saw us, they charged down upon us with
exceeding loud cries, two divisions on our flanks and the other on our front,” wrote Pigafetta.

Against spears, bows, and arrows, Magellan’s muskets and armor proved worthless. The
musket took one minute to reload and fire, while the bow and arrow took one or two seconds
to shoot between two arrows.

Realizing their huge disadvantage, the Spaniards panicked and began firing at no
particular target.

In April 27, 1521, it was not Lapu-Lapu who slayed Ferdinand Magellan, but many
natives—probably battle-hardened, evidenced by their proficiency with spears and very
large bolos. This was something that Magellan and his company did not expect.

4. Why was Pigafetta’s journal not published?

Pigafetta wrote four manuscripts which has survived modern times. Three of them
are written in French and only one is in his Italian dialect of Veneto with some Spanish
words in the mix.

The controversy arose when Augustinian scholar Carlo Amoretti attempted to

translate the manuscripts. However the translations were deemed inaccurate since many
of details were lost in translation. Another problem was Amoretti translated it to many
different languages and thus spread inaccuracies during the time.
 An Italian archivist named Andrea da Mosto started his work of translating
Pigafetta's manuscripts and is now deemed the most accurate and closest translation the
world will ever see.

5. but
6. sent a message to natives by the Moro
to the effect that if they would obey the
king of Spagnia,
7. recognize the Christian king as their
sovereign, and pay them tribute, he would
be their friend
8. but if they wished otherwise, they
should wait to see how their lances
wounded