Antonio Pigafetta’s First Voyage Around the World

Tracing back from the sixteenth century, “Antonio Pigafetta’s First Voyage Around the World”
was produced and written by Antonio Pigafetta himself, an Italian, who was the companion of Ferdinand
Magellan in his travel around the world. Mainly, Pigafetta’s book was intended for the Europeans to
know their discoveries as they circumnavigate, which could also help Europeans in dominating the age
of exploration during the fifteenth and sixteenth century. His purpose was to be informed and
understand the unfamiliar terrain, environment, people, and culture globally. Therefore, this primary
source is only limited to Antonio Pigafetta’s perspective and a product of firsthand experience and direct
observation.

The form of the source is a travelogue: a literature that focuses on the places visited and
experiences encountered by a traveler with the objective to make the reader understand people and
places. Generally, it provides information about the land and people of the Philippines. Antonio
Pigafetta wrote his first impression of his travel and reported important things that has happened during
their stay such as their discoveries of land, their first meetings of people, the fruits, and the culture and
traditions that is followed there.

Remarkably, his book is an important primary source in the study of precolonial Philippines
because it exposed the events leading to Ferdinand Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines, his encounter
with the local leaders, his death in the hands of Lapu-Lapu, and the departure of the remaining
Magellan’s group. In addition, the events that has happened in this book is always being remembered by
the Filipino people such as the baptismal, the rise of Christianity and the first mass that has ever took
place in the Philippines which was done by the foreign explorers. Most especially, the fight between
Magellan and Lapu-Lapu was the highlight because Lapu-Lapu remains to be a symbol of courage and
great leadership for leading his troop to victory and prevent the Europeans to enter their land.

Truly, those events that was stated in the source made changes and was a great benefactor
of what the Philippines is today. As a Filipino, I have learned and understood more about my country
before and now through Antonio Pigafetta’s perspective. It taught me how important it is to listen and
understand the two sides of the story in order for us to arrive at a better judgment.

Emilio Jacinto’s “Kartilya ng Katipunan”

The “Kartilya ng Katipunan”, written by Emilio Jacinto back in 1896, was created as a
complex structure and a defined value system that would guide the Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang
Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK) filipino organization for their primary goal.

This happened during the Spaniard colonization. Filipinos were treated as slaves in their own
country. Mainly, there was a political ineffectiveness and an abuse of power. As a result, some Filipinos
was forced to stay silent, yet some are forced to fight.

Emilio was only 18 years old when Andres Bonifacio, the leader of the organization,
recognized the value and intellect of Jacinto. He saw that what Emilio wrote was better than his and
favored that the Kartliya be distributed to their fellow Katipuneros.
 The information written in the Kartilya was like the Katipunan’s code of conduct. Moreover,
the form of the source was a set of rules that instruct the way a Katipunero should behave, and which
specific values should be uphold. These rules will make the member an upright individual and guide the
way he treats his fellow men.

Notably, this primary source was important during that time where Filipinos hoped for a
total freedom from the Spaniards. Without the organization, there would be no actual movement or
efforts that envisioned a united Filipinos and really did their job. The Kartliya, on the other hand was
very valuable because it made their vision into action, through following what was stated.

Throughout the years, some rules written in the Kartilya are still followed by many Filipinos
until now through words of inspiration and learning from the elderlies. Some are golden lessons such as
don’t waste time, don’t do something that you don’t want to happen in your life and many others.

In conclusion, because of their love for the Philippines, they’ve made the Kartilya into
reality, united, and really made a mark into history as one of the important organizations ever made.
Those who fought in order for us to have a better present, are the people deserving to be called as
heroes.