Canvas-Activity #3

1. Write a critical analysis of the important historical information found in Antonio

Pigafetta’s First Voyage around the World.

Pigafetta and his colleagues continued until they discovered the Magellan Strait, which was
named after Magellan. On March 15, 1521, they landed in the Philippines, where they met the
locals and were received as guests in the King's palace. He characterized the native Filipinos as
friendly, but his viewpoints were limited at times, especially when it came to understanding that the
natives' traditional clothing was suitable for the tropical climate of the islands. His extensive writings
also reveal that the native Filipinos have a high level of civilisation, with states, rituals, beliefs,
literature, and agriculture.

The celebration of the first Mass in Limasawa and the crucifix on the island influenced the
inhabitants of the Philippines, who vowed to convert to Christianity. Then other Cebu notables were
baptized, and the entire population quickly adopted the new faith. Influencing the Filipinos to accept
Christianity was such a triumph that it is now the country's primary religion. While Pigafetta's
account resulted in a Butuan-Limasawa debate, it is now considered the most accurate account of
the incident. The knowledge regarding the events of the First Mass and crucifix was very valuable
and helpful in current education; it helped as evidences of finding the precise location where the
historical first mass took place.

In April 1521, the Battle of Mactan occurred, in which Pigafetta was wounded and Magellan was
killed by Lapu-Lapu and his troops. Pigafetta described the incidents as if they were in a comic
book, with the native people's armors, cries, and rage all descriptive and understandable. And
before Magellan's death, Pigafetta is generous with data.

Pigafetta had survived, along with his book, detailing the exploration of the western route to the
Moluccas (Spice Island/Thailand) under the order of the Basque navigator Juan Sebastian de
Elcano. Pigafetta identified Al-Mansur, the island's ruler, as a welcoming host. The expedition's
other aim was to find a western road to the Moluccas and exchange for spices, which they did
successfully and returned to Spain on September 6, 1522.