TARLAC STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Tel. no.: (045) 982-2447 Fax: (045) 982-0110 website: www.tsu.edu.ph

NAME: Iya Alexa G. Meneses SCORE:

YEAR AND SECTION: 1st Year – 1b DATE:

Sample title:
Magellan’s Arrival: A Synthesis Paper

The renegade Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan masterminded a Spanish expedition that completed the first circuit
of Earth, although it cost him his life in his fateful circumnavigation of the world. Also, Magellan left a memorable culture and
traditons. How does magellan and his troupe entered the Philippines? and why his life is the reciprocal of their
circumnavigation through the Philippines?

Magellan's journey took a very long time, and only two ships made it. He discovered the Strait of Magellan at the southern
tip of South America and became the first European to cross the Pacific Ocean. On March 16, 1521, his remaining ships
reached Homonhon island in Samar, renamed it Isla San Lazaro, built a cross there, and claimed it for Spain. Later, in
honor of King Philip of Spain, the islands were given the name Filipinas (Philippines). Following that, a Spanish friar Fr.
Fernando Valderama held the first Catholic service on Limasawa island in Leyte on March 31, 1521. Among those present
were Rajah Siagu and Rajah Kolambu who forged a blood compact with Magellan. Fr. Valderama baptized the two rajahs
and 400 natives on April 14, 1521, in Cebu where Magellan erected a huge cross – the famous “Magellan’s Cross” – and
gifted the converts with the Sto. Niño images as peace symbol.

In pre-colonial Philippines, local chieftains or datus who cooperated or competed with one another made up the highest
social classes. There was a pecking order among the datus in some places; subordinate or vassal datus were weaker
leaders who joined with more powerful datus who controlled trade and had greater resources.
Magellan and his crew saw this political game being played, but they were unaware of its mechanics. These local chieftains
were even mistaken for "kings," despite the fact that they were not. Rajah Humabon of the island of Zubu was one of the
"kings" with whom Magellan developed a strong acquaintance (Cebu).
Lapu-Lapu, one of the chiefs of Mactan Island, had Humabon as a competitor. Datu Zula, a different chief in Mactan, was
similarly frightened of Lapu-Lapu.

Magellan promised to overthrow the "king" who refused to acknowledge the superiority of the Spanish crown because,
according to Pigafetta, "On Friday, April twenty-six, Zula, a chief of the island of Mactan, sent one of his sons to present two
goats to the captain-general, and to say that he would send him all that he had promised, but that he had not been able to
send it to him because of the other chief Cilapulapu. Although this was technically true, it was Magellan’s arrogance and his
overconfidence on Medieval weaponry that cost him his life. Magellan was an excellent explorer and navigator, but he was
no battle tactician.

Magellan was slain by poisoned arrows on April 27, 1521, during the battle of Mactan by locals of the island led by local
leader Lapu-Lapu, who refused to acknowledge Spanish authority. The battle was considered the first Filipino resistance
against foreign invaders, and Lapu-Lapu was hailed a hero.
Magellan didn't live to reach his goal - he lost his life while battling natives on an island in the Philippines. Reduced to two
ships, the remainder of his crew pressed on with their mission, successfully reaching the Moluccas - the Spice Islands.
Loaded with cloves, the two ships continued homeward. Along the way, the Portuguese captured one vessel reducing the
original fleet of five ships to one. Finally, on September 6, 1522, almost exactly three years after its departure, the Victoria
with nineteen crew aboard returned to Spain.
Magellan attempted to round the world in search of the Spice Islands, but instead ended up in the Philippines. Magellan was
the first explorer who discovered the route through the islands in the Philippines, magellan didn't reach his goal and killed by
a poisoned arrow during the battle of mactan but his troupe continue to fight to make their mission successful. Magellan and
his crew established contacts with the locals and made an effort to convert them to Christianity. Hundreds of Rajah
Humabon's subjects joined in the baptism of the monarch and his wife. Catholicism continues to be the most popular faith in
the Philippines and was initially preached there by Magellan's missionaries. The Santo Nio Icon that Magellan gave to
Queen Juana is still revered by Filipino devotees. Lapu-victory Lapu's over Magellan during the battle of Mactan is still
ingrained in the collective memory of the country. Lapu-Lapu is revered by Filipinos as their first national hero because he
protected their coastline from invaders. Rich dance and oral history traditions that tell the events of the Mactan war and
legends about the Santo Nino image have been passed down through the generations. Magellan's presence in the
Philippines cleared the way for Spanish sovereignty, brought Christianity to the islands, and continues to be reflected in the
folktales and cultural customs of the Filipino people.