00-Worksheet for Pre-Colonial Philippines

Antonio Pigafetta. First Voyage Around the World Juan de Plasencia, Customs of the Tagalogs

Author’s background Antonio Pigafetta (1491 – 1531) was a Venetian scholar
and explorer. He joined the expedition to the Spice Islands
led by explorer Ferdinand Magellan under the flag of King
Charles I of Spain and, after Magellan's death in the
Philippines, the subsequent voyage around the world.
Juan de Plasencia was, in the first place, not a
native Tagalog but a Franciscan missionary who
first arrived in the Philippines in 1577. He was
tasked by the King of Spain to document the
customs and traditions of the colonized (“natives”)
based on, arguably, his own observations and
judgments.

When was the account written?
(Context)
The first voyage around the world written by Antonio Juan de Plasencia’s account was written in 1589
Pigafetta was written on board on one of the 5 ships that during the Spanish Colonial Period, as a reply to the
was to first to circumnavigate the world during an expedition Lordship’s letter that he received.
that was led by Ferdinand Magellan a portugese explorer.
The ship that was Antonio Pigafetta boarding was the
Victoria which was the only ship that was able to return to
spain. The expedition started in 1519 and ended in Spain in
1522.

Social Status/Social During the voyage of Antonio Pigafetta, the society of what
Stratification he called “heathean” was somehow primitive in nature. The
existence of Rajas’ and Datus’ are also prevailing at this
period. Every island that was explored by the expedition
already has a King, who manages the whole island. This
simply indicates that even before colonization and the arival
of the first voyage, there is already an existing political
system and norms. A persons’ clothing in this era is also
one of the indicators of his/her social status. Pigafetta has
repeatedly mentioned the outfits of people around him,
especially the women. He mentioned that women were
naked and that the only covering they have for their privies
During the Spanish Colonial Period, people were
treated based on their social status and based on
the rules of a village or barangay which were
governed by a leader called Datu. There is said to
be called three castes, which are the Nobles,
Commoners and Slaves. Nobles belong to the
group of so-called maharlikas who are free born and
did not pay tribute or tax to the datu but have the
responsibility to accompany him in wars.. Second
are the commoners which are also called as aliping
namamahay and they live in their own houses and
also possess properties and golds. Third are the

Physical Appearance
Mention of economic activities/
way of living
is the bark from the palm tree.
Mutiny against Magellan
Mass held with Raia Humabon
Some ways of living back then during the First voyage
around the world was that Filiponos have tattoos that
indicated their social status. Clothes were woven from raw
materials presented or available on the island. Houses were
built of planks and bamboo. Another is that they rely on the
natural sources available on the island because the
Philippines was rich with gold , spices and other natural
resources. They have long hair that falls up to the waste.
slaves, also called the aliping sa guiguilir, they
serve their master in his house, cultivate his land
and these slaves can be sold.
Nobles
Commoners and Slaves
Houses are made of wood, bamboo and nipa palm.
Males wear Headgear called “Putong”, a jacket with
short sleeves called “kanggan” and bahag; while
females wear baro’t saya. Ornaments were also
used before that added to the quality or distinction
of a person, place or a thing. Domestic trades within
different barangays also prevailed in this period,
there was even a foreign trade with other countries
 Men and women are both naked. such as: Borneo, China, Thailand, Cambodia and
Japan. Fishing, agriculture, weaving, hunting and
lumbering is also evident before.

Belief system or rituals They Worshipped nothing but their god “Abba”. They also
have these so called idols carved in wood. They have huge
faces with four huge tusks like wild boar and are painted all
over. Filipinos before as described in Pigafetta’s account
also have rituals to the deceased. It is said that, if a
Principal dies, his wife has to perform the ritual of staying
inside the house with the dead corpse of his husband and to
put her fingers, mouth, hands upon her husband. Some also
burn the bodies for 5 to 6 days. It was also evident that the
Filipinos have been very hospitable to visitors/strangers
since that time.
In times of the Spanish Colonial Period, there are
many practices and rituals when it comes to
inheritance and exchanges of dowry. For example is
the inheritance of the position of the barangay
leader, that if it dies, the 1st born child will take over
the position and in the absence of male heirs, the
eldest daughter will inherit the position. There also
many beliefs and superstitions, they have a place
for adoration called simbahan and among their
many idols, there is one they worship and called
Badhala. They also worship the sun, the moon and
some of them adored stars and which they called
Tala. They also have their manner of offerings and
sacrifices which was proclaimed as a feast to offer
the devil what they had to eat.

Differences between the two
accounts
Antonio Pigafetta’s account is all about how Ferdinand
Magellan discovered and sailed the world. It was all about
their expedition and challenges they’ve faced as they
conquer the world and know it is a sphere. It also talks
about how Christianity begins to influence the Native
Filipinos.
Plasencia’s account is more detailed and
informative compared with Pigafetta’s. Every detail
of all the systems before was clearly explained in
his account; from the type of government and its
administration of justice, to the inheritance, slaves,
and marriage customs, religious and superstitious
beliefs.

Your own analysis of the Pigafetta’s account was more like into the perspective of a I think Plasencia's context is all about breaking or
differences between the two right hand, who witnessed the death of his captain. The finding a way to solve the injustice systems to find
accounts unheard story and point of view of the colonizers, that they equality and equity among the people.
do not want war and that they came for peace.