MAGELLAN’S VOYAGE

1. According to Pigafetta, how did the locals of the island welcome Magellan and his
crew?

Based on the accounts of Pigafetta, the locals of most islands welcomed them festively
and peacefully. These locals even gave them too much they could offer like a bar of
gold, rice, water, ornaments, balanghai etc. In addition to this, the trading of products or
known as the “barter” were also practiced. As for some of the locals of the island, they
became too familiar with them to the point that even their names and information about
their neighboring islands were willingly spilled out. In return for these favors, Magellan
and his crew influenced and introduced them to the Christian belief/ religion. They also
had the honor (ability) to baptize hundreds of the locals. Meanwhile, on the other islands
they were unwelcomed. Thus, it resulted in war while also waving their success. Not until
then, there was this chief Lapu Lapu (Lapu-Lapu ) from the island of Matan who rejected
the offer of Magellan and killed him along with the other crews etc. Indeed, it was a
marvelous voyage and yet catastrophic.

2. How are the islander's way of life, cultural practices, and religious beliefs
described? What does Pigefetta's account tell us about the conditions of the
Visayan islands in the 16th century?

​ he islander’s way of life, cultural practices, and religious beliefs was based on what
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they could get or obtain on their island. The people were content with the resources that
were already on their island when they were born. The first thing that Pigafetta noticed
was the islanders mostly used coconut on everything especially when it comes to their
food. When they arrived at the island the first thing that the islanders offered to them was
food which is from the palm tree; from wine, vinegar, coconut water, and milk, oil to
eating the coconut flesh with meat and fish was included in his journal. By that, he
learned that the coconut is very helpful for the islanders. He also described in his journal
on what the islanders wore and appearance. According to him, the islanders had holes
in their ears so large that even hands and arms could pass through them. They were
also naked, with a soft cloth woven from the bark of a tree about their privies except for
their kings or chiefs who wore cotton cloth that was embroidered with silk at the needs of
a needle. He also saw an islander covered in tattoos which he described as painted and
some islanders wore accessories that mostly were made from gold like earrings and
armlets. They also wore kerchiefs on their heads. They also used their boat which is
called, “balanghai” for trading merchandise. We could read also from Pigafetta’s journal
was the being a hospitable people of the islanders because they were open to serve
them in which they gave the resources that they could get in their island to them and it is
included from his journal how the king or chief of the islanders treat them on their houses
in which they drank and eat too much and lead to being intoxicated. When it comes to
their religious belief, according to Pigafetta, they don’t worship anything but they just
 raised their clasped hands and face to the sky while on their knees when they were
worshiping and called their god, “Abba”. Pigafetta told us from his journal the condition of
Visayan Island in the 16th century which was full of resources from food to eat to gold.
Pigafetta said that the islanders wore accessories from gold and they also offered many
foods for them. The islanders lived a simple life but because of their being hospitable,
they were gradually changing as they were influenced by the voyagers.

3. According to Pigefetta's account, what happened during the battle of Mactan?

The battle of Mactan took place on the 27th of April, Saturday. It was midnight when 60
of Magellan’s men headed out to Matan (Mactan). As they did not want to fight the
locals, they sent word of pardon if they would surrender to Christianity and swear fealty
to the Spanish crown, else they would learn the fury of their lances. However, the natives
were stubborn, proclaiming that they have weapons of their own. And that refusal
sparked the battle of Mactan. The natives asked to wait til the morning to fight. They
need to gather their men, they said. But it was a trap for the Spaniards for they had dug
pits for them to fall onto. That morning, 49 of Magellan’s men waded unto the shore. 11
men stayed behind to watch the boats. The natives on the other hand, sported 1,050
men. Thus, the battle began. The Spaniards were bombarded with stones and stakes
that they cannot retaliate. They tried shooting with their muskets and crossbows but to
no avail. So they burned some of the natives’ houses, which further infuriated them. At
that point, they shot Magellan in the thigh with a poisoned arrow so the Spaniards were
forced to retreat. However, they recognized the captain Magellan and targeted him. They
fought valiantly for an hour but the natives were just too much. Seeing an opportunity,
they all hurled themselves at Magellan. This allowed them to kill him but it also provided
a diversion for the others to retreat. In the end, eight Spaniards were killed plus Magellan
as well as four more “Indians” who came to their aid. 15 natives were killed out of the
thousand men in the beginning.

And with that, Magellan was dead and Mactan still belonged to the natives. The battle is
finally over.