Activity #2

"It's All About Primary Sources"

Identify a primary source in Philippine History from the examples provided in this
chapter. Write an essay discussing (a) the importance of the text, (b) the background of
the text's author, (c) the context of the document, and (d) the text's contribution to
understanding Philippine History.

ANTONIO PIGAFETTA’S JOURNAL OF THE HISTORIC VOYAGE (1519-1522)

The Philippine Island was rediscovered by Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese
explorer who acquired the trust and support of the Spanish Crown in 1521. This
information was acquired through the historic voyage that was documented by the
scholar and explorer, Antonio Pigafetta.
Antonio Pigafetta’s description or account of the Philippines was the first in-depth
exploration of the people, their practices, and their languages in addition to the
topographical data he gathered and recorded on the voyage. This voyage provides a
clear perspective through which the journey and world’s circumnavigation can be
understood. It provides significant information regarding the discovery of the islands and
the inhabitants of the region. These individuals were believed to be the great-
grandparents of us, Filipinos who lived in peace and abundance in the islands.
The historical voyage's story is then written by Antonio Pigafetta, often known as
Francisco Antonio Pigafetta or Antonio Lombardo. He was approximately 40 to 50 years
old when he passed away in 1531. He is a well-known Italian scholar, and explorer.
Pigafetta, was educated in a variety of subjects but primarily navigation, was born into a
prosperous Vicenza family between 1480 and 1491. Along with accompanying
Monsignor Chieregati, the papal nuncio to Spain, he served on board the galleys of the
Knights of Rhodes. Later on, he traveled with the Spanish crew and Portuguese captain
Ferdinand Magellan to the Maluku Islands. Magellan and Pigafetta both suffered fatal
injuries while in the Philippines. However, he recovered and was one of the 18 original
members of Magellan's crew to return to Spain on board the Victoria after the explorer
had made the first voyage of the globe. The most significant fact is that he kept a record
of his travels, and this is a crucial source of knowledge regarding Magellan's historic
voyage.
These are the circumstances surrounding Antonio Pigafetta's first voyage: The
historic voyage took place between 1519 and 1522; On September 20, 1519, they

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departed from St. Luca on a course toward the south-west, under the name Labeiche;
On September 26, 1519, they arrived at a Great Canarian Island named Teneriphe (28
degrees latitude), where they stayed for three days. Afterwards, they sailed and arrived
at the port of Monterose, where they had a two-day break to get the necessary supplies
for ships, including pitch. They had two and a half days to bring in the foodstuffs they
needed; There is a large Canaria in the other islands where there isn't a drop of water to
be found flowing from a fountain or a river, and the men living there are content with the
water; On March 16, 1521, a Saturday, a cloud descends from the sky that envelops a
large amount of water distilling from the leaves so that the foot of the tree has a large
amount of water that it appears to be an ever-running fountain.
They arrived to anchor at this Island in the morning of March 28, 1521, where they
noticed a tiny boat called Boloto with eight men inside. They noticed two long boats
sailing close to them two hours later, and they named them Ballaghani. A sizable bar of
solid gold and a trunk full of ginger were presented to the captain by the men who
arrived at the ship. The captain, however, declines his gifts and thanks him for the
gesture instead; A couple of freshwater springs were dubbed Watering Place of Good
Signs, and they even discovered the first indications of gold there; On March 22, 1521,
above the people mentioned above they encountered two boats laden with the said fruit
cochi, sweet oranges, a vessel of palm wine and cock, to give them an understanding
about poultry they purchased all their items available. In Humunu there are many
nearby Islands and which they named archipelago St.Lazarus because they stayed
there on the day and feast of St.Lazaro (10 degreee North latitude 161 degree longitude
from the line demarcation). The ruler of these people was an elderly man with facial
paint and a gold ring hanging from each ear. They stayed there for eight days.
The first historic voyage made four contributions to our understanding of Philippine
history. Prior to the Spanish conquest of the Philippines, Europeans were the ones who
first introduced Christianity, and the first Christian Mass was also celebrated. Magellan
also rediscovered the Philippines, renaming it the Archipelago of St. Lazarus. As a
result, Magellan's journey was crucial since it demonstrated that it was possible to sail
around the globe. He also advanced geographic knowledge and established the
roundness of the world. Last but not least, Magellan's expedition was important because
it opened a bridge between Western Civilization and the Philippines.
In conclusion, the journal of Pigafetta is the best description or factual history we
have of the Philippines in the early 16 th century. In addition, it shows how Magellan
discovered or encountered the islands and our people during their expedition.

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