Readings in Philippine History

LESSON 5
 LEARNING CONTENT

Early Philippine The Laguna Copperplate Cha Ju-kua Chu Fan Chi Antonio
Society and the Inscription Pigafetta’s
First Spanish First Voyage
Contact Around the World
by Magellan
EARLY PHILIPPINE SOCIETY
and The First Spanish Contact
Title: The Philippines at the Spanish Contact: Some Major
Accounts of Early Filipino Society and Culture
Authors: Miguel Loarca, Juan Plasencia, Pedro Chirino, Francisco Colin, Antonio Pigafetta
Editor: F. Landa Jocano
Publisher: Independently Published, 1975
ISBN: 9798738177194
Length: 261 pages

It includes key ethnographic accounts of culture, class structure, tattoos (Pintados),

rituals, myths, shamans, and other topics from the first Spanish contact in 1521 until the
early period of Spanish colonial administration, which began in 1565. These resources
are chosen based on two basic criteria: the year the document was published and the
descriptive data about local lifeways and culture it provides. These are the historical
texts that shaped our understanding of the pre-Colonial Philippines.
 It presents an in-depth overview of
pre-colonial Filipino civilization and
culture through a variety of historical
accounts.

PIGAFETTA’S ACCOUNT (First Voyage Around the

World)
LOARCA’S ACCOUNT (Relations of the Filipinas
Islands)
PLASENCIA’S ACCOUNT (Customs of the Tagalogs)
CHIRINO’S ACCOUNT (Of Marriages, Dowries, and
Divorces Among the Filipinos)
COLIN’S ACCOUNT (Native Races and Their
Customs)
THE BOXER’S CODEX

Jocano F. L. (1975). The philippines at the spanish contact : some

major accounts of early filipino society and culture. MCS Enterprises.
Pigafetta’s Account
First Voyage Around the World
Antonio Pigafetta was an Italian scholar
and explorer who accompanied
Ferdinand Magellan on the first
circumnavigation of the globe from 1519
to 1522. Pigafetta's account of the
voyage, titled "Relazione del primo
viaggio intorno al mondo" ("Account of
the First Voyage Around the World"),
provides a detailed and firsthand
description of the historic journey.
Pigafetta’s Account
First Voyage Around the World
In his account, Pigafetta describes the preparation and departure of the expedition
from Spain, the various stops and encounters along the way, including the discovery
of the Strait of Magellan, the navigation of the Pacific Ocean, and the discovery of
the Philippines. He also provides insights into the geography, flora, fauna, and
indigenous peoples encountered during the voyage.

One of the most significant parts of Pigafetta's account is his description of the
events surrounding Magellan's death in the Philippines and the subsequent leadership
of the expedition by Juan Sebastián Elcano, who completed the circumnavigation of
the globe. Pigafetta's detailed observations and meticulous recording of the voyage
make his account an invaluable historical document that provides valuable insights
into the early age of exploration and the encounter between different cultures.
 Loarca’s Account
Relations of the Philippine Islands
Miguel de Loarca's account, titled
"Relación de las Yslas Filipinas"
("Account of the Philippine Islands"),
provides a detailed description of
the social, economic, and political
conditions in the Philippines in the
late 16th century. Loarca was a
Spanish official who served in the
Philippines during the early years of
Spanish colonization.
 Loarca’s Account
Relations of the Philippine Islands
In his account, Loarca describes the geographical layout of
the islands, the different ethnic groups inhabiting them, and
their social structures. He provides insights into the political
organization of the various indigenous societies, including the
role of the datu (chief) and the nobility, as well as the
customs and traditions of the people.
One of the key aspects of Loarca's account is his discussion
of the economic activities in the Philippines, including
agriculture, trade, and the use of currency. He also describes
the religious beliefs and practices of the indigenous people,
highlighting the prevalence of animism and ancestor worship.
Plasencia’s Account
Customs of the Tagalogs
Juan de Plasencia's "Customs of the
Tagalogs" ("Customs of the Tagalogs,"
1589) is one of the earliest accounts of the
Tagalog people in the Philippines.
Plasencia was a Spanish Franciscan
missionary who lived in the Philippines in the
late 16th century. His work provides
valuable insights into the social, cultural,
and religious practices of the Tagalog
people before Spanish colonization.
Plasencia’s Account
Customs of the Tagalogs
Plasencia describes various aspects of Tagalog society,
including their political organization, economic activities,
social structure, and religious beliefs. He discusses the role of
the datu (chief) in Tagalog society, the practice of agriculture
and trade, the importance of kinship ties and social
hierarchies, and the indigenous religious practices and beliefs,
including animism and ancestor worship.
Plasencia's account also sheds light on the impact of Spanish
colonization on the Tagalog people, including the introduction
of Christianity and the Spanish administration system.
 Colin’s Account
Native Races and Their Customs
Francisco Colin was a Jesuit missionary who
wrote extensively about the Philippines in the
17th century. His work, "Labor evangelica,
ministerios apostolicos de los obreros de la
Compañia de Jesus en las islas Filipinas"
("Labor evangelica, apostolic ministries of the
workers of the Society of Jesus in the islands
of the Philippines"), provides a detailed
account of the native races and their customs
in the Philippines during the early period of
Spanish colonization.
 Colin’s Account
Native Races and Their Customs
Colin describes the various ethnic groups inhabiting the
Philippines, including the Tagalogs, Visayans, Ilocanos,
and others. He discusses their social structures, religious
beliefs, customs, and traditions, providing insights into the
diversity of indigenous cultures in the Philippines.
One of the key aspects of Colin's account is his focus on
the efforts of the Jesuit missionaries to convert the native
populations to Christianity. He describes the challenges
faced by the missionaries, as well as their strategies for
spreading the Catholic faith among the indigenous
people.
 The Boxer’s Codex
A.K.A the Manila Manuscript
It is an illustrated manuscript written It depicts the clothing, ornaments,
on 1590, which contains information weapons, and other cultural
about the peoples of the Philippines at artifacts of the indigenous peoples.
the time of their initial contact with Several of the eyewitness accounts
the Spaniards. that were included in the
manuscript came from Spanish and
"The Bisayans are accustomed to
Portuguese explorers, priests,
paint their bodies with some very merchants, and civil servants. These
elegant tattoos. They do this with
relaciones were first-hand
iron or brass rods, the points of
which are heated on fire..." experiences recorded in writing.
 The Boxer’s Codex
A.K.A the Manila Manuscript
A pair of gold- A Tagalog Noble couple dressed in
embellished Visayan gold accessories. "The dress of the
Noble couple. women is not as neat nor as elegant as
"shimmering sashes that of the Bisayans, because they
of woven gold with wrap a cotton or taffeta mantle
ornate repousse around the body with very little polish.
buckles.. while They wear jackets and skirts in the
lighter cloth same way we have described of the
waistbands adorned Bisayans. They also wear their dress
with cord skin-tight, gathering it at the waist and
weights...rattled with breast because they use no chemise or
every step.." stockings...All carry over their dress
some small mantles, which reach to the
waist, these are of colored cotton, and
some are of satin, taffeta, and damask
obtained from China."
 The Boxer’s Codex
A.K.A the Manila Manuscript

Naturales Tagalos Noble couple
"The women carry much gold jewelry because
they are richer than the Bisayans. Men and
women also wear many bracelets and chains
of gold in the arms. They are not used to
wearing them on the legs. Women likewise
wear around their necks golden chains like the
men do."
A pair of male and female hunters from
Zambales
“if some close relative dies or is killed, they have
to kill other men to avenge the death of their
kinsman, and until mourning is done, they cut off
their hair at the back and in front, and they stop
eating rice, and promise not to do other things
until they have achieved their revenge."
Visayan Principal couple covered in tattoos
"The men carry on their heads some very fine
multi-colored head scarfs which they wear as
some sort of Turkish turban. They call these in
their language purones (putong). The young men
wear them finely with many inserts of strips of
gold. The garments and dresses of Bisayan
women consist of some blankets with diverse
colored stripes made of cotton.
 The Boxer’s Codex
A.K.A the Manila Manuscript
The Laguna
Copperplate
Inscription (LCI)
The LCI is the earliest known written
document found in the Philippines. The plate
was found in 1989 by a man in Lumban River
near Laguna de Bay.

It is a thin copper plate measuring less than

8 x 12 inches (20 × 30 cm) in size and inscribed
with small writing that had been hammered into its
surface.
 Preliminary translation by Antoon Postma (1992)
Hail! In the Saka-year 822; the month of March–April [Vaishakh] according to the
astronomer: the fourth day of the dark half of the moon; on Monday. At that time, Lady
Angkatan together with her relative, Bukah by name, the child of His Honor Namwaran, was
given, as a special favor, a document of full acquittal, by the Chief and Commander of
Tundun representing the Leader of Pailah, Jayadewa. This means that His Honor Namwaran,
through the Honorable Scribe was totally cleared of a salary-related debt of 1 kati and 8
suwarna (weight of gold): in the presence of His Honor the Leader of Puliran, Kasumuran;
His Honor the Leader of Pailah, representing Ganashakti; (and) His Honor the Leader of
Binuangan, representing Bisruta. And, with his whole family, on orders of the Chief of
Dewata representing the Chief of Mdang, because of his loyalty as a subject (slave?) of the
Chief, therefore all the descendants of His Honor Namwaran have been cleared of the
whole debt that His Honor owed the Chief of Dewata. This (document) is (issued) in case
there is someone, whosoever, some time in the future, who will state that the debt is not yet
acquitted of His Honor...
"Chu Fan Chi"
By Chau Ju-Kua

Indicates the Philippines'

participation in the regional trade
networks that connected it to other
parts of Asia, including China.

Provides glimpses into the cultural

diversity of the Philippines and its
interactions with neighboring
peoples. It mentions indigenous
communities, their customs, and the
natural resources found in the
“A Description of Barbarous Peoples”
Philippine archipelago.
 Magellan’s Account
Antonio Pigafetta’s First Voyage
Around the World
The document reveals several insights not
just in the character of the Philippines
during pre colonial period, but also on
how the fresh eyes of the European
regard a deeply unfamiliar terrain,
environment, people and culture. It was
published after Pigafetta returned to
Italy. He wrote his firsthand observation
and general impression of the Far East
including their Experiences in the Visayas.
 Magellan’s Account
Antonio Pigafetta’s First Voyage
Around the World
“These people have no arms, but use sticks, which have a
fishbone at the end. They are poor, but ingenious, and great
thieves, and for the sake of that we called these three islands
the Ladrones Islands”.

“This palm produces a fruit names cocho, which is large as the

head, or thereabouts: its first husk is green, and two fingers in
thickness, in it they find certain threads, with which they make
the cords for fastening their boats. Under this husks there is
another very hard, and thicker than that of a walnut. They
burned this second rind, and make with it a powder which is
useful to them. Under this rind there is a white marrow of a
fingers thickness, which they eat fresh withmeat and fish, as
we do bread, and it has the taste of almond, and if anyone
dried it he might make bread of it.”
“very familiar and friendly”

“when the offertory of the mass came, the two kings, went to kiss
the cross like us, but they offered nothing, and at the elevation of
the body of our Lord they were kneeling like us, and adored our
Lord with joined hands.”

“To that the king and all his people answered that
thy would obey the commands of the captain and do
all that he told them. The captain took the king by
the hand, and they walk about on the scaffolding,
and when he was baptized he said that he would
name him Don Charles (Carlos), as the emperor his
sovereign was named: and he named the Prince Don
Fernand (Fernando), after the brother of the
emperor, and the king of Mazavva Jehan: to the
Moor he gave the name of Christopher, and to the
others each a name of his fancy.”
 “ When we reached land we found the islanders
fifteen hundred in number, drawn up in three
squadrons; they came down upon us with terrible
shouts, two squadrons attacking us on the flanks, and
the third in front. The captain then divided his men in
two bands. Our musketeers and crossbow-men fired
for half an hour from a distance, but did nothing, since
the bullets and arrows, though they passed through
their shields made of thin wood, and perhaps
wounded their arms, yet did not stop them.”

“Whilst the Indians were thus overpowering him, several times he turned round
towards us to see if we were all in safety, as though his obstinate fight had no
other object than to give an opportunity for the retreat of his men.”
QUIZ
Thank You!