Kristine Faith D.
Manalo GECLWR-18
Pigafetta, A. (1969), First voyage around the world (PP.23-32) Manila, Philippines: Filipiniana
Book Guild.
Rizal, J. (1962). Historical events of the Philippines Islands: published in Mexico in 1609 by
Antonio de Morga; recently brought to light and annotated by Jose Rizal; preceded by
prologue by Ferdinand Blumentritt, Manila, Philippines: Jose Rizal National Centennial
Commission.
Pigafetta
People Pigaffeta described the
Bisayan people as
islanders. According to him,
people living near the island
had holes in their ears so
large with appropriate
earrings for its size that they
could pass their arms
through them. They would
also go naked, with a soft
cloth woven from the bark of
a tree about their privies,
except some of the chiefs
who wore cotton cloth
embroidered with silk at the
ends by means of a needle.
They were dark, fat, and
their skin was painted.
Furthermore, he mentioned
the balangay a lot, and
concluded that they were
rich enough to be colonized
with their abundance in gold
despite the scarcity in iron.
Customs and Culture Pigafetta's account showed
that the people in Visayan
island in the 16th century
really lived a simple life but
they are gradually changing
5AR-2
Morga
According to Morga, The
Bisayas were also called
"The land of the Painted
People (or Pintados, in
Spanish)" because the
natives had their bodies
decorated with tracings
made with fire, somewhat
like tattooing.
Morga described that
ancient Filipinos had an
army and navy with artillery
and other implements of
warfare. Some of their
highly decorated krises and
kampilans were quite
striking, and their
remarkable temperament
was a source of praise.
Their coats of mail and
helmets, of which there are
specimens in various
European museums, attest
their great advancement in
this industry.
According to him as well,
Bahandin refers to a home
where the parents and
children share the same
room. Morga claims that
inasawa is a native woman
wedded to a man of her own
race.
Morga described the
culinary of ancient Philippine
natives by recording:
Filipinos liked fish which
began to decompose and
 because of the influence of
the voyagers. They were
uncivilized but they were
rich in cultures and
traditions.
Pigafetta offered some
insight into some Visayan
customs such as their
cuisine, the process of
fermenting palm and
coconut wine, and native
attire. He also described
them as child-like and
savage; given over to their
base appetites of feasting,
drunkenness, and lust.
Belief and Religion According to Pigafetta’s
account, natives worshiped
nothing, instead they raised
their clasped hands and
their faces to the sky, and
that they called their god
"Abba."
In March 1521, Magellan’s
missionaries conducted the
first mass on the Philippine
soil. Bothrajahs kissed the
cross and prayed with the
crew, making them the first
Filipinos to encounter
Christianity. Afterwards,
Magellan and his crew
decided to sail to Cebu to
convert more Filipinos to
Catholicism. Sunday, April
14, 1521 when the King and
Queen of Cebu and their
subjects embraced the
Catholic faith during the
Sunday mass and eight
hundred Cebuanos were
baptized on that day alone.
smell. It was the Filipino
favorite fish dish called
Bagoong. Additionally, there
is a little fish called Lawlaw
that is snagged, sun- or
air-dried, and then prepared
in many different ways.
Morga also stated that they
bathe without thinking about
the consequences on their
health.
The "easy virtue" of the
native women was more to
religious belief of which
Father Chirino tells. It was
that in the journey after
death to "Kalualhatian," the
abode of the spirit, there
was a dangerous river to
cross that had no bridge
other than a very narrow
strip of wood over which a
woman could not pass
unless she had a husband
or lover to extend a hand to
assist her.
Only a part of the
Philippines were
successfully converted into
Christianity by missionaries.
Still there are
Mohammedans, the Moros,
in the southern islands, and
Negritos, Igorots and other
heathens yet occupy the
greater part territorially of
the archipelago. Then the
islands the Spaniards held
early but soon lost are
non-Christians – Formosa,
Borneo, and the Moluccas.
The bigger the crocodile, the
better it was for the locals.
When it comes to swearing
allegiance to their despised

Society and Government According to Pigafetta,
stretched across different
islands, the Visayan
kadatuan traded and raided
with each other in a loose,
fluid context.
Places in the Philippines
were ruled by chiefs called
Datu and in some places
rajah, sultan or hadji. Chiefs
were befriended by
Magellan except for the
chieftain of Mactan named
Lapu-lapu who refused to
trade with the Spaniards
which led to the famous
battle in Mactan.
Remarkable Practices Pigafetta also highlighted
Filpino’s remarkable
hospitality. Magellan’s group
was welcomed by the
natives and the chief offered
food to be set for them.
people, these reptiles get
engaged, even Christians.
In order to predict whether
or not someone was going
to die, people relied on
omens and beliefs inspired
by the devil.
According to Morga, it is not
true that Filipinos are
unprotected because
natives had arms and
defended themselves but
when they were unprotected
by the government, the
pirates pillaged them with
impunity. The Philippines
came under Spanish
Sovereignty and control
through compacts, treaties
of friendship and alliances
for reciprocity.
Morga stated that the
ancient Filipinos had
minstrels who had
memorized songs telling
their genealogies and of the
deeds ascribed to their
deities. These were chanted
on voyage in cadence with
the rowing, or at festivals, or
funerals, or wherever there
happened to be any
considerable gatherings.
Furthermore, it was
common for "Namamahay''
to act as helpers. At the
same time, the Master's
residence is open to guests,
even though they're not
compensated for their
efforts.Until she inherits
from her parents,the bride
does not give anything to
the dowry of her new
spouse.