F IRST V OYAGE

A ROUND THE
W ORLD  
by Antonio Pigafetta

READING IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Ferdinand Magellan
was the first European
to arrive in the
Philippines.
The primary source for
the history of Ferdinand
Magellan's First Voyage
Around the World.
Taken from the chronicles
of contemporary voyages
and navigators of the
16 th century
CONTENTS:

1 . Background of the Author

2. Historical Background of the document

3. Content and Contextual Analysis of the important

historical information found 

4. Contribution and Relevance of the book in understanding

the Grand Narrative of Philippine History.
  Background of the Author  
FRANCISCO ANTONIO PIGAFETTA (1491-
1531) 

• Also known as Antonio Lombardo

• Italian scholar and explorer from the
Republic of Venice (Italy)
• Was from a rich family of Vicenza on
the West porti on of Venice, Italy
• Wrote the First Voyage Around the
World.
• His book has become the earliest
detailed documentati on of the pre-
colonial society
  Background of the Author 
FRANCISCO ANTONIO PIGAFETTA (1491-
1531) 

• King Charles 1 of Spain ordered him to

accompany Portuguese explorer Ferdinand
Magellan and his crew on their voyage
around the world.

• His work became a classic, and notable

Western author.

• His report also served as a signifi cant

reference point for the occasions that led to
Magellan's entry into the Philippines
  Historical background of the Document  

The First Voyage Around the World (1519-1522)

• The document reveals several insights not

just in the character of the Philippines during
the pre-colonial period, but also on how the
fresh eyes of the European regard a deeply
unfamiliar terrain, environment, people, and
culture. 
  Historical background of the Document 

The First Voyage Around the World (1519-1522)

• Antonio joined the Magallanes-Elcano

famous expedition to the Moluccas begun
in August 1519 and fi nished September
1522

• Had a hand-written account of the

expedition entitled “The First Voyage
Around the World” 

• Published after Pigafetta returned to Italy.

Content and Contextual Analysis
of the important historical
information found in document.
  Content and Contextual Analysis 
The First Voyage Around the World THE AIM OF THE JOURNEY

• A Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand

Magellan organized the Spanish expedition
to the east indies to search for western
route to the Maluku Island (spice island)
resulting to the first circumnavigation of
earth completed by Juan Sebastian
Elcano.

• To seek out and discover spices  in the

Maluku Islands.
  Content and Contextual Analysis 
The First Voyage Around the World Expedition of Five Ships

• In search of spices, the Spaniards approved

Magellan’s plan to go to the East through
western direction after Portugal turned down
his plan.

• Magellan led an expedition of five ships with

237 men, namely: San Antonio, Santiago,
Conception, Victoria, and Trinidad. However,
only one remained and returned to Spain
after expedition which is the Victoria.
Timeline Of Magellan's Expedition In The Philippines

March 17, 1521 APRIL 8, 1521  APRIL 27, 1521

Arrival in Samar Interaction with the Datu Zula’s Request

Cebuanos

First mass in the Christianity  Death of Ferdinand

Philippines Magellan

APRIL 1, 1521  APRIL 15, 1521 APRIL 28, 1521

 1519

West ward – Spain

East ward – Portugal

 as they agreed in
Treaty of Tordesillas. 
World
March 16, 1521 The arrival in Samar

• Arrival in Zamal (Samar)

• The island was called Humunu (known as

Homonhon)

• People in Samar welcomed them by giving

foods and drinks such as coconuts, fi sh, jar of
palm wine and etc.

• "the Watering-place of Good Signs," was the

name given to it by Magellan and his
followers. 
World
April 1, 1521 The First Mass in the Philippines

•The fi rst mass in the Philippines was held in

Mazaua (Limasawa)

•It was att ended by Magellan, Rajah Colambu,

Rajah Siagu, other spanish voyagers, and the
local islanders
World
April 8, 1521 Interaction with Cebuanos

•Magellan and his men entered the port of

Zubu

•Initially, Magellan and his men

encountered some struggles when fi rst
entering the port of Zubu.

•The “king” of Cebu wanted Magellan and

his men to pay tribute to them but,
Magellan refused and told the translator
that they are working for the King of
Spain and threatens him with war.
World
April 15, 1521 Christianity

•A mass was held with Raia Humabon and

his people attending the ceremony

•800 souls were baptized

•Pigafetta presented the Queen with a

picture of Our Lady, a stunning wooden
replica of Jesus, and a cross.

•She asked for the little child Jesus to

keep in place for her idols and this image
of child Jesus is known as the Sto. Niño
found in Cebu
World
April 27, 1521 Datu Zula's Request

•According to Zula, the Chief of Matan , Chief

Lapu-Lapu refused to obey the King of Spain

•Chief Lapu-Lapu did not want to pay Magellan

and his men the goat that they were promised

•Magellan was not pleased since they went to

Mactan to garner food for their expedition

•To confront another Chief, Zula asked the

Captain to send him only one boatload of
troops. The general's decision was to send
three boats off in diff erent directions.
World
April 28, 1521 Death of the Ferdinand Magellan

•At midnight, sixty of Magellan’s men set out

armed with corselets and helmets, Christian
King, Prince, some of the chief men, 20 0r 30
balanghais

•The local islander had laces of bamboo and

stakes hardened with fi re

•They shot the captain through the right leg

with a poisoned arrow and knocked his helmet
off his head twice
World
April 28, 1521 Death of the Ferdinand Magellan

•An Indian hurled a bamboo spear in the

captain’s face, but the latter immediately
killed him with his lance, which he left in the
Indian’s body

•8 of Magellan’s men were killed, and 4

Indians were killed by mortars

•In Chief Lapu-Lapu’s men, only 15 were killed

Contribution of the Document to
understanding the grand narrative
in Philippine History 
 Contribution of the Document to understanding
the grand narrative in Philippine History 

• It elaborated on the lifestyle back then • Considered the best source today of
and it described what the local islanders the customs and usage of the
wore, what they ate, how they Filipinos in the early 16 t h Century due
communicate, and how they live. to the daily notes Pigafetta took and
• details about an expedition that he
Local textbook writers use this book as
wrote about.
their historical information source about
the beginning of Christianity in the • Contains the first vocabulary of
Philippines.  Visayan words even penned by a
European.
 RELEVANCE OF THE DOCUMENT 

• This book aids the researchers and • Opened many doors for the
students of today in understanding the Philippines
context of the Magellan expedition and • Spaniards introduced Christianity to
how the whole Europe-Philippines the Filipino
conflict commenced.
• Help us understand how the Filipinos
• Magellan discovered the Pacific Ocean   of the past lived and how they coped
• Magellan proved that there was a way to when Magellan and his men came to
the East by sailing West the Philippines
 REFERENCES:

The First Voyage around the World (1519-1522): An Account of

Magellan's Expedition. https://utorontopress.com/9781487525408/the-first-
voyage-around-the-world-15191522/  The First Voyage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFn6JeZGLK4&t=86s  Around the World 
Martinez (2019). The First Voyage Around The World.
https://prezi.com/p/fjnraprzdu7l/the-first-voyage-around-the-world/
by Antonio Pigafetta

Thank you!
Questions & Answer
1. Who is the the author of the book " First
Voyage Around the World"?

- Antonio Pigaffeta-
2. He was the fi rst European to arrive the
Philippines.

- Ferdinand Magellan-
3. What is the Aim of the Journey of
Ferdinand Magellan to the fi rst voyage
around the world?

- To seek out and discover spices-

4. What was the name of Magellan's 5 ships

- San Antonio, Santiago, Conception,

Victoria and Trinidad-
5. When and where was the fi rst mass in
the Philippines happened?

- April 1,1521 held in Mazaua

(Limasaw)-