ScSc 12n – Readings in Philippine History

Department of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences

Visayas State University

Lesson 3.2: The Versions of the First

Voyage of Magellan

Lesson Summary
This lesson will take on some inaccuracies of some details of the First
Voyage of Magellan to circumnavigate the world on 1519-1522. In this lesson,
you will be exposed to some excerpts of primary sources that give light to the
said event.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lesson, you are expected to:
1. Compare information from different historical sources
2. Make a position paper based on your evaluation of historical sources

Motivation Question
Can you cite historical events revolving around Cebu during the Spanish
period?
How certain are you of the accuracy of this information?

Discussion
Even though the issue about the site of the first mass was already
resolved by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP),
there are still many inaccuracies in the writing about facts of the first voyage
of Magellan. For this purpose, we will be looking at how two authors, namely:
(1) Antonio Pigafetta, and (2) Gines de Mafra. The two authors are considered
first-hand witnesses to the events as they transpired since they were part of
the voyage itself. We will examine how they have presented the following
events in their works, such as the first encounter in Homonhon, blood compact
in Limasawa, conversion of the Cebuanos (as well as the presentation of the
Sto. Niño by Magellan), and the Battle of Mactan.

First Encounter in Homonhon

The first island of the Philippines that Magellan’s fleet was able to see
and land on was the island of Homonhon in Samar on March 16, 1521. Days
 ScSc 12n – Readings in Philippine History
Department of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences
Visayas State University

later, the fleet was able to encounter the first natives of the islands. Here are
what the two authors wrote about in the first encounter of Magellan’s party with
the natives:
Antonio Pigafetta:
“On Monday afternoon, March 18, we saw a boat coming toward us
with nine men in it. Therefore, the captain-general ordered that no
one should move or say a word without his permission. When those
men reached the shore, their chief went immediately to the captain-
general, giving signs of joy because of our arrival. Five of the most
ornately adorned of them remained with us, while the rest went to get
some others who were fishing, and so they all came. The captain-
general seeing that they were reasonable men, ordered food to be
set before them, and gave them red caps, mirrors, combs, bells, ivory,
bocasine, and other things. When they saw the captain's courtesy,
they presented fish, a jar of palm wine, which they call uraca [i.e.,
arrack], figs more than one palmo long [i.e., bananas], and others
which were smaller and more delicate, and two cocoanuts. They had
nothing else then, but made us signs with their hands that they would
bring umay or rice, and cocoanuts and many other articles of food
within four days.”
“Those people became very familiar with us. They told us many
things, their names and those of some of the islands that could be
seen from that place. Their own island was called Zuluan and it is not
very large. We took great pleasure with them, for they were very
pleasant and conversable. In order to show them greater honor, the
captain-general took them to his ship and showed them all his
merchandise -cloves, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, mace, gold,
and all the things in the ship. He had some mortars fired for them,
whereat they exhibited great fear, and tried to jump out of the ship.
They made signs to us that the abovesaid articles grew in that place
where we were going. When they were about to retire they took their
leave very gracefully and neatly, saying that they would return
according to their promise.”
Gines de Mafra:
“Fernando de Magalhaes sent a boat ashore to observe the nature of
the island; when the boat reached land, they saw from the ships two
paraos come out from behind the point; then they called back their
boat. The people of the paraos seeing that the boat was returning to
the ships, turned back the paraos, and the boat reached the ships,
which at once set sail for another island very near to this island,
which is in ten degrees, and they gave it the name of the island of
Good Signs, because they found some gold in it. Whilst they were
thus anchored at this island, there came to them two paraos, and
brought them fowls and cocoanuts, and told them that they had
already seen there other men like them, from which they presumed
that these might be Lequios or Mogores? a nation of people who
have this name, or Chiis…”
 ScSc 12n – Readings in Philippine History
Department of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences
Visayas State University

Blood Compact in Limasawa

In the olden times, the natives of the islands strengthen relationships

with others through blood compact (casi casi/sanduguan). This ritual is done
by mixing the blood of the participants with wine and then drinking it. This ritual
would create a sense of blood brotherhood within the participants. Here are the
accounts of the authors about the blood compact:
Antonio Pigafetta:
“The king came with six or eight men in the same boat and entered
the ship. He embraced the captain general to whom he gave three
porcelain jars covered with leaves and full of raw rice, two very large
orade and other things. The captain general gave the king a garment
of red and yellow cloth made in the Turkish fashion, and a fine red
cap; and to the others (the king's men), to some knives and to others
mirrors. Then the captain general had a collation spread for them,
and had the king told through the slave that he desired to be casi casi
with him, that is to say, brother. The king replied that he also wished
to enter the same relations with the captain general.”
Gines de Mafra:
“… and another day he set off from this island, and sailing his voyage,
he arrived at another island that will be of thirteen circuits until the
four leagues. This island has a good port to the western part of it,
and it is inhabited. The fleet anchored in the said port, then the
natives of it sailed to receive the fleet with good countenance, as
Magellan saw them and he saw that in so small land used to have
gold, because the people used to wear it, he told their people that
already it used to be in the land that he used to have wished for, and
he told a man that he used to be called “Heredia” who used to be
notary of the ship, that he was on land with a native [or Indian] that
they used to take, who they used to take, who they used to talk, which
it was a language because he knew to speak Malayan, which is a
language that [in] all those parts is very common. he knew to speak
Malayan, which is a language that [in] all those parts is very common.
More at that time, the interpreter made the most of little because with
the wish for he took him, and with the good preparation that in the
land and the natives of it there they got drunk with the wine they gave
him. Other day it was Friday of the cross, the Lord of that island, he
came to the ship and he spoke very well to Magellan and everyone,
and made peace with them in the custom of the land, which is
bleeding oneself of both breasts, put in a glass the lineage council,
stirred with wine, drink each one the half. This though it seems
ceremony for good friendship, some of their people take care of it,
although there are others in observe it in full. With this new peace so
wished for that the lord of that island gave to the fleet rice and pigs
depending on its possibility.”
 ScSc 12n – Readings in Philippine History
Department of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences
Visayas State University

Conversion of the Cebuanos

One of the aims of the voyage was to spread Christianity to the natives
of the lands they conquer. It was in Cebu during 1521 that the Spaniards held
a mass conversion of natives to Christianity. Coupled with this event was the
giving of the Sto. Niño image to the queen of Cebu. Since then, the Sto. Niño
has been a strong symbolic influence on the Christian faith in the Philippines.
It is always highlighted in Cebu during January every year through the Sinulog.
As popular as it is, many of the people who celebrate Sinulog does not even
know how the image of the Sto. Niño arrived in Cebu before Legaspi’s men
locating in the later years. Here are the accounts of the authors about the
conversion of the Cebuanos and the presentation of Sto. Niño by Magellan to
the people of Cebu.
Antonio Pigafetta:
“After dinner the priest and some of the others went ashore to
baptize the queen, who came with forty women. We conducted her
to the platform, and she was made to sit down upon a cushion, and
the other women near her, until the priest should be ready. She was
shown an image of our Lady, a very beautiful wooden child Jesus,
and a cross. There upon, she was overcome with contrition, and
asked for baptism amid her tears… We named her Johanna, after the
emperor's mother; her daughter, the wife of the prince, Catherina; the
queen of Mazaua, Lisabeta; and the others, each their [distinctive]
name. Counting men, women, and children, we baptized eight
hundred souls. The queen was young and beautiful, and was entirely
covered with a white and black cloth. Her mouth and nails were very
red, while on her head she wore a large hat of palm leaves in the
manner of a parasol, with a crown about it of the same leaves, like
the tiara of the pope ; and she never goes any place without such a
one. She asked us to give her the little child Jesus to keep in place of
her idols.”
“The captain-general went ashore daily during those days to hear
mass, and told the king many things regarding the faith. One day the
queen came with great pomp to hear mass. Three girls preceded her
with three of her hats in their hands. She was dressed in black and
white with a large silk scarf, crossed with gold stripes thrown over
her head, which covered her shoulders; and she had on her hat. A
great number of women accompanied her, who were all naked and
barefoot, except that they had a small covering of palm-tree cloth
before their privies, and a small scarf upon the head, and all with hair
flowing free. The queen, having made the due reverence to the altar,
seated herself on a silk embroidered cushion. Before the
commencement of the mass, the captain sprayed her and some of
her women with musk rosewater, for they delighted exceedingly in
such perfumes. The captain knowing that the queen was very much
pleased with the child Jesus, gave it to her, telling her to keep it in
place of her idols, for it was in memory of the son of God. Thanking
him heartily she accepted it.”
 ScSc 12n – Readings in Philippine History
Department of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences
Visayas State University

Gines de Mafra:
“Our people rejoiced here a lot, the indications of the people of the
land were of much pleasure and the lord of this island with little
request became Christian and the same with his wife; to him they
called him Don Carlos like to the Majesty [Cesárea]; his wife was to
be called Doña Juana; and in less than fifteen (15) days they became
Christians in this island [of] more than ten thousand (10,000). This
learned by the memory which the one became baptized. Those again
converted received the water of the baptism and as to the doctrine
that they continued as they were. In this island had other several
lords on whether, for as to be said, it [was?] so large that he had to
tour more than sixty (60) leagues, but Magellan sent them to
summon and they came to his call, he made them friends, telling
them that they obey the Lord where he was called Don Carlos, an only
lord, was so arrogant or persevering that no one wanted to come to
his appeal, which seen by Magellan was on it with some of his people
and a day, before that it dawned he entered the townwhere he did not
find anyone for to be notified of his departure and destroying the
small town returned [to?], but after a few days it came to pass the
obedience to Don Carlos.”

Battle of Mactan

The first glorious moment of resistance against the foreign invaders

was the Battle of Mactan. Many historians would always look at Lapu-lapu as
the first hero of the Philippines. But the battle itself has been mispresented
many times and in many depictions in history books. Many people would
almost always answer the question of who killed Magellan with Lapu-lapu’s
name. Of course, this question can be accurately answered by reading the
actual accounts of the battle. Here are the accounts of the authors about the
battle of Mactan:
Antonio Pigafetta:
“They replied that if we had lances they had lances of bamboo and
stakes hardened with fire. [They asked us] not to proceed to attack
them at once, but to wait until morning, so that they might have more
men. They said that in order to induce us to go in search of them; for
they had dug certain pitholes between the houses in order that we
might fall into them. When morning came forty-nine of us leaped into
the water up to our thighs, and walk through water for more than two
crossbow flights before we reach the shore. The boats could not
approach nearer because of certain rocks in the water. The other
eleven men remained behind to guard the boats. When we reached
land, those men had formed in three divisions to the number of more
than one thousand five hundredpersons. When they saw us, they
charged down upon us with exceeding loud cries, two divisions in our
flanks and the other on our front. When the captain saw that, he
 ScSc 12n – Readings in Philippine History
Department of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences
Visayas State University

formed us into two divisions, and thus did we begin to fight. The
musketeers and crossbowmen shot from a distance for about a half-
hour, but uselessly; for the shots only passed through the shields
which were made of thin wood and the arms [of the bearers]. The
captain cried to them, “Cease firing! cease firing!” but his order was
at all heeded. When the natives saw that we were shooting our
muskets to no purpose, crying out they determined to stand firm, but
they redoubled their shouts. When our muskets were discharged, the
natives would never still, but leaped hither and thither, covering
themselves with their shields. They shot so many arrows at us and
hurled so many bamboo spears (some of them tipped with iron) at
the captain-general, besides pointed stakes hardened with fire,
stones, and mud, that we could scarcely defend ourselves. Seeing
that, the captain-general sent some men to burn their houses in order
to terrify them. When they saw their houses burning, they were
roused to greater fury. Two of our men were killed near the houses,
while we burned twenty or thirty houses. So many of them charged
down upon us that they shot the captain through the right leg with a
poisoned arrow. On that account, he ordered us to retire slowly, but
men took to flight, except six or eight of us who remained with the
captain. The natives shot only at our legs, for the latter were bare;
and so many were the spears and stones that they hurled at us, that
we could offer no resistance. The mortars in the boats could not aid
us as they were too far away. So we continued to retire for more than
a good crossbow flight from the shore always fighting up to our
knees in the water.The natives continued to pursue us, and picking
up the same spear four or six times, hurled it at us again and again.
Recognizing the captain, so many turned upon him that they knocked
his helmet off his head twice, but he always stood firmly like a good
knight, together with some others. Thus did we fight for more than
one hour, refusing to retire farther. An Indian hurled a bamboo spear
into the captain’s face, but the latter immediately killed him with his
lance, which he left in the Indian’s body. Then, trying to lay hand on
sword, he could draw it out but halfway, because he had been
wounded in the arm with a bamboo spear. When the natives saw that,
they all hurled themselves upon him. One of them wounded him on
the left leg with a large cutlass, which resembles a scimitar, only
being larger. That caused the captain to fall face downward, when
immediately they rushed upon him with iron and bamboo spears and
with their cutlasses, until they killed our mirror, our light, our comfort,
and our true guide. When they wounded him, he turned back many
times to see whether we were all in the boats. Thereupon, beholding
him dead, we, wounded, retreated, as best we could do, to the boats,
which were already pulling off.”

Gines de Mafra
“There us nearly this island of [Cebu] a rather very small that it to the
north which called Mactan in which at that time used to have an
arrogant lord. This although sent to summon Magellan to him or at
 ScSc 12n – Readings in Philippine History
Department of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences
Visayas State University

least he showed that he was insulted and he said blatantly that he

had to avenge that offense, and although the Lord of [Cebu] said to
him that he did not get trouble from it, because with the time that
rebellion would subdue and that he [Lord of (Cebu)] would obtain it
for him [Magellan] because he was married with his sister, Magellan
as they said, used to bring certain perpetual mercy, it was suspected
that he [Magellan] wanted to take them to[Cebu] because he used to
say it several times and that they wanted to have lots of subjects and
for this reason or another matter that he [Magellan] seemed to him
[Lord of (Cebu)] decided to go to Mactan. The Lord of [Cebu] saw his
determination told him since that it was his will that he would go with
him [Magellan] to help his people, case that the other was his brother
in law and that he had loved him more as [being a] friend than the
other by [being a] Magellan who was most brave that on advice he
thanked him the faith and offer and he refused the assistance and
although it bothered that he never took it he wanted to accept it,
telling him that he wanted to see how the lions of Spain fought, which
certain in this he lost much authority, because a man that carried on
himself an affair of such importance did no t need to prove his
strengths until the time he walked, because of the victory he derived
small benefit from the fact that the ships had, otherwise, he dared
the affair of his fleet that was extremely more important, but this left
aside, he commanded to prepare forty (40) men that can get out of
the ships and in two (2) skiffs was the route of Batan and against his
will was the [Lord of (Cebu)] with up to two thousand (2,000) men
and these only for to watch the fight that was not long to do away
with it with Magellan, which arrived in Mactan then wanted to leap on
land and stopped doing it on the advice of the [Lord of (Cebu)] that
he told him that he told him that well he did not knew the land, that
he waited for the day which came Magellan gone out on land with
thirty four(34) men and between them thirteen (13) arquebusier
because the seven (7) left on guard of the skiffs, also gone out on
land but against the wish of Magellan, the [Lord of (Cebu)] with his
people, to only watch and very sensible of Magella n that he [Lord of
(Cebu)] did not fight and that his people who was with some marks
so that they were recognized. In this part where they disembarked,
the beach is very shallow, consequently they left the skiffs very far
away from land. Arrived on land the y saw a large town located
between a palm grove and it seemed no people. Magellan, ordered
that they burn down a house. Since they went to execute this in
motion they left from the house, in which we used to be concealed,
until fifty (50) men with cutlass and bucklers and combine them with
ours to beat of sword. Being in this commotion, one of those
barbarians gave a strike with a cutlass on a thigh of a Galician, which
it cut it all that he died later. Ours for to avenge this we changed on
the barbarians. Which they retreated, we following them on a road
across the backs of ours, [202] which it seems that they were put for
that kind of a trap and they shrieked to us with a load uproar and they
began to kill them. Magellan was already very hurt in many parts of
the of the face and of the legs and yet although they told him that he
 ScSc 12n – Readings in Philippine History
Department of Liberal Arts and Behavioral Sciences
Visayas State University

command those of [Cebu] that they fight, he did not want to, until
bring encouraging his people, he bled so much that he fell dead,
those of [Cebu] indignant attacked and made them retreat and some
of those [Cebu] took ours who all that were wounded and they carried
by the water to the skiffs and the left twelve (12) dead from ours on
land with Magellan among them and the others were very wounded
went back to with the [Lord of (Cebu)] to his island. From what was
understood, it could infer that the reckless act that was the unlucky
Magellan wanted to do about such little importance that the time
being he could have done [something] much better.”

In conclusion, even though there are some uncertainties in the

information brought by the authors, there was certainly both acceptance and
resistance to foreign contact with the natives of the islands. The identified
events give us a picture of the behavior of our ancestors with regard to
hospitality and also resistance.