First Voyage around the World by Pigafetta- the Importance

 

Discuss the importance of the text, the author's background, the context of the document, and its contribution to understanding Philippine History.

The text is imperative in understanding Philippine history since these are the documents where data and information were written in connection to past events. This is the way we can gain knowledge and understanding about what happened in the past, we will be able to know important people and their contributions to our country. The text when we will read it will inform us of the specific events that are relevant today, the important dates that we should take note and places we should be aware of. This will give us a wider idea and deeper comprehension of our history after it was interpreted by a certain author.

The book The First Voyage around the World by Magellan was published by Antonio Pigafetta considered the most cited document in studying the pre-colonial Philippines. Why? Because his travelogue is a primary source. Aside from being an author, he was also present at the event. Antonio Pigafetta is an Italian nobleman who joined the expedition led by Ferdinand Magellan and his crew by the order of King Charles of Spain in a fateful circumnavigation of the World. Pigafetta witnessed personally was amazed by life in the Philippines and was there in the battle of Mactan fortunately, he was able to return to Italy. He was born in 1491 and died in 1531. Pigafetta is an Italian scholar and explorer in the republic of Venice. He is the eldest son of Giovanni Pigafetta and Angela Zoga. He came from a wealthy family. The context of this is the first-hand observation of Pigafetta and his expression of the Far East,  and his experience in the Philippines. The documents narrate the events that were held on the first Voyage around the world led by the Portuguese named Ferdinand Magellan who is a Spanish captain. Pegafetta also wrote their experience especially in the Visayas the time they landed there and meet the people of the Philippines. From Landrone Island or they call Island of the thieves 10 days after they reached Isle of Zamal or today we call it Samar. After two days, Magellan and the natives share gifts. They reach Humunu Island. On March 25, they saw two balangay. They met two Rajah’s. After 7 days they learned about the Islands of Leyte, Bohol, and Cebu. The king of Cebu offered a bit of his blood and demanded that Magellan will do the same. The following day Magellan spoke before the people of Cebu about peace and Christianity. On April 14, the king of Cebu was baptized and Magellan ordered him to burn his all idols and worship the cross instead. On April 8, all Island inhabitants were already baptized. The mass started every day at the shore, on April 25, when the principal land of the Island in Mactan asked a boat full of men to fight Lapulapu. Magellan also go to Mactan to fight but unfortunately, he was died by the natives even though they were wearing armor. After that Magellan’s men voted Duarte Barbosa as the new captain. However, Magellan’s interpreter betrayed their group. This is the brief story Antonio Pegafetta wrote about his chronicles here in the Philippines. So, based on this information we can say that Pigafetta’s work has a great contribution to the understanding of Philippine history.  And based on the background of Pigafettas who was commissioned to document the voyage means he was an expert on this topic since he came from a noble descent family and scholar he can be credible in his work. Pigafetta’s experience and writings can be used to understand Philippine History where he narrates and describes the events. He also named the important people of that time and what happened in battle. His work will be a source of the information and it will give us a better understanding of how Filipino lived in the past and how our ancestors fought.