Readings in Philippine History - Modules 1 & 2 Flashcards

Flashcard study set covering Modules 1 and 2 of Readings in Philippine History (GE 211), detailing Antonio Pigafetta's chronicle of Magellan's expedition and Fray Juan de Plasencia's Customs of the Tagalogs.

What is the primary historical significance of Antonio Pigafetta's journal?

It serves as one of the most critical primary sources in Philippine history, providing the earliest written European account of the Philippine archipelago, indigenous societies, and the first recorded contact between Europeans and native Filipinos (1519-1522).

What role did Antonio Pigafetta serve on Magellan's expedition?

Pigafetta was not an officer or soldier; he served as a scholar, geographer, and eyewitness chronicler whose meticulously kept notes preserved navigation logs, coordinates, cultural practices, and early linguistic dictionaries.

Why did Ferdinand Magellan turn to 18-year-old King Charles I of Spain in 1517?

Magellan sought royal funding for a westward Pacific route to the Spice Islands, but after repeated rejections by King Manuel of Portugal, he renounced his Portuguese citizenship and offered his services to Spain.

When did Magellan's fleet set sail from Spain, and how many crew members were involved?

The armada set sail on September 20, 1519, carrying approximately 270 multicultural crew members.

Which four spices were the economic epicenters of the global economy during the 15th and 16th centuries?

Cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper.

Who was the captain of the flagship Trinidad, and what was its ultimate fate?

Ferdinand Magellan was the captain; the ship reached the Moluccas but was later captured by Portuguese forces.

Who commanded the San Antonio, and what notable action did the ship take in 1520?

Commanded by Juan de Cartagena, the largest and most expensive ship deserted the fleet in 1520 and fled back to Spain.

What happened to the ship Concepción in 1521?

Commanded by Gaspar de Quesada, it was scuttled and burned in the Philippines in 1521 due to an insufficient number of surviving crew members.

Which vessel completed the first global circumnavigation, who brought it back, and when did it return to Spain?

The Victoria completed the circumnavigation under the command of Juan Sebastián Elcano, returning to Spain on September 6, 1522 with 18 survivors.

What was the fate of the Santiago during the expedition?

Commanded by Juan Rodríguez Serrano, it was the smallest vessel and was wrecked during a coastal storm while scouting Patagonia in 1520.

What specific extreme hardships did the crew endure during their voyage across the sea?

Mutinies (suppressed at Port St. Julian), severe starvation (eating rats, leather rigging, and sawdust), rampant scurvy due to vitamin C deficiency, and extreme weather.

What occurred on March 16, 1521 at Homonhon Island?

The fleet anchored at an uninhabited island in Eastern Samar to tend to sick crew members, gather fresh water, and trade with native islanders, marking the first recorded arrival of the expedition in the Philippines.

Who enabled communication between the Spanish fleet and Rajah Kolambu on March 28, 1521?

The interpreter Enrique de Malacca.

Where and when was the first recorded Easter Mass in the Philippines celebrated, and who officiated it?

It was celebrated on March 31, 1521 on Limasawa Island by Fr. Pedro de Valderrama (officially affirmed by RA 2733), concluding with the erection of a wooden cross on the highest hill.

What ritual did Magellan perform with Rajah Humabon upon arriving in Cebu on April 7, 1521?

Magellan performed the traditional blood compact (Sandugo) with Rajah Humabon, after which Humabon, his wife, and hundreds of followers accepted Christian baptism.

What tactical miscalculation occurred during the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521?

Shallow coastal waters prevented Spanish warships from anchoring close enough to provide artillery support, forcing Magellan and 48 armor-clad soldiers to wade ashore against approximately 1,500 Mactan warriors armed with iron spears, bamboo lances, and poisoned arrows.

How did Ferdinand Magellan die in Mactan, and what is Datu Lapu-Lapu's historical legacy?

Magellan was hit by a poison arrow and wounded in the leg, eventually being surrounded and killed in shallow waters; Lapu-Lapu became the first recorded native figure to successfully resist Western colonization.

Who authored Customs of the Tagalogs, and when did he arrive in the Philippines?

Fray Juan de Plasencia, a Franciscan missionary who arrived in the Philippines in July 1578.

What were the two main goals of Plasencia's report Relación de las Costumbres de los Tagalos?

1) Equip Spanish friars with deep cultural knowledge required for effective Christianization. 2) Provide colonial magistrates with an understanding of indigenous legal customs to settle civil disputes fairly.

What was a pre-colonial Barangay unit, and what is the origin of its name?

It was an autonomous political unit comprising 30 to 100 families. Its name stems from balangay, the Malay sailboat that brought ancestral settlers to the islands.

How were the titles Rajah and Lakan distinguished in pre-colonial Tagalog polity?

Rajah was the title for the ruler of Muslim or major trading polities, while Lakan was the title for a paramount noble ruler in Luzon.

What were the rights and duties of the Maharlika class?

They were noble freemen and warriors who were exempt from tax obligations and paid for their own armor and weapons while rendering mandatory military service.

What were the primary duties of the Timawa social class?

They were non-slave freemen attached to a Datu whose duties included agricultural labor, fishing, rowing, and assisting in communal feasts.

What was the difference between Aliping Namamahay and Aliping Saguiguilid?

Aliping Namamahay (stay-out) owned personal property and houses, farming assigned lands while giving a harvest share to their master. Aliping Saguiguilid (stay-in) lived directly in the master's household, were completely dependent for food and shelter, and were subject to sale or transfer.

What were two sub-levels of Aliping Saguiguilid?

Bulisik and Bulislis.