First Voyage

• Antonio Pigafetta


  Also known as Antonio Lombardo or Francisco Antonio Pigafetta
• Lifespan of Antonio Pigafetta

  1491-1532
• One of the 18 men who completed the voyage, returning to Spain in 1522 led by Sebastian Elcano
• Antonio Pigafetta


  • Belonged to the distinguished Vicenza family, which also practised navigation
• During the expedition (to the Spice Islands led by explorer Ferdinand Magellan), he served as Magellan's assistant and kept an accurate journal, which later assisted him in translating the Cebuano language
• It is the first recorded document concerning the Cebuano language
• Antonio Pigafetta's family background

  • His father was Giovanni Pigafetta and his mother was a noblewoman named Lucia, daughter of Marco Muzan
• Pigafetta's nationality


  Italian and Venetian
• Pigafetta's educational background


  • Studied astronomy, geography, and cartography
  • Received a degree in law from the University of Padua
  • Fascinated by adventure and exploration, which led him to sign on as a member of the Magellan expedition in 1519
• Pigafetta had a detailed journal, however it was lost. Fortunately, four manuscript versions survive which consist of one Italian and three French
• The travelogue of Pigafetta is one of the most important primary sources and gives an accurate ethnographic and geographical description of the first circumnavigation
• The book describes the people, countries, and even the languages spoken in the pre colonial Philippines
• Throughout the expedition, Enrique served as a translator (from Sumatra/Indonesia/slave of Ferdinand Magellan)
• Their objective was to explore and circumnavigate the whole globe that started in 1519 but the Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan and his fleet has the intention to have a western route of the Spice islands
• King Charles V of Spain accommodated the expedition to help Magellan in his expedition
• Antonio Pigafetta arrived in Seville, to join Magellan's fleet

  March 28, 1518
• They set sail to start their expedition from Seville and they went sail coursing south-west


  May 1519
• Departed in Tenerife, Spain


  October 3, 1519
• Reached Cabo Santo Agostinho, now called as Cabo Branco in Brazil


  November 29, 1519
• They reached Rio de Janeiro


  December 13, 1519
• The master of Victoria ship was executed due to sodomy (anal intercourse, that was illegal at that time)

  December 20, 1519
• Departed from Rio de Janeiro


  December 26, 1519
• Entered Puerto San Julian in Argentina


  March 31, 1520
• Juan de Cartagena and his colleagues attempted to kill the master of San Antonio ship, Juan de Elorriaga


  April 1-2, 1520
• Resumed expedition after remaining in Puerto San Julian for five months


  August 24, 1520
• The Santiago ship was lost while searching for strait


  May 3, 1520
• Magellan discovered a strait and named it Todos los Santos which is a Passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic separating mainland South America from Tierra del Fuego and now called the Strait of Magellan


  November 1, 1520
• Estevao Gomez made a revolt with the pilot of S. Antonio's ship, Hieronimo Guerra, went back to Spain


  May 6, 1521
• Entered the Pacific Ocean


  November 28, 1520
• Reached the equator


  February 13, 1521
• Departed at Marianas near Las Islas de Velas Latinas, also known as Guam


  March 9, 1521
• Went to harbor at Suluan in Zamal (Samar) and saw an alliance from the islands of thieves or also known as Guam


  March 16, 1521
• Arrived in Zamal (known now as Samar), the island was called Humunu (Homonhon) and called by Magellan as Acquada da li buoni Segnialli (the watering place of good signs)


  March 18, 1521
• There are many islands in the said district, therefore called as archipelago of San Lazaro (discovered on the Sunday of St. Lazarus)
• Some natives giving signs of joy for the presence of Magellan and his men. The native Filipinos welcome them warmly. As described by Pigafetta, '' they exhibited great signs of pleasure at seeing us.''
• Seeing that the natives are reasonable men, Magellan gave them red caps, mirrors, comb, and other things. In return , the natives offered fish, wine, coconuts, and other resources
• Because of that, they had a positive relationship and befriended Rajah Colambu of Butuan Island, a ruler of Limasawa
• On Easter Sunday, the first mass in the Philippines was held in Mazaua

  March 31, 1521
• Natives have their idols before and a God which they called ''abba'' but they threw this belief away as they embraced Christianity which Magellan introduced
• Magellan and his men entered the port of zubu (known now as Cebu)


  April 07, 1521