![]() The log of Francisco Albo, a pilot in Magellan’s flagship, Trinidad, reads: A northern track could have brought him to the northern tip of Samar and saw the southern coastlines of the mainland of Luzon. Had Magellan taken the opposite direction, it could have totally altered the course not only of Philippine but also of world history. Seeing the tail-end of the elongated coastline of the island of Samar, Magellan swiftly ordered a maneuver to a southwestern course. Magellan’s arrival in what he called Zamal, now the Island of Samar, was one of the critical episodes in the history of Spain’s empire building project. The expedition made their landfall in what came to be known later as Las Islas Filipinas.Ĭhart depicting the route of Magellan’s momentous voyage in the waters of Samar, Leyte and Cebu, plotted on the historical map by the Jesuit cartographer Pedro Murillo Velarde, 1734 (graphic by Dateline Ibalon) ![]() The entry in the Pigafetta log sounded trite and uneventful, unknown to them, the event signaled the epic transformation not only of these clusters of islands but of world history in general. This isle is named Zamal wrote Pigafetta. Travelling at a speed of about 300 miles per day, the chronicler of the expedition recorded their first historic glimpse of the contours of the peak of an island: “Saturday, the 16th of March 1521, we arrived at daybreak in sight of a high island, three hundred leagues distant from the before-mentioned Thieves’ Island. ![]() 1/2 S.W.” Blessed with a favorable wind and current, the expedition accomplished the westward crossing of about 1,500 miles in only seven days, an unusual accomplishment for those ocean-battered ships and starving crew. The western coastline of Leyte and the islands toward CebuĪfter hastily abandoning the shores of Guam, Albo scribbled on his log, the fleet sailed on the 9th of March, in the morning, and went W.Easter Sunday mass and the significance of the cross.Inter-island commerce and culture exchange.The World of the Visayas: Table of Contents Macutay/ 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines/ National Historical Commission of the Philippines. They would soon reach the coast line of Cebu Island and following a southward track reach the port of Cebu on the 7th of April.įeatured art by Derrick C. The ships then took a westward track and on the 6th of April sailed past Ponson, Poro and Ticobon (Camotes Islands). After eight days, on the 4th of April, the voyage departed, and on the 5th of April sailed past Canigao Island and the settlements of Hilongos, Himuquitan, and Baybay along the western coast of Leyte. After the ceremonies, a cross was planted at a high point in the island. The 31st of March being Easter Sunday, mass was celebrated in Limasawa in the presence of the native inhabitants and their leaders. The settlement was found to be richly endowed not only with gold but also with vegetation, enabling the exchange of goods for treasure and allowing the ships to restock on food provisions. ![]() Soon, there were encounters anew with the chieftains and their emissaries. Because of Magellan’s concern for the health of his crew and the need to explore resources of the island, the fleet dropped anchor. On the 28th of March, the expedition landed on the northern part of Limasawa Island. After staying for eight days, in the afternoon of the 25th which was Holy Monday, the ships left the island taking a west to southwest course, sailing amidst Hibusong Island and the settlements of Abuyog, Silago, and Hinungan along the eastern coast of Leyte. Magellan was impressed by their wealth, good nature and friendliness. The first encounter with the native inhabitants, known as Suluanos, happened on the following day. ![]() The day was the 17th of March 1521, the fifth Sunday of Lent, also the feast of St. Seeing it was secure, they dropped anchor in order to repose and take fresh water. The fleet sailed on and reached Homonhon Island. Tending north at first, they then took a southward track to avoid shoals and arrived in Suluan Island at the southern tail of Samar. The chapter begins with Magellan’s ocean-battered ships and starving crew, weary from the seven day voyage from Guam, first saw the east coast of Samar on Saturday, the 16th of March 1521. Editors’ Note: Reprinting with permission Chapter VIII: The World of the Visayas of the book, Magellan: The Armada de Maluco and the European Discovery of the Philippines to commemorate the historical events of March 1521. ![]()
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