Readings in Philippine History

The First Encounter

• The captain-general sent a slave to ask the king if he had food to share, and to inform him that they came in peace.
• The king came to the ship with six or eight men and brought gifts, including porcelain jars, dorado, and other items.
• The captain-general reciprocated with gifts, including a red and yellow garment, a fine red cap, knives, and mirrors.
• The captain-general expressed his desire to be "casicasi" (brother) with the king, and the king agreed.

The Display of Power

• The captain-general showed the king his artillery and had a man demonstrate his armor, frightening the natives.
• He then demonstrated the power of his soldiers, claiming that one of them was worth 100 of the king's men.
• The captain-general showed the king his sea-chart, compass, and other navigation tools, explaining how he had traveled to the island.

The King's Hospitality

• The king took the captain-general and his men under a bamboo covering, where they sat on a balanghai (a long boat).
• The king's men stood around them, armed with swords, daggers, spears, and bucklers.
• The king offered them food and drink, including pork and wine.

The Island's People

• The people of the island wore kerchiefs, gold earrings, and armlets, and carried daggers, knives, and other weapons.
• They were dark, fat, and painted with coconut and beneseed oil for sun protection.
• They wore cloth made from the bark of a tree around their private parts, and some chiefs wore cotton cloth embroidered with silk.

The First Mass

• The first Catholic mass in the Philippines was celebrated on March 31, 1521, but there is controversy over the exact location.
• One account suggests that it was held on Limasawa Island, while another proposes Masau in Butuan city.

The Coconut

• Coconuts are a valuable resource for the islanders, providing food, drink, and oil.
• The coconut is a large fruit with a hard shell, containing a white, marrowy substance that can be eaten fresh or dried.
• The coconut water is sweet and refreshing, and can be boiled to make oil or vinegar.

The Island of Zuluan

• The island is small, with pleasant and easy-to-talk-to natives.
• The island has cloves, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, mace, and gold.
• The captain-general made loud noises with mortars, frightening the natives.

Homonhon Island

• The island was renamed Acquada da li buoni Segnialli by the captain-general due to its clear water.
• The natives found gold on the island and had many trees that produce a fruit similar to almonds.

The Natives' Visit

• The natives returned to the explorers with gifts, including coconuts, oranges, palm-wine, and a cock.
• Their visit indicated that they were happy to see the explorers and had fowls in the district.

Landing and Mass

• The captain landed with 50 men, without armor, and was greeted with six cannon discharges as a sign of peace.
• The two kings embraced the captain, and he sprinkled them with musk water before Mass.
• During Mass, the kings kissed the cross, and at the elevation of the body of Christ, the ships fired all their artillery at once.

The Cross

• The captain wished to set up the cross on the highest mountain, where the kings could see it daily.
• The cross would protect them from all harm and signal to other ships that the captain had been there.

King's Beliefs

• The king said that their only worship is to raise their hands and face toward the sky and call their god "Abba".

The King's Request

• The king wished the captain to see his love for him and asked why there was little food on the island.
• The king said he didn't live on the island except for hunting and visiting his brother, and lived on another island with his entire family.

The King's Enemies

• The king said he had two islands hostile to him, but it was not the correct season to go to war.
• The captain offered to bring men to help the king defeat his enemies by force.