First Voyage Around the World (PDF)

Examining the context and content of First Voyage Around the World by Antonio Pigafetta A Brief Summary of First Voyage Around the World by Antonio Pigafetta Pigafetta is an Italian scholar and explorer from Italy, who organized the Spanish Expeditions to the East Indies from 1519-1522 t...

Examining the context and content of First Voyage Around the World by Antonio Pigafetta A Brief Summary of First Voyage Around the World by Antonio Pigafetta Pigafetta is an Italian scholar and explorer from Italy, who organized the Spanish Expeditions to the East Indies from 1519-1522 to search for western route to the Maluku Islands (the Spice Island) resulting in the first circumnavigation of the Earth, completed by Juan Sebastian Elcano. He traveled with the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew by order of the King Charles 1 of Spain on their Voyage around the world. His travelogue is one of the most important primary sources in the study of pre-colonial Philippines. His account was also a major referent to the events leading to Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines, his encounter with local leaders, his death in the hands of Lapu-lapu’s forces in the Battle of Mactan and in the departure of what was left of Magellan’s fleet from the islands. On March 16, 1521, Antonio Pigafetta wrote his first-hand observation and general impression of the Far East including their Experiences in the Visayas. In Pigafetta’s account, their fleet reached what he called the Ladrones Islands or the “Islands of the Thieves” “These people have no arms, but use sticks, which have a fishbone at the end. They are poor, but ingenious, and great thieves, and for the sake of that we called these three islands the Ladrones Islands”. It is presently known as Marianas Islands. It is located south-southeast of Japan, west-southwest of Hawaii, north of New Guinea, and east of Philippines. Pigafetta reported that they reach the isle of Zamal, now Samar, but Magellan decided to land in another uninhabited island for greater security where they could rest for a few days. After two days, March 18, nine men came to them and show joy and eagerness in seeing them and welcomed them with food, drinks, and gifts. The natives gave them: fish, palm wine (uraca) figs, cochos, and Rice (umai). Pigafetta described what seemed like a coconut. “This palm produces a fruit names cocho, which is large as the head, or thereabouts: its first husk is green, and two fingers in thickness, in its they find certain threads, with which they make the cords for fastening their boats. Under these husks there is another very hard, and thicker than that of a walnut. They burned this second rind, and make with it a powder which is useful to them. Under this rind there is a white marrow of a fingers thickness, which they eat fresh with meat and fish, as we do bread, and it has the taste of almond, and if anyone dried it, he might make bread of it. The natives willingly showed them different islands and the names of this islands. They went to Humunu Island (Homonhon) where they found the first signs of gold in the island. They named the island with the nearby islands as the Archipelago of St. Lazarus and on March 25, they saw two ballangai (balangay). The leader (or king) Raja Siagu, sent his men to the ship of Magellan. The king offered to give Magellan a bar of gold and chest of ginger; Magellan declined. Instead, Magellan asked for money for the needs of his ships. The king responded by giving them the needed provisions and food in chinaware. Magellan exchanged gifts of robes in Turkish fashions, red cap, knives and mirrors. The two men expressed their desire to become brothers. Magellan also boasted of his men in an armor who could not struck with swords and daggers. The king was fascinated and remarked that men in such armor could be worth one hundred of his men. Magellan showed other weapons, helmets and artilleries. He also shared his charts and maps and how they found the islands. Magellan was introduced to the king’s brother who was also king of another island. They went to this island and they saw mines of gold. The gold was abundant that the parts of the ship and the house of the second king were made of gold. Magellan and his men met Raja Calambu, Pigafetta described him as the most handsome of all men that he saw in this place. He was adorned with golden accessories like golden dagger, which he carried with him in a wooden polished sheath. On March 31, 1521 (Easter Sunday), Magellan ordered the chaplain to preside a Mass by the shore. The king sent two dead pigs and attended the Mass with the other king. “…when the offertory of the mass came, the two kings, went to kiss the cross like us, but they offered nothing, and at the elevation of the body of our Lord they were kneeling like us, and adored our Lord with joined hands.” After the Mass, Magellan ordered that the cross be brought with nails and crowned in place. Magellan explained that the cross, the nail, and the crown were the signs of his emperor and that he was ordered to plant it in the places that he would reach and the cross would be beneficial for their people because once the Spaniards saw this cross, then they would know that they had been in this land and would not cause them troubles, and any person who might be held captives by them would be released. April 17, 1521. Magellan and his men reached the port of Cebu, the largest and the richest of the islands with the helped of Raja Calambu. The king of Cebu, Rajah Humabon, demanded that they pay tribute as it was customary but Magellan refused. Magellan said that he was the captain himself and thus would not pay tribute to the other king. Magellan’s interpreter explained to the king of Cebu that Magellan’s king was the emperor of the great empire and that it would do them better to make friends with them than to forge enmity. The king consulted his council and the next day, together with the other principal men of Cebu, they met in an open space and the king offered a bit of his blood demanded that Magellan do the same. “Then the king said that he was content, and as a greater sign of affection he sent him a little of his blood from his right arm, and wish he should do the like. Our people answered that he would do it. Besides that, he said that all the captains who came to his country had been accustomed to make a present to him, and he to them, and therefore they should ask their captain if he would observe the custom. Our people answered that he would: but as the king wished to keep up the custom, let him begin and make a present, and then the captain would do his duty.” Magellan spoke about peace and God. People took pleasure in his speech. Magellan asked the people who would succeed the king after his reign and the people responded that the eldest child of the king, who happened to be a daughter, would be the next in line. Parents were no longer taken into account and has to follow the orders of their children as the new leaders of the land. People wished to become Christians through their free will and not because they were forced or intimidated. April 14, 1521. The people gathered with the king and other principal men of the island. Magellan spoke and encouraged the king to be a good Christian by burning all the idols and worship the cross instead. The king of Cebu was baptized as Christians. “To that the king and all his people answered that thy would obey the commands of the captain and do all that he told them. The captain took the king by the hand, and they walk about on the scaffolding, and when he was baptized, he said that he would name him Don Charles (Carlos), as the emperor his sovereign was named: and he named the prince Don Fernand (Fernando), after the brother of the emperor, and the king of Mazavva Jehan: to the Moor he gave the name of Christopher, and to the others each a name of his fancy.” After eight days, all of the island’s inhabitant were already baptized. Pigafetta admitted that they burned a village down for obeying neither the king nor Magellan. The Mass was conducted by the shore every day. When the queen, Hara Amihan came to the Mass one day, Magellan gave her an Image of the Infant Jesus made by Pigafetta himself. April 26, 1521. Zula, a principal man from the island of Matan (Mactan) went to see Magellan and ask him a boat full of men so that he could fight the chief name Silalapulapu (Lapu-lapu). According to Zula, Lapu-lapu refused to obey the king and was also preventing him from doing so. Magellan offered three boats and went to Mactan himself to fight Lapu-lapu. “When we reached land, we found the islanders fifteen hundred in number, drawn up in three squadrons; they came down upon us with terrible shouts, two squadrons attacking us on the flanks, and the third in front. The captain then divided his men in two bands. Our musketeers and crossbow-men fired for half an hour from a distance, but did nothing, since the bullets and arrows, though they passed through their shields made of thin wood, and perhaps wounded their arms, yet did not stop them. They arrived in Mactan in daylight with 49 in numbers while the islanders of Mactan were estimated to number 1500. The captain shouted not to fire, but he was not listened to. The islanders seeing that the shots of our guns did them little or no harm would not retire, but shouted more loudly, and springing from one side to the other to avoid our shots, they at the same time drew nearer to us, throwing arrows, javelins, spears hardened in fire, stones and even mud, so that we could hardly defend ourselves. Some of them cast lances pointed with iron at the captain-general.” Magellan died in the battle. The natives perceiving that the bodies of the enemies were protected with armors, aimed for their legs instead. Magellan was pierced with a poisoned arrow in his right leg. A few of their men charges at the natives and tried to intimidate them by burning an entire village but this only enraged the natives further. Magellan was specifically targeted because the native knew he was the captain general. Magellan was hit with a lance in the face. Magellan retaliated and pierced the same native with his lance in the breast and tried to draw his sword but could not lift it because of his wounded arms. One native with a great sword delivered a blow in Magellan’s left leg, brought him face down and the natives ceaselessly attacked Magellan with lances, swords and even their bare hands. Thus, overpowering him, several times he turned round towards us to see if we were all in safety, as though his obstinate fight had no other object than to give an opportunity for the retreat of his men. The king of Cebu who was baptized could have sent help but Magellan instructed him not to join the battle and stay in the balangay so that he would see how they fought. The king offered the people of Mactan’s gifts of any value and amount in exchange of Magellan’s body but the chief refused. They wanted to keep Magellan’s body as a momento of their victory. Duarte Barbosa is elected as the new captain. Henry, Magellan’s slave and interpreter betrayed them and told the king of Cebu that they intended to leave as quickly as possible. The slave allegedly told the king that if he followed his advice, the king would acquire the ships and the goods of Magellan’s fleet. The two conspired and betrayed what was left of Magellan’s men. The king invited these men to a gathering where he said he would present the jewels that he would send for the King of Spain. Twenty-four men attended while Pigafetta was not able to joined because he was nursing his battle wounds. The natives had slain all the men except the interpreter and Juan Serrano who was already wounded. The fleet departed and abandoned Serrano. They left Cebu and continued their journey around the world. From the original five ships set to sail (San Antonio, Concepcion, Victoria, Trinidad and Santiago) only Victoria returned to Spain. And from the original 237 men only 18 men survived. Key Notes on the Magellan-Elcano Expedition ⮚ The Magellan expedition made history's first trip around the globe. A Spanish voyage led by Ferdinand Magellan set sail from Seville in 1519 in quest of a sea route through the Americas and across the Pacific Ocean. ⮚ Along with becoming the first to complete a world circumnavigation, the Magellan-Elcano expedition also laid the groundwork for numerous other historical and scientific firsts. It was now possible to finish modern maps of the Earth and confirm the previously unconfirmed size of the ocean separating the Americas from Asia, which Magellan named the "Pacific." The expedition also directly confirmed that the Earth was round, even though this had long since been taken for granted. ⮚ After Magellan was murdered in the Philippines in April 1521, Basque navigator Juan Sebastian Elcano assumed command of the Victoria. The crew endured a lengthy, arduous voyage home during which they were plagued by famine, scurvy, and harassment by Portuguese ships. In September 1522, only Elcano and 21 other travelers made it to Spain and they were the first men to complete a single-empire circumnavigation. Customs of the Tagalog by Juan de Plasencia It is said that our way of life today comes from our early customs, culture and traditions. In this module, Spanish missionaries able to witness our early settlements that focus on the Tagalog region as stated in Juan de Plasencia chronicle. Plasencia belonged to the Franciscan order and came together with the first batch of Franciscan missionaries who arrived in the Philippines on July 2, 1578. He and Fray Diego de Oropresa were assigned to do mission works in Southern Tagalog area. Aside from performing sacerdotal and missionary functions, Plasencia also helped in the foundation and organization of numerous towns in Quezon, Laguna, Rizal and Bulacan. His continuous interaction with the people he converted to Christianity enabled him to write a book entitled Relacion de las Costumbres de Los Tagalos (Customs of the Tagalogs, 1589). It vividly describes the political, social, economic and cultural practices of the Filipinos before they were Christianized. His biggest challenge at that time was how to make the articles of faith comprehensible to people who have never heard of Christ nor the Catholic Church. In 1593, he published the book Doctrina Christiana en Lengua Espanola Y Tagala, the first printed book in the Philippines. He used it as reading material for those Filipinos who wanted to deepen their faith in the newly accepted religion. After several years of converting the natives and teaching catechism, the Franciscan Order honored him with the title "Venerable." Plasencia died in Liliw, Laguna in 1590. Historical Context: Customs of the Tagalog During the first century of Spanish rule, colonial officials had the hard time running local politics because of the limited number of Spaniards who wanted to live outside Intramuros. This situation forced them to allow Filipinos to hold the position of gobernadorcillo. To ensure that they would remain loyal to the Crown, they instructed the friars assigned in the parishes to supervise and monitor the activities of the gobernadorcillo. Hence, the friars ended up performing the administrative duties that colonial officials should have been doing in the local level. They supervised the election of the local executives, helped in the collection of taxes, directly involved in educating the youth and performed other civic duties. As years went by, the friars ended up the most knowledgeable and influential figure in the pueblo. Some duties of friars assigned in mission territories: inform periodically their superiors of what was going on in their respective assignments. report the number of natives they converted, the people’s way of life, their socio-economic situation and the problems they encountered submit short letters while others who were keen observers and gifted writers wrote long dispatches On top of the regular reports they submit, they also shared their personal observations and experiences. Plasencia’s Relacion de las Costumbres de Los Tagalos (Customs of the Tagalog, 1589) is an example of this kind of work. It contains numerous information that historians could use in reconstructing the political and socio-cultural history of the Tagalog region. His work is a primary source because he personally witnessed the events and observations that he discussed in his account. About the Text: Plasencia’s Account on the Customs of the Tagalogs The work of Plasencia is considered by many historians as an example of a friar account. This kind of writing is one of the most common contemporaneous account during the early part of the Spanish period. The original text of Plasencia’s Customs of the Tagalogs is currently kept in Archivo General de Indias in Seville, Spain. There is also a duplicate copy of it in the Archivo Franciscano Ibero-Oriental, in Madrid, Spain. In the Philippines, an English version of it appeared in volume VII of the Blair and Robertson collections. Another English translation of it was published as part of the volume for pre-Hispanic Philippines of the Filipiniana Book Guild series and what will be presented below is from this version. Highlighted Customs of the Tagalogs Governing system lead by Datos a. Governs only few people between 30-100 b. This tribal gathering is called barangay c. They don’t settle far from others. They are not subject to one another, except friendship and relationship d. The chief (datu) helps one another in wars Social Hierarchy: The Caste System There are three status/castes within a barangay: Maharlika, Aliping Namamahay, Aliping sa Guiguilir Maharlika (nobles) - People who are born free. They do not need to pay taxes and must accompany the datos in war. They would keep their status for a lifetime however, this can be taken if he/she marries a slave. In this case, the kids would be divided and they would inherit the status of their mother or father. Aliping Namamahay - They have their own properties but has to serve their own masters. The children belonging to this caste inherit the status of their parents. They cannot be treated as a slave nor can be sold off. Aliping sa Guiguilir - They serve their master in their houses and lands and can be sold off. The master can reward his/her slaves by giving them a portion of the harvest so that the slaves would be faithful to him/her. Witches - As for the witches, they killed them and their children and accomplices became slaves of the chief after he had made some recompense to the injured person. Other offences are punished by fines in gold which not paid with promptness, exposed the culprit to serve until the payment should be made Religion: Worship and Belief ⮚ There were no temples or sacred places in which Filipinos would worship. The word simbahan means a place to worship which is constructed at a large house of the chief where people of the tribe go to celebrate festivals (also known as pandot). ⮚ They beat large and small drums successively during the feast which usually lasted four days. During this, the barangay or family unite to worship which they called nagaanitos. ⮚ Among their many idols, there was named “Bathala”, means signify "all powerful", or “maker of all things", which they worship the most. The Entities that the Tagalogs Worship ⮚ The sun - almost universally respected and honored because of its beauty ⮚ The moon and stars - they would rejoice, especially when full moon. As for the stars, they did not name them except for the morning star, which they called Tala ⮚ The constellations a. Seven little goats - the Pleiades; a star cluster b. Balatik - the Greater Bear constellation c. Mapolon - the change of seasons ⮚ They have many idols named Lic-ha, which comes in many forms. They had another idol called Dian Masalanta, who was the patron of lovers and of the generations. They called Lacapati and Indianale, patron of cultivation of land and husbandry ⮚ Buaya – crocodiles were respected by the Tagalogs due to their fear of being harmed by them; they offered a portion of what they carried in their boats to them Distinctions of Devils According to the Friars ⮚ Catolonan - Priest from a people of rank and officiates the offering sacrifice for a feast and the food to be eaten being offered to the devil ⮚ Mangagauay - They pretend to heal the sick in order to deceive others ⮚ Manyisalat - They can cast remedies to couples for them to abandon one another ⮚ Mancocolam (mangkukulam) - Can emit fire from himself which cannot be extinguished ⮚ Hocloban (hukluban) - Much more powerful than a mangagauay in which they can kill anyone without the use of any medicine. They can also heal those who are ill ⮚ Silagan - if they saw anyone in white, they’ll tear out its liver and eat it, thus causing his death  ⮚ Magtatangal (manananggal) - They would go out at night without their heads and put it back into their bodies before the sun rise ⮚ Osuang (aswang) - Tribesmen reported that they saw the “osuang” who can fly and murdered a man and ate his flesh ⮚ Mangagayoma (gayuma) - They would seduce their partners with charms and other accessories so they can deceive them ⮚ Sonat - This devil helped people to die. They can also know if the soul they helped to die can either be saved or not ⮚ Pangatahojan - They can predict the future ⮚ Bayoguin - These are men who are in the nature of a woman Plasencia’s referred to certain devilish beliefs such as the mangagauay and mangagayoma. He regarded them both as “witches” who performed deceitful healing procedures, a judgment made by an outsider who knew nothing about the complexity of indigenous psyche. What he failed to realize is that in traditional cultures, these so-called “evil” practices were an integral part of Filipino folk beliefs. ⮚ Superstitions. They find omens in events they witness (i.e., when someone sneezed, met on their way a rat or serpent, or the Tigmamanuguin bird sang they would go home in fear that evil would befall them if they continued their journey). The Tigmamanuguin bird’s (a blue bird as large as a turtle-dove) song had two forms: a good omen, and a bad omen. ⮚ Burying the Dead. In burying the dead, the corpse would be placed beside its house and be mourned at for 4 days. It will then be laid on a boat which serves as a coffin which is guarded by a slave. The grief of the relatives of the deceased is followed by eating and drinking. Contribution and Relevance of the Document in Understanding the Grand Narrative of Philippine History a. Plasencia’s account about customs of the Tagalogs is a very popular primary source because it vividly described the situation of the Philippines before it was tainted with Spanish and Christian influences. Scholars read his accounts because it covered numerous topics that are relevant in many disciplines. b. Political scientists for instance find it useful because it contains a lot of information about the social classes, political stratifications and legal system of the Tagalog region. Many of what we know about the duties and responsibilities of the datu, maharlika and alipin came from Plasencia’s account. c. Moreover, it also talks about property rights, marriage rituals, burial practices and the manner in which justice is dispensed. Plasencia also preserved and popularized the unwritten customs, traditions, religious and superstitious beliefs of the Filipinos. One can also say that our historical knowledge about the manananggal, aswang, hukluban, gayuma, etc. came from Plasencia’s works. d. Priests and missionaries also read Plasencia’s Customs of the Tagalogs and Doctrina Christiana because they get a lot of insights that help and inspire them to become effective evangelizers. One insight they got from Plasencia is the realization that one needs to master the local language and study the culture of the people if you want to be a successful missionary. e. Plasencia’s historical writings also disprove the claim of some Spaniards that when they arrived in the Philippines, Filipinos were still uncivilized and lacking in culture. It is clear in the excerpts quoted above that at the time Plasencia was assigned in the Tagalog region Filipinos were already politically and economically organized. They have a functioning government, tax system, set of laws, criminal justice system, indigenous calendar and longstanding customs and traditions. f. Moreover, they have already a concept of supreme being (Bathala), practiced burial customs and believed in life after death. Lastly, Plasencia also mentioned that the people he met were wearing garments, gold ornaments and their houses were decorated with idols. All of these lead to the conclusion that prior to the coming of the Spaniards, Filipinos were already civilized and maintained a lifestyle that was at par or even better than other countries in Southeast Asia. Author’s Background: Who is Emilio Jacinto Emilio Jacinto penned The Kartilya ng Katipunan in 1892. A brilliant and courageous young man recognized as the heart and mind of the Katipunan, Emilio Jacinto was known for both. He used the alias "Dimas-ilaw." Mariano Jacinto and Josefa Dizon welcomed him into the world on December 15, 1875 in Manila. He was the author of Kalayaan, the society newspaper. Jacinto contributed to directing the struggle for the independence of the Philippines from Spain throughout his brief life. He outlined the fundamentals of the new Bonifacio-envisioned administration. He had a decent education and spoke Tagalog and Spanish well. He managed the Katipunan's funds and acted as its spokesperson. Jacinto rose to the rank of general in the organization's guerilla army and actively participated in the conflict with the Spanish close to Manila. In Magdalena, Laguna, Emilio Jacinto lived and fought against the Spanish. In February 1898, he was severely hurt during a skirmish at the Maimpis River, but he sought safety in the Santa Maria Magdalena Parish Church, which now has a memorial commemorating the incident. Malaria claimed his life on April 16, 1899. Emilio Jacinto, the general, was only 24 years old. Historical Background of the Document ⮚ The Kartilya ng Katipunan was supposedly named as Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Z.LI.B. also known as “Duties of the sons of the People.” The original version of the document has 14 paragraphs that contains the values that a Katipunero should have. Each paragraph contained unique discussion of the different aspects of a person’s life. ⮚ Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Z.LI.B. Andres Bonifacio, a founding member of La Liga Filipina, penned Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Z.LL.B.: it is in Katipunan code: standing for “A. ng B.”, the capital letters mean Anak ng Bayan, Children of the Nation or as some historians translate: “sons of the people.” ⮚ Andres Bonifacio first wrote “Duties of the Sons of the People” which were strictly followed by the members of the Katipunan. This Decalogue showed the beliefs of Bonifacio. Later on, Bonifacio adapted Emilio Jacinto’s Kartilya ng Katipunan as the official teaching of the Katipunan. The difference between Bonifacio’s Decalogue and Kartilya ng Katipunan is Kartilya ng Katipunan is much longer and philosophical which showed concepts of virtuous living as lessons for self-reflection. ⮚ Kartilya ng Katipunan was not only a leading for the members of the Katipunan but it embodied moral and nationalistic principle for all Filipinos. It can also be noted that this document shows about philosophy in life, exhibiting human greatness within, to appreciate the authenticity of local traditions, spiritual beliefs, family idea and cultural diversity, a collection of the Katipunan’s ideas and principles and its significance, and to bear in the minds of the members that they are their own people, Filipinos, uniting for the betterment of their country. ⮚ Katipunan (KKK) is an organization with the goal of liberating from the Spaniards. It also aimed to teach Filipinos good manners, cleanliness, fine morals, and to encourage the people to help themselves and defend the oppressed. The order for those who want to join the  association shall have the full understanding and knowledge of its guiding principles and main teachings so that they may perform their duties wholeheartedly. Applicants who are merely there to know the secrets of the Katipunan, seek personal gratification, sell the association handful of silver, cannot proceed, seek financial support relief should not proceed. Katipuneros have weighty tasks that is why it is important that those who will join will have sense of responsibility and are ready to fight in order to protect the association and the Filipinos. The Katipunan as an Association The punctual payment of dues is required: one-peso upon entry and then twelve and a half-centimos each month. The custodian of the funds will periodically render an account to the members, and each member has a right to examine the accounts, should he so wish. The Katipunan emphasized the fourteen (14) rules which the members need to live by: 1. A life that is not dedicated to a noble and divine cause is like a tree without a shade, if not, a poisonous weed. 2. A deed that is carried out for self-interest and is without sincerity lacks nobility. 3. True piety is the act of being charitable, loving one's fellowmen, and being judicious in behavior, speech and deed. 4. We are all equal, regardless of the color of their skin; while one could have more education, wealth or beauty than the other, none of them can overpass one's identity. 5. A person with a noble character values honor above self-interest, while a person with a base character values self-interest above honor. 6. To a man with a sense of shame, his word is inviolate. 7. Do not waste your time; lost wealth can be retrieved, but time lost is lost forever. 8. Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor. 9. A wise man is someone who is careful in all that he says; learn to keep the things that need to be kept secret. 10. In the thorny path of life, the man leads the way and his wife and children follow; If the leader goes the way of evil, so do the followers. 11. Never regard a woman as an object for you to trifle with; rather you should consider her as a partner and a friend in times of need; give proper considerations to a woman’s frailty and never forget that your own mother, who brought you forth and nurtured you from infancy, is herself such a person. 12. Do not make to the wife, children and brothers and sisters of others what you do not want others to make to your wife, children and brothers and sisters. 13. Worth is not measured by one’s status in life, neither by the length of nose nor the fairness of skin, and certainly not by whether he is a priest claiming to be God’s deputy. Even if he is a tribesman/tribeswoman from the hills and speaks only his/her own tongue, one is honorable if he/she possesses a good character, is true to his/her word, has fine perceptions and is loyal to his/her native land. 14. When these teachings shall have been propagated and the glorious sun of freedom begins to shine on these poor islands to enlighten a united race and people, then all the loves lost, all the struggle and sacrifices shall not have been in vain.