1) Tabon Man is the name given to the earliest known human remains found in the Philippines, which were discovered in Tabon Cave on Palawan Island. 2) The bones date back around 22,000-24,000 years and represent at least three individuals. 3) Analysis shows Tabon Man was above average size compared to modern Filipinos, and there is no evidence they were less intelligent. 4) Further excavation and analysis of remains from Tabon Cave can provide more data about the exact age and characteristics of Tabon Man.
1) Tabon Man is the name given to the earliest known human remains found in the Philippines, which were discovered in Tabon Cave on Palawan Island. 2) The bones date back around 22,000-24,000 years and represent at least three individuals. 3) Analysis shows Tabon Man was above average size compared to modern Filipinos, and there is no evidence they were less intelligent. 4) Further excavation and analysis of remains from Tabon Cave can provide more data about the exact age and characteristics of Tabon Man.
1) Tabon Man is the name given to the earliest known human remains found in the Philippines, which were discovered in Tabon Cave on Palawan Island. 2) The bones date back around 22,000-24,000 years and represent at least three individuals. 3) Analysis shows Tabon Man was above average size compared to modern Filipinos, and there is no evidence they were less intelligent. 4) Further excavation and analysis of remains from Tabon Cave can provide more data about the exact age and characteristics of Tabon Man.
1) Tabon Man is the name given to the earliest known human remains found in the Philippines, which were discovered in Tabon Cave on Palawan Island. 2) The bones date back around 22,000-24,000 years and represent at least three individuals. 3) Analysis shows Tabon Man was above average size compared to modern Filipinos, and there is no evidence they were less intelligent. 4) Further excavation and analysis of remains from Tabon Cave can provide more data about the exact age and characteristics of Tabon Man.
Lesson 1 letters, legal documents, official documents (government or
LEARNING HISTORY private), and even photographs.
Formally, there are eight examples of these primary What is History? sources: To make sense of history, it is necessary to first 1. Photographs that may reflect social conditions of understand what it is all about. Many people think that history is historical realities and everyday life merely lists of names, dates, places, and "important" events. 2. Old sketches and drawings that may indicate the However, history or the study of history is more than just conditions of life of societies in the past knowing and memorizing facts. 3. Old maps that may reveal how space and geography It is a historian's duty to draw insights from the ideas were used to emphasize trade routes, structural build- and realities that have shaped the lives of men and women and up, etc. the society. And in understanding these ideas, a historian (or, in 4. Cartoons for political expression or propaganda fact, a student of history) can comprehend how situations 5. Material evidence of the prehistoric past like cave happened, identify their elements, and think of how these drawings, old syllabaries, and ancient writings situations can solve today's predicaments and help plan for the 6. Statistical tables, graphs, and charts future. 7. Oral history or recordings by electronic means of The study of history, therefore, is the study of the accounts of eyewitnesses or participants; the beliefs and desires, practices, and institutions of human beings. recordings are then transcribed and used for research. With this definition, history becomes an active factor in 8. Published and unpublished primary documents, the study of Philippine society. It also includes a look into the eyewitness accounts, and other written sources development of Philippine culture through time especially with the influences of the colonial period that would eventually shape Secondary Sources the present Philippine identity. Gottschalk simply defines secondary sources as "the testimony of anyone who is not an eyewitness-that is of one who Why Study History? was not present at the event of which he tells" (p. 53). These are An examination of the past can tell us a great deal books, articles, and scholarly journals that had interpreted about how we came to be who we are. It means looking at the primary sources or had used them to discuss certain subjects of roots of modern institutions, ideas, values, and problems. history. Looking at the past teaches us to see the world through different eyes-appreciating the diversity of human perceptions, beliefs, The following readings discuss the findings on the remains of and cultures. Different and/or new perspectives will enable us to what was then considered the earliest known human remains in analyze critically the present contexts of society and beings. the Philippines-Tabon Man. Robert B. Fox. The Tabon Caves: Archaeological The Meaning of "History" Explorations and Excavations on Palawan Island, Excerpts from Understanding History: A Primer of Philippines (Manila, 1970) p. 40. Historical Method by Louis Gottschalk (1950, New York: Knopf, p. 17) The English word history is derived from the Greek noun Tabon Man - During the initial excavations of istoia, meaning learning. As used by the Greek philosopher Tabon Cave, June and July, 1962, the scattered fossil Aristotle, history meant a systematic account of a set of natural bones of at least three individuals were excavated, phenomena, whether or not chronological factoring was a factor including a large fragment of a frontal bone with the brows in the account.... In the course of time, however, the equivalent and portions of the nasal bones. These fossil bones were Latin word scientia (English, science) came to be used more recovered towards the rear of the cave along the left wall. regularly to designate non-chronological systematic accounts of Unfortunately, the area in which the human fossil bones natural phenomena; and the word history was reserved usually were discovered had been disturbed by Magapode birds. It for accounts of phenomena (especially human affairs) in was not possible in 1962 to establish the association of chronological order. these bones with a specific flake assemblage. Although By its most common definition, the word history now they were provisionally related to either Flake Assemblage means, "the past of mankind.".... II or III, subsequent excavations in the same area now strongly suggest that the fossil human bones were associated with Flake Assemblage III for only the flakes of Lesson 2 this assemblage have been found to date in this area of the UNDERSTANDING SOURCES cave. The available data would suggest that Tabon Man may be dated from 22,000 to 24,000 years ago. But, only What are Sources? further excavations in the cave and chemical analysis of In his work, Understanding History, Gottschalk (1950) human and animal bones from disturbed and undisturbed discusses the importance of sources for the historian's work: levels in the cave will define the exact age of the human fossils. The historian, however, has to use many The fossil bones are those of Homo sapiens. These will materials that are not in books. Where these are form a separate study by a specialist which will be included in archeological, epigraphical, or numismatical materials, the final site report for Tabon Cave. It is important, however, he has to depend largely on museums. Where there because of a recent publication (Scott, 1969), that a preliminary are official records, he may have to search for them in study of the fossil bones of Tabon Man shows that it is above archives, courthouses, government libraries, etc. average in skull dimensions when compared to the modern Where there are private papers not available in official Filipino. There is no evidence that Tabon Man was less brainy collections, he may have to hunt among the papers of individual..." [Scott (1969) 36]. Moreover, Scott's study includes business houses, the muniment rooms of ancient many misstatements about the Tabon Caves, always the castles, the prized possessions of autograph problem when writers work from (C a "conversations." collectors, the records of parish churches, etc. Having some subject in mind, with more or less definite William Henry Scott. Prehispanic Source Materials for delimitation of the persons, areas, times, and functions the Study of Philippine History (Revised Edition) (i.e., the economic, political, intellectual, diplomatic, or (Quezon City, 1984), pp. 14-15. other occupational aspects) involved, he looks for materials that may have some bearing upon those Tabon Man The earliest human skull remains persons in that area at the time they function in that known in the Philippines are the fossilized fragments of a fashion. These materials are his sources. The more skull and jawbone of three individuals who are collectively precise his delimitation of persons, area, time, and called "Tabon Man" after the place where they were found function, the more relevant his sources are likely to be. on the west coast of Palawan. Tabon Cave appears to be a (52-53) kind of little Stone Age factory: both finished tools and waste cores and flakes have been found at four different levels in It is from historical sources that our history is studied the main chamber. Charcoal left from cooking fires has and written. But in analyzing them, several methodologies and been recovered from three of these assemblages and dated theories were used by historians to properly study history and by C-14 to roughly 7,000 B.C., glean from the sources what is, for them, a proper way of writing 20,000 B.C., and 28,000 B.C. with an earlier level lying so far history to enhance and disseminate national identity. below these that it must represent Upper Pleistocene dates like 45 or 50 thousand years ago....Physical anthropologists who Primary Sources have examined the Tabon skullcap are agreed that it belonged Primary sources are materials produced by people or to modern man-that is, Homo sapiens as distinguished from groups directly involved in the event or topic being studied. those mid-Pleistocene species nowadays called Homo erectus. These people are either participants or eyewitnesses to the Two experts have given the further opinion that the mandible is event. These sources range from eyewitness accounts, diaries, "Australian" in physical type, and that the skullcap measurements are mostly nearly like those of Ainus and Islands that would not violate Spain's treaty with Portugal. Along Tasmanians. What this basically means is that Tabon Man was the way, the expedition suffered natural and man-made "pre-Mongoloid," Mongoloid being the term anthropologists challenges and out of the five ships that left Spain only three apply to the racial stock which entered Southeast Asia during reached the Philippines. The first couple of weeks of their stay the Holocene and absorbed earlier peoples to produce the in the Philippines were marked with hospitality and cordial modern Malay, Indonesian, Filipino, and Pacific peoples exchanges of goods. The local inhabitants traded with them and popularly-and unscientifically-called, "the brown race.' Tabon some were even converted to Christianity. Lapu-lapu, the Man presumably belonged to one of those earlier peoples, but, chieftain of Mactan, refused to trade with the Spaniards and if decently clothed in flesh, T-shirt, and blue jeans, might pass when Magellan learned this, he waged war with him. Despite unnoticed in Quiapo today, whatever his facial features are their superiority in term of arms and training, the Spaniards lost concerned, nothing can be said about the color of his skin or the battle and one of the casualties was Magellan himself. When hair, or the shape of his nose or eyes-except one thing: Tabon the survivors returned to Cebu, they were also treacherously Man was not a Negrito. attacked by their former allies. This prompted them to leave the island. By that time, their number was just enough to man two UNIT 2 ships, the Victoria (now under the command of Juan Sebastian UNDERSTANDING PERSPECTIVE Elcano) and the Trinidad. The expedition finally reached the Historical sources are written by various authors with Spice Islands and managed to purchase a large amount of different perspectives. Perspective refers to the point of view of spices before leaving. Unfortunately, the Trinidad and her crew the said writer who was a witness to the event. Though historical were captured by the Portuguese on their journey back. sources are important in the writing of history, the historian is On September 7, 1522, Elcano and 17 survivors careful in using these sources as the writer may be biased or arrived in Spain aboard the ship Victoria. One of them was prejudiced on the subject he/she is discussing. For example, Antonio Pigafetta, the assistant of Magellan who kept a journal missionary chronicles or narratives that were written by the that became the main source of what we know about the first religious missionaries who came to the Philippines to spread encounter of the Spaniards and the Filipinos. Christianity in the islands usually referred to the early Filipinos as barbarians or uncivilized. This, of course, is not true as it is About the Author known that Filipinos already had a form of civilization and had Antonio Pigafetta (1491-c.1534), born around 1490 in contact with Asian neighbors before the Spaniards arrived. the town of Vicenza, Venice, Italy, was the eldest-son of Different participants who also wrote their accounts can Giovanni Pigafetta to second wife Angela Zoga. He studied also give varied opinions and statements about a single event. astronomy, geography, and cartography and during his younger For example, the Philippine Revolution of 1896 can be read from years worked in the ships owned by the Knights of Rhodes. the point of view of the Filipinos and from the side of the His biographers described him as a well-educated Spaniards. The same event can be viewed from the lens of young man possessing an avid curiosity of the world around him. foreigners who were in the Philippines at that time and were just He joined the delegation of Monsignor Francesco Chieregati passive observers. In any case, reading a historical event from when the latter was assigned as Papal Nuncio to Spain in 1519. the points of view of all sides will enable us to form our own It was during this time when Pigafetta became acquainted with studies about the said event. the lucrative spice trade and heard the news of the voyage to be undertaken by Ferdinand Magellan. After getting the approval of Lesson 3 the Spanish sovereign, he left Barcelona and went to Seville. He MAGELLAN'S VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD presented his credentials to Magellan and to the Casa de la Contratacion, the office in charge of voyages to the New World. Historical Context He was admitted as one of the sobresalientes One of the benefits that the Europeans gained from the (supernumeraries), or men coming from prominent families who Crusades was the discovery of some products that were not will join the trip for the love of adventure and for the available in their home country. These included porcelain, silk, advancement of military service. Pigafetta survived the incense, herbs, perfumes, fabrics, carpets, spices, and other challenges and catastrophes that the expedition encountered oriental products. Of all these Asian products, spices became along the way, including being wounded in the Battle of Mactan. the most expensive and in-demand commodity among He was among the 18 survivors who returned to Spain on Europeans because of their numerous uses such as food September 6, 1522 aboard the Victoria with Juan Sebastian preservation, flavor enhancement, and even medicine. Since Elcano. spices were a very lucrative commodity, many merchants From Seville, Pigafetta reported to his Majesty King aspired to monopolize their supply and distribution in the Carlos V and gave him a handwritten account of what happened European markets. to them during the journey before returning to his native Italy. Asian goods reached Europe either via the Silk Road Very little is known as to what happened to him during the latter or the Arabian-Italian trade route. Both routes were expensive part of his life except on some accounts that he joined the and oftentimes disrupted by wars, natural calamities, and Knights of St. John of Jerusalem in its battle against the Turks. bandits. The closing of the land route of the Spice Trade with the He died sometime in 1534. conquest by the Ottoman Empire of Constantinople (present- day Turkey and the "gateway to the West" then) in 1453 forced About the Book European kingdoms to look for ways to purchase spices directly Pigafetta kept a detailed journal of what happened to from the source. They decided to explore the oceans to look for them from the time they left Seville in 1519 until they returned to a way to the famed Spice Islands. Spain three years after. When he returned to Italy, many of his Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal put up a associates asked him to write a formal account of the Magellan maritime school that trained sailors who would later discover an expedition and have it published. He followed their advice and, eastern sea route going to the Spice Islands (the modern-day after doing it, he presented his draft to Pope Clement VII, Moluccas Islands) and other islands in Southeast Asia via the Philippe de Villiers L'Isle-Adam (grandmaster of the Knights of Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. This route enabled them Rhodes) and to Louis of Savoy (mother of King Francis I of to trade directly with the producers of spices and other Oriental France), hoping that they would help him finance its publication. goods. The numerous economic benefits it gave to Portugal Unfortunately, he was unable to find a financier who would pay made other monarchs envious and prompted them to search for the deposit required by the printer because by that time, the a new trade route to Asia. This led to the discovery of many accounts of Maximilianus Transylvanus and Peter Martyr were territories previously unknown to the Europeans, though already out and interest on Magellan expedition had died down. inhabited already and known to other races. Sometime in 1536, a condensed version of his manuscript was The marriage of Queen Isabella of Castile and King. published in Venice by Jacques Fabre. Ferdinand II of Aragon (1469) coupled with the victory of the The original journal of Pigafetta did not survive time. Catholic monarchs over the Moors in the Battle of Granada What was handed down to us are copies of the manuscript that (1492) resulted in the rise of Spain as a world power. With the were never printed in his lifetime. Three of them were in French domestic problems already under control, Spain started to and two are kept in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. The third explore their economic options outside the Iberian Peninsula. one was originally owned by British collector Sir Thomas Inspired by the success of Portugal, they aspired to have a fair Phillipps. Later, Beinecke Rare Book bought it and it is now kept share in the spice trade. They financed the trans-Atlantic in the Manuscript Library of Yale University in New Haven. The voyages of Christopher Columbus (1492 to 1502) which resulted fourth copy was written in mixed Italian, Spanish, and Venetian in the discovery of the territories on the other side of the Atlantic languages and could be found in the Ambrosian Library in Milan. Ocean. Decades later, the Spanish monarch also supported the In 1800, Carlo Amoretti published an Italian version and the plan of Ferdinand Magellan to go to the East by sailing following year a French version came out in Paris. An English westward, a proposal that Portugal refused to finance. version was published in 1819. James Alexander Robertson The Magellan-Elcano expedition left the port of made his own English version of the Ambrosian copy and it Sanlucar de Barrameda in Seville on August 20, 1519 with appeared in The Philippine Islands opus (Volume 33) as well as around 270 men of different nationalities. One of its main in a separate edition. objectives was to search for a new maritime path to the Spice Of the four known primary sources that dealt with the wine]; for if they did otherwise, the trees would dry up. They last Magellan expedition, Pigafetta's account is the longest and most a century. comprehensive. It recounted the individual fates of the five ships Those people became very familiar with us. They told (Trinidad, San Antonio, Concepción, Santiago, and Victoria) that us many things, their names and those of some of the islands comprised the Magellan expedition. It narrated lucidly how they that could be seen from that place. Their own island was called gallantly survived the unforeseen problems and challenges, Zuluan and it is not very large. We took great pleasure with them, such as shortage of food, various types of diseases, the crew's for they were very pleasant and conversable. In order to show lack of confidence in Magellan's leadership, and the hostile them greater honor, the captain-general took them to his ship attitude of the people they encountered during the journey. and showed them all his merchandise-cloves, cinnamon, Pigafetta's account also included maps, glossaries of native pepper, ginger, nutmeg, mace, gold, and all the things in the words, and geographic information and descriptions of the flora ship. He had some mortars fired for them, whereat they and fauna of the places they visited. exhibited great fear, and tried to jump out of the ship. They made Pigafetta's travelogue contributed immensely to the signs to us that the abovesaid articles grew in that place where enrichment of Philippine historiography. His writing provided us we were going. When they were about to retire they took their a glimpse of the political, economic, and social conditions of the leave very gracefully and neatly, saying that they would return islands in the Visayan region during the 16th century. He according to their promise. The island where we were is called described vividly the physical appearance, social life, religious Humunu [Homonhon]; but inasmuch as we found two springs beliefs, and cultural practices of the people they encountered in there of the clearest water, we called it Acquada da li buoni the islands of Samar, Leyte, and Cebu. His account also Segnialli (i.e., "the Watering-place of good Signs"), for there contains data about the economic activities of the local folks and were the first signs of gold which we found in those districts. We the goods they offered for trade. He got all this information found a great quantity of white coral there, and large trees with through the help of Magellan's slave/interpreter, Enrique de fruit a trifle smaller than the almond and resembling pine seeds. Malacca. Pigafetta likewise gave us an eyewitness account of There are also many palms, some of them good and others bad. the death of Magellan in the Battle of Mactan. There are many islands in that district, and therefore we called The report of Pigafetta is quite long and is not them the archipelago of San Lazaro, as they were discovered presented here in its entirety. The excerpts are limited to the on the Sabbath (Sunday] of St. Lazarus. They lie in x degrees of narration of what happened to the expedition upon reaching the latitude toward the Arctic Pole, and in a longitude of one hundred Philippines-from the time they landed on Homonhon up to the and sixty-one degrees from the line of demarcation. Battle of Mactan. Since Pigafetta and Enrique de Malacca were At noon on Friday, March 22, those men came as they not natives of the Visayan region, there were inaccuracies in the had promised us in two boats with cocoanuts, sweet oranges, a information about and the spelling of the names of places they jar of palm-wine and a cock, in order to show us that there were visited. Thus, the correct equivalent and translation are provided fowls in that district. They exhibited great signs of pleasure at in this book to make the excerpts understandable to seeing us. We purchased all those articles from them. Their contemporary students. seignior was an old man who was painted [i.e., tattooed]. He wore two gold earrings [schione] in his ears, and the others Excerpts from Magellan's Voyage Around the World many gold armlets on their arms and kerchiefs about [on] their At dawn on Saturday, March sixteen, 1521, we came heads. We stayed there one week, and during that time our upon a high land at a distance of three hundred leagues from captain went ashore daily to visit the sick, and every morning the islands of Latroni-an island named Zamal [i.e., Samar]. The gave them cocoanut water from his own hand, which comforted following day, the captain-general desired to land on another them greatly. There are people living near the island who have island which was uninhabited and lay to the right side of the holes [earrings] in their ears so large that they can pass their above-mentioned island, in order to be more secure, and to get arms through them. Those people are caphri, that is to say, water and have some rest. He had two tents set up on the shore heathen. They go naked, with a soft cloth woven from the bark for the sick and had a sow killed for them. On Monday afternoon, of a tree about their privies, except some of the chiefs who wear March 18, we saw a boat coming toward us with nine men in it. cotton cloth embroidered with silk at the ends by means of a Therefore, the captain-general ordered that no one should move needle. They are dark, fat, and painted. They anoint themselves or say a word without his permission. When those men reached with cocoanut and with beneseed oil, as a protection against the the shore, their chief went immediately to the captain-general... sun and wind. They have very black hair that falls to the waist, seeing that they were reasonable men, ordered food to be set and use daggers, knives, and spears ornamented with gold, before them, and gave them red caps, mirrors, combs, bells, large shields, fascines, javelins, and fishing nets that resemble ivory, bocasine, and other things. When they saw the captain's rizali [a fine thickly woven net used for fishing]; and their boats courtesy, they presented fish, a jar of palm wine which they call are [just] like ours. uraca [i.e., arrack], figs more than one palmo long [i.e., bananas], and others which were smaller and more delicate, and Next day, holy Friday, the captain-general sent his two cocoanuts [coconuts]. They had nothing else then...but rice, slave, who acted as our interpreter, ashore in a small boat to ask and cocoanuts and many articles of food within four days. the king if he had any food to have it carried to the ships; and to Cocoanuts are the fruit of the palm tree. Just as we say that they would be well satisfied with us, for he [and his men] have bread, wine, oil, and vinegar, so those people get had come to the island as friends and not as enemies. The king everything from that tree. They get wine in the following manner. came with six or eight men in the same boat and entered the They bore a hole into the heart of the said palm at the top called ship. He embraced the captain-general to whom he gave three palmito [i.e. stalk], from which distils a liquor which resembles porcelain jars covered with leaves and full of raw rice, two very white must [mist]. That liquor is sweet but somewhat tart, and [is large orade [dorado] and other things. The captain-general gave gathered] in canes [of bamboo] as thick as the leg and thicker. the king a garment of red and yellow cloth made in the Turkish They fasten the bamboo to the tree at evening for the morning, fashion, and a fine red cap; and to the others (the king's men), and in the morning for the evening. That palm bears a fruit, to some knives and to others mirrors. Then the captain-general namely the cocoanut, which is as large as the head or had a collation spread for them, and had the king told through thereabouts. Its outside husk is green and thicker than two the slave that he desired to be casi casi with him, that is to say, fingers. Certain filaments are found in the husk, whence is made brother. The king replied that he also wished enter the same cord for binding together their boats. Under that husk there is a relations with the captain-general. Then the captain showed him hard shell, much thicker than the shell of the walnut, which they cloth of various colors, linen, coral [ornaments], and many other burn and make therefrom a powder that is useful to them. Under articles of merchandise, and all the artillery, some discharged that shell there is a white marrowy substance one finger in for him, whereat the natives were of which he had greatly thickness, which they eat fresh with meat and fish as we do [with] frightened. bread; and it has a taste resembling the almond. It could be dried and made into bread. There is a clear, sweet water in the middle Pieces of gold, of the size of walnuts and eggs, are by of the marrowy substance which is very refreshing. When that sifting the earth in the island of that king who came I led] to our water stands for a while after having been collected, it congeals ships. All the dishes of that king are of gold and also some and becomes like an apple. When the natives wish to make oil, portion of his house, as we were told by that king himself. they take that cocoanut, and allow the marrowy substance to According to their customs he was grandly decked out [molto in putrefy. Then they boil it and it becomes oil like butter. When ordine], and the finest looking man that we saw among those they wish to make vinegar, they allow only the water to putrefy, people. His hair was exceedingly black, and hung to his and then place it in the sun, and a vinegar results like [that made shoulders. He had a covering of silk on his head, and wore two from] white wine. Milk can also be made from it, for we made large golden earrings fastened in [to] his ears. He wore a cotton some. We scraped that marrowy substance and then mixed the cloth all embroidered with silk, which covered him from the waist scrapings with its own water which we strained through a cloth, to the knees. At his side hung a dagger, the haft of which was and so [we] obtained milk like goat's milk. Those palms resemble somewhat long and all of gold, and its scabbard of carved wood. date-palms, but although not smooth they are less knotty than He had three spots of gold on every tooth, and his teeth the latter. A family of x [10] persons can be supported two trees, appeared as if bound with gold. He was perfumed with storax by utilizing them week about for the wine [by utilizing one of them and benzoin. He was tawny and painted [i.e., tattooed] all over. during one week and the other during the other 8 days for the That island of his was called Butuan and Calagan [Caraga]. When those kings wished to see one another, they both went to to act as our pilot himself. The captain sent him some men, but hunt in that island where we were. The name of the first king is the kings ate and drank so much that they slept all the day. Raia Colambu, the second Raia Siaui. Some said to excuse them that they were slightly sick. Our men Early on [in] the morning of Sunday, the last of March did nothing on that day, but they worked the next two days. and Easter-day, the captain-general sent the priest with some men to prepare the place where the Mass was to be said; Those people were heathens, and go naked and together with the interpreter to tell the king that we were not painted. They wear a piece of cloth woven from a tree about their going to land in order to dine with him, but to say mass. privies. They are heavy drinkers. Their women are clad in tree Therefore the king sent us two swine that he had had killed. cloth from their waist down, and their hair is black and reaches When the hour for mass [had] arrived, we landed with about fifty to the ground. They have holes pierced in their ears which are men, without our body armor, but carrying our other arms, and filled with gold. dressed in our best clothes. Before we reached the shore with These people are constantly chewing a fruit which they call our boats, six pieces were discharged as a sign of peace. We areca, and resembles a pear. They cut that fruit into four parts, landed; the two kings embraced the captain-general, and placed and then wrap it in the leaves of their tree which they call betre him between them. We went in marching order to the place [i.e., betel]. Those leaves resemble the leaves of the mulberry. consecrated, which was not far from shore. Before the They mix it with a little lime, and when they have chewed it commencement of [the] mass, the captain sprinkled the entire thoroughly, they spit it out. It makes the mouth exceedingly red. bodies of the two kings with musk water. The mass was offered All the people in those parts of the world use it, for it is very up [During the Mass, we made our offerings]. The kings went cooling to the heart, and if they ceased to use it they would die. forward to kiss the cross as we did, but made no offerings. When There are dogs, cats, swine, fowls, goats, rice, ginger, the body of our Lord was elevated, they remained on their knees cocoanuts, figs [i.e., bananas], oranges, lemons, millet, and worshipped Him with clasped hands. The ships fired all their pancium, sorgo, wax, and a quantity of gold in that island. It lies artillery at once when the body of Christ was elevated, the signal in a latitude of nine and two-thirds degrees toward the Arctic having been given from the shore with muskets. After the Pole, and in a longitude of one hundred and sixty-two degrees conclusion of Mass, some of our men took communion....Then from the line of demarcation. It is twenty-five [leagues] from the he [they] had a cross carried in and the nails and a crown, to Acquada, and is called Mazaua [Limasawa]. which immediate reverence was made [to which they made We remained there seven days, after which we laid our immediate reverence]. He told the kings through the interpreter course toward the northwest, passing among five islands, that they were the standards given to him by the emperor his namely Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baybai, and Gatighan. In the sovereign, so that wherever he might he might set up those last-named island of Gatighan, there are bats as large as eagles. tokens. [He said] that he wished to set it up in that place for their As it was late we killed one of them, which resembled chicken in benefit, for whenever any of our ships came, they would know taste. There are doves, turtle-doves, parrots, and certain black that we had been there by that cross, and would do nothing to birds as large as domestic chickens, which have a long tail. The displease them or harm their property [property: doublet in last-mentioned birds lay eggs as large as the goose, and bury original MS.]. If any of their men were captured, they would be them under the sand, through the great heat of which they set free immediately on that sign being shown. It was necessary hatched out. When the chicks are born, they push up the sand, to set that cross on the summit of the highest mountain, so that and come out. Those eggs are good to eat. There is a distance on seeing it every morning, they might adore it; and if they did of twenty leguas [leagues] from Mazaua to Gatighan. We set out that, neither thunder, lightning, nor storms would harm them in westward from Gatighan, but the king of Mazaua could not follow the least. They thanked him heartily and [said] that they would us [closely]; and consequently, we awaited him near three do everything willingly. The captain-general also asked them islands; namely Polo [Poro], Ticobon [Pasijan], and Pozon whether they were Moros [Muslims] or heathen, or what was [Pason]. When he caught up with us he was greatly astonished their belief. They replied that they worshiped nothing [had no at the rapidity with which we sailed. The captain-general had him other worship] but that they raised their clasped hands and their come into his ship with several of his chiefs at which they were face to the sky, and that they called their god "Abba." Thereat pleased. Thus did we go to Zubu from Gatighan, the distance to the captain was very glad, and seeing that, the first king raised Zubu being fifteen leguas. his hands to the sky, and said that he wished that it were At noon on Sunday, April seven, we entered the port of possible for him to make the captain see his love for him. The Zubu, passing by many villages, where we saw many homes interpreter asked the king why there was so little to eat there. built upon logs. On approaching the city, the captain-general The latter replied that he did not live in that place except when ordered the ships to fling their banners. The sails were lowered he went hunting and to see his brother, but that he lived in and arranged as if for battle, and the artillery was fired, an action another island where all his family were. The captain-general which caused great fear to the people. The captain sent a foster- had him asked [asked him] to declare whether he had enemies, son of his as ambassador to the king of Zubo with the interpreter. so that he might go with his ships to destroy them and to render When they reached the city, they found a vast crowd of people them obedient to him. The king thanked him and said that he did together with the king, all of whom who were frightened by the indeed have two islands hostile to him, but that it was not then mortars. The interpreter told them that that was our custom the season to go there. The [That] captain told him that if God when entering into such places, as a sign of peace and would again allow him to return to those districts, he would bring friendship, and that we had discharged all our mortars to honor so many men that he would make the king's enemies subject to the king of the village. The king and all of his men were him by force. He said that he was about to go to dinner, and that reassured, and the king had us asked by his governor what we he would return afterward to have the cross set up on the summit wanted. The interpreter replied that his master was a captain of of the mountain. They replied that they were satisfied, and then the greatest king and prince in the world, and that he was going forming in battalion and firing the muskets, and the captain to discover Malucho; but that he had come solely to visit the king having embraced the two kings, we took our leave. because of the good report which he had heard of him from the After dinner we all returned clad in our doublets, and king of Mazaua, and to buy food with his merchandise. The king that afternoon went together with the two kings to the summit of told him that he was welcome [literally: he had come at a good the highest mountain there. When we reached the summit, the time], but that it was their custom for all ships that entered their captain-general told them that he esteemed highly having ports to pay tribute, and that it was but four days since a junk sweated for them, for since the cross was there, it could not but from Ciama [i.e., Siam] laden with gold and slaves had paid him be of great use to them. On asking which port was best to get tribute. As proof of his statement, the king pointed out to the food, they replied that there were three, namely, Ceylon [Leyte], interpreter, a merchant from Ciama, who had remained to trade Zubu [Cebu], and Calaghann [Calagan], but that Zubu was the the gold and slaves. The interpreter told the king that, since his largest and the one with most trade. They offered of their own master was the captain of so great a king, he did not pay tribute accord to give us pilots to show us the way. The captain-general to any seignior in the world, and that if the king wished peace he thanked them, and determined to go there, for so did his would have peace, but if war instead, war. Thereupon, the Moro unhappy fate will. After the cross was erected in position, each merchant said to the king "Cata raia chita"; that is to say, "Look of us repeated a Pater Noster and an Ave Maria, and adored the well, sire. These men are the same who have conquered cross; and the kings did the same. Then we descended through Calicut, Malaca, and all India Magiore [i.e., India Major]. If they the cultivated fields, and went to the place where the balanghai are treated well, they will give good treatment, but if they are was. The king some coconuts in so we ourselves. The captain treated evil, evil and worse treatment, as they have done to asked the kings for pilots, for he intended to depart the following Calicut and Malaca." The interpreter understood it all and told morning, and [said] that he would treat them as if they were the the king that his master's king was more powerful in men and kings themselves, and would leave one of us as hostage. The ships than the king of Portogalo, that he was the king of Spagnia kings replied every that every hour he wished the pilots were at [Spain] and emperor of all the Christians, and that if the king did his command, but that night the first king changed his mind, and not care to be his friend he would next time send so many men in the morning when we were about to depart, sent word to the that they would destroy him. The Moro related everything to the captain-general, asking him for love of him to wait two days until king who said thereupon that he would deliberate with his men, he should have his rice harvested, and other trifles attended to. and would answer the captain on the following day. Then he had He asked the captain-general to send him some men to help refreshments of many dishes, all made from meat and contained him, so that it might be done sooner; and said that he intended in porcelain platters, besides many jars of wine brought in. After our men had refreshed themselves, they returned and told us but that some of his chiefs did not wish to obey, because they everything. The king of Mazaua, who was the most influential said that they were as good as men as he. Then our captain had after that king and the seignior of a number of islands, went all the chiefs of the king called, and told them that unless they ashore to speak to the king of the great courtesy of our captain- obeyed the king as their king, he would have them killed, and general. would give their possessions to the king. They replied that they Monday morning, our notary, together with the would obey him. The captain told the king that he was going to interpreter, went to Zubu. The king, accompanied by his chiefs, Spagnia, but that he would return again with so many forces that came to the open square where he had our men sit down near he would make him the greatest king of those regions, as he had him. He asked the notary whether there were more than one been the first to express a determination to become a Christian. captain in that company, and whether that captain wished him The king, lifting his hands to the sky, thanked the captain, and to pay tribute to the emperor, his master. The notary replied in requested him to let some of his men remain [with him], so that the negative, but that the captain wished only to trade with him he and his people might better be instructed in the faith. The and no others. The king said that he was satisfied, and that if the captain replied that he would like to take two of the children of captain wished to become his friend, he should send him a drop the chiefs with him, so that they might learn our language, who of blood from his right arm, and he himself would do the same afterward on their return would be able to tell the others the [to him] as sign of the most sincere friendship. The notary wonders [cose] of Spagnia. A large cross was set up in the answered that the captain would do it [so]. Thereupon, the king middle of the square. The captain told them that if they wished told him that all the captains who came to that place were wont to become Christians as they had declared on the previous to give presents one to the other [i.e., mutual presents between days, that they must burn all their idols and set up a cross in their the king and the captain], and asked whether our captain or he place. They were to adore that cross daily with clasped hands, ought to commence. The interpreter told the king that since he and every morning after their [i.e., the Spaniards'] custom, they desired to maintain the custom, he should commence, and so were to make the sign of the cross (which the captain showed he did. them how to make); and they ought to come hourly, at least in the morning, to that cross, and adore it kneeling. The intention On Wednesday morning, as one of our men had died that they had already declared, they were to confirm it with good during the previous night, the interpreter and I went to ask the works. The king and all the others wished to confirm it king where we could bury him. We found the king surrounded by thoroughly. The captain-general told the king that he was clad in many men of whom, after the due reverence was made, I asked all white to demonstrate his sincere love toward them. They it. He replied, "If I and my vassals all belong to your sovereign, replied they could not respond to his sweet words. The captain how much more ought the land." I told the king that we would led the king by hand to the platform while speaking these good like to consecrate the place, and to set up a cross there. He words in order to baptize him. He told the king that he would call replied that he was quite satisfied and that he wished to adore him Don Carlo, after his sovereign the emperor; the prince, Don the cross as did we. The deceased was buried in the square with Fernando, after the emperor's brother; the king of Mazaua, as much pomp as possible, in order to furnish a good example. Johanni; a chief, Fernando, after our chief, that is to say the Then we consecrated the place, and in the evening buried captain; the Moro, Christoforo; and then the others, now one another man. We carried a quantity of merchandise ashore name, and now another. Five hundred men were baptized which we stored in a house. The king took it under his care as before mass. After the conclusion of mass, the captain invited well as four men who were left to trade the goods by wholesale. the king and some of the other chiefs to dinner, but they refused, Those people I live in accordance with justice, and have weights accompanying us, however, to the shore. The ships discharged and measures. They love peace, ease, and quiet. They have all the mortars; and embracing, the king and chiefs and the wooden balances the bar of which has a cord in the middle by captain took leave of one another. which it is held. At one end is a bit of lead, and at the other marks After dinner the priest and some of the others went like quarter-libras [quarter-pounds], third-libras [third-pounds], ashore to baptize the queen, who came with forty women. We and libras [pounds]. When they wish to weigh they take the conducted her to the platform, and she was made to sit down scales which has three wires like ours, and place it above the upon a cushion, and the other women near her, until the priest marks, and so weigh it accurately. They have very large should be ready. She was shown [I showed her] an image of our measures without any bottom. The youth play on pipes made Lady, a very beautiful wooden child Jesus, and a cross. like ours which they call subin. Their houses are constructed of Thereupon, she was overcome with contrition and asked for wood and are built of planks and bamboo, raised high from the baptism amid her tears. We named her Johanna, after the ground on large logs, and one must enter them by means of emperor's mother; her daughter, the wife of the prince, ladders. They have rooms like ours; and under the house they Catherina; the queen of Mazaua, Lisabeta; and the others, each keep their swine, goats, and fowls. Large sea snails [corniolli], [with] their [distinctive] names. Counting men, women, and beautiful to the sight, are found there which kill whales. For the children, we baptized eight hundred souls. The queen was whale swallows them alive, and when they are in the whale's young and beautiful, and was entirely covered with a white and body, they come out of their shells and eat the whale's heart. black cloth. Her mouth and nails were very red, while on her Those people afterward find them alive near the dead whale's head she wore a large hat of palm leaves in the manner of a heart. Those creatures have black teeth and skin and a white parasol, with a crown about it of the same leaves, like the tiara shell, and the flesh is [are] good to eat. They are called laghan of the Pope; and she never goes any place without such a one. [a shellfish]. She asked us to give her the little child Jesus to keep in place of On Friday we showed these people a shop full of our her idols; and then she went away. In the afternoon, the king and merchandise, at which they were very much surprised. For queen, accompanied by numerous persons, came to the shore. metals, iron and other large merchandise they gave us gold. For Thereupon, the captain had many trombs of fire and large the other smaller articles they gave us rice, swine, goats, and mortars discharged, by which they were most highly delighted. other food. Those people gave us x pieces of gold for xiiii libras The captain and the king called one another brothers. That [14 pounds] of iron (one piece being worth about one and one- king's name was Raia Humabon. Before that week had gone, all half ducados [ducats]). The captain-general did not wish to take the persons of that island, and some from the other islands, were too much gold, for there would have been some sailors who baptized. We burned one hamlet which was located in a would have given all that they owned for a small amount of gold neighboring island, because it refused to obey the king or us. and would have spoiled the trade for ever. On Saturday, as the We set up the cross there for those people were heathen. Had captain [king] had promised the king [captain] to become a they been Moros, we would have erected a column there as a Christian on Sunday, a platform was built in [on] the consecrated token of our greater hardness, for the Moros are much harder to square, which was adorned with hangings and palm branches convert than the heathen. for his baptism. The captain-general sent men to tell the king not The captain-general went ashore daily during those to be afraid of the pieces that would be discharged in the days to hear mass, and told the king many things regarding the morning, for it was our custom to discharge them at our greatest faith. One day the queen came with great pomp to hear Mass. feasts without loading [them] with stones. Three girls preceded her with three of her hats in their hands. On Sunday morning, April fourteen, forty men of us She was dressed in black and white with a large silk scarf, went ashore, two of whom were completely armed and preceded crossed with gold stripes thrown over her head, which covered the royal banner. When we reached land all the artillery. Those her shoulders; and she had on her hat. A great number of people followed us hither and thither. The captain and the king women accompanied her, who were all naked and barefoot, embraced. The captain told the king that the royal banner was except that they had a small covering of palm-tree cloth before not taken ashore except with fifty men armed as were those two, their privies, and a small scarf upon the head, and all hair flowing and with fifty musketeers; but so great was his love for him that free. The queen, having made the due reverence to the altar, he had thus brought the banner. Then we all approached the seated herself on a silk embroidered cushion. Before the platform joyfully. The captain and the king sat down in chairs of commencement of the mass, the captain sprayed her and some red and violet velvet, the chiefs on cushions, and the others on of her [the] women with musk rosewater, for they delighted mats. The captain told the king through the interpreter that he exceedingly in such perfumes. The captain, knowing that the thanked God for inspiring him to became [become] a Christian, queen was very much pleased with the child Jesus, gave it to and that [now] he would more easily conquer his enemies than her, telling her to keep it in place of her idols, for it was a memory before. The king replied that he wished to become a Christian, of the son of God. Thanking him heartily, she accepted it. One day, the captain-general asked the king and the covering themselves with their shields. They shot so many other people why they did not burn their idols as they had arrows at us and hurled so many bamboo spears (some of them promised when they became Christians; and why they sacrificed tipped with iron) at the captain-general, besides pointed stakes so much flesh to them. They replied that what they were doing hardened with fire, stones, and mud, that we could scarcely was not for themselves, but for a sick man who had not spoken defend ourselves. Seeing that, the captain-general sent some now for four days, so that the idols might give him health. He men to burn their houses in order to terrify them. When they saw was the prince's brother, and the bravest and wisest man in the their houses burning, they were roused to greater fury. Two of island. The captain told them to burn their idols and to believe in our men were killed near the houses, while we burned twenty or Christ, and that if the sick man were baptized, he would quickly thirty houses. So many of them charged down upon us that they recover; and if that did not so happen they could behead him shot the captain through the right leg with a poisoned arrow. On [i.e., the captain] then and there. Thereupon, the king replied that account, he ordered us to retire slowly, but the men took to that he would do it, for he truly believed in Christ. We made a flight, except six or eight of us who remained with the captain. procession from the square to the house of the sick man with as The natives shot only at our legs, for the latter were bare; and much pomp as possible. There we found him in such a condition so many were the spears and stones hurled at us, that we could that he could neither speak nor move. We baptized him and his offer no resistance. The mortars in the boats could not aid us as two wives, and x girls. Then the captain had him asked [asked they were too far away. So we continued to retire for more than him] how he felt. He spoke immediately and said that by the a good crossbow flight from the shore, always fighting up to our grace of our Lord he felt very well. That was a most manifest knees in the water. The natives continued to pursue us, and miracle [that happened] in our times. When the captain heard picking up the same spear four or six times, hurled it at us again him [the man] speak, he thanked God fervently. Then he made and again. Recognizing the captain, so many turned upon him the sick man drink some almond milk, which he had already that they knocked his helmet off his head twice, but he always made ready for him. Afterward he sent him a mattress, a pair of stood firmly like a good knight, together with some others. Thus sheets, a coverlet of yellow cloth, and a pillow. Until he did we fight for more than one hour, refusing to retire farther recovered his health, the captain sent him [every day] almond [further]. An Indian hurled a bamboo spear into the captain's milk, rosewater, oil of roses, and some sweet preserves. Before face, but the latter immediately killed him with his lance, which five days the sick man began to walk. He had an idol that certain he left in the Indian's body. Then, trying to lay hand on sword, old women concealed in his house burned in the presence of the he could draw it out halfway because he had been wounded in king and all the people. He had many shrines along the seashore the arm with [by] a bamboo spear. When the natives saw that, destroyed, in which consecrated meat was eaten. The people they all hurled themselves upon him. One of them wounded him themselves cried out "Castiglia!" "Castiglia!" and destroyed on the left leg with a large cutlass, which resembles a scimitar, those shrines. They said that if God would lend them life, they only being larger. That caused the captain to fall face downward, would burn all the idols they could find, even if they were in the when immediately they rushed upon him with iron and bamboo king's house. Those idols are made of wood, and are hollow, spears and with their cutlasses, until they killed our mirror, our and lack the back parts. Their arms are open and their feet light, our comfort, and our true guide. When they wounded him, turned up under them with the legs open. They have a large face he turned back many times to see whether we were all in the with four huge tusks like those of the wild boar; and are painted boats. Thereupon, beholding him dead, we, wounded, retreated, all over. as best as we could to the boats which were already pulling off. There are many villages in that island. Their names and The Christian king would have aided us, but the captain charged those of their chiefs are as follows: Cinghapola and its chiefs, him before we landed, not to leave his balanghai, but to stay to Cilaton, Ciguibucan, Cimaningha, Cimatichat, and Cicanbul; see how we fought. When the king learned that the captain was one, Mandaui and its chief, Apanoaan; one Lalan, and its chief, dead, he wept. Had it not been for that unfortunate captain, not Theteu; one, Lalutan, and its chief, Tapan; one Cilumai; and a single one of us would have been saved in the boats, for while one, Lubucun. All those villages rendered obedience to us, and he was fighting, the others retired to the boats. I hope through gave us food and tribute. Near that island of Zubu was an island [the efforts of your illustrious Lordship that the fame of so noble called Matan [Mactan], which formed the port where we were a captain will not become effaced in our times. Among other anchored. The name of its village was Matan, and its chiefs were virtues which he possessed, he was more constant than ever in Zula and Cilapulapu [Lapu-lapu]. That city [village] which we the greatest of adversity. He endured hunger better than all the burned was in that island and was called Bulaia. others, and more accurately than any man in the world did he understand sea charts and navigation. And that this was the On Friday, April twenty-six, Zula, chief of the island of truth seen openly, for no other had had so much natural talent Matan, sent one of his sons to present two goats to the captain- nor the boldness to learn how to circumnavigate the world, as general, and to say that he would send him all that he had he had almost done. That [The] battle was fought on Saturday, promised, but that he had not been able to send it to himbecause April twenty-seven, 1521. The captain desired to fight on of the other chief, Cilapulapu, who refused to obey the king of Saturday, because it was the day especially holy to him. Eight Spagnia. He requested the captain to send him only one of our men were killed with him in that battle, and four Indians, boatload of men on the next night, so that they might help him who had become Christians and who had come afterward to aid and fight against the other chief. The captain-general decided to us, were killed by the mortars of the boats. Of the enemy, only thither with three boatloads. We begged him repeatedly not to fifteen were killed, while many of us were wounded. go, but he, like a good shepherd, refused to abandon his flock. At midnight, sixty men of us set out armed with corselets and Relevance helmets, together with the Christian king, the prince, some of the Pigafetta's chronicle contributed immensely to chief men, and twenty or thirty balanghais. We reached Matan European historiography as it preserved and popularized the three hours before dawn. The captain did not wish to fight then, achievements of the Magellan-Elcano expedition. If Pigafetta did but he sent a message to the natives by the Moro to the effect not survive the journey, we would have very little knowledge of that if they would obey the king of Spagnia, recognize the Magellan's numerous contributions in the fields of geography, Christian king as their sovereign, pay us our tribute, he would be navigation, history, and other related areas. First, credit must be their friend; but that if they wished otherwise, they should wait to given to the Magellan expedition for proving that the earth is not see how our lances wounded. They replied that if we had lances flat but an oblate sphere. Moreover, they demolished the myth they had lances of bamboo and stakes hardened with fire. [They that there is boiling water at the Equator. Second, Magellan and asked us] not to proceed to attack them at once, but to wait until his men completed the first circumnavigation of the world. Third, morning, so that they might have more men. They said that in they confirmed that the Portuguese route is not the only way to order to induce us to go in search of them; for they had dug the Spice Islands. They proved the theory that one can go to the certain pitholes between the houses in order that we might fall east by sailing west. Fourth, they brought to the attention of the into them. When morning came, forty-nine of us leaped into the Europeans that on the other side of the American continent water up our thighs, and walked through water for more than two exists a large body of water which they named Pacific Ocean. crossbow flights before we could reach the shore. The boats (Mar Pacifico). All these discoveries altered the European map could not approach nearer because of certain rocks in the water. of the world and resulted in the inclusion of new territories in their The other eleven men remained behind to guard the boats... world view. When they saw us, they charged down upon us with exceeding The account of Pigafetta also enriched Philippine loud cries, two divisions on our flanks and other two on our front. historiography because it contains important details about the When the captain saw that, he formed us into two divisions, and conditions of the Visayan Islands in the 16th century. Some of thus did we begin to fight. The musketeers and crossbowmen the prominent leaders during that time, their economic activities, shot from a distance for half an hour, but uselessly for the shots social and cultural practices, and religious beliefs were only passed through the shields which were made of thin wood identified. Moreover, local textbook writers use his book as their and the arms [of the bearers]. The captain cried to them, "Cease source of historical information about the beginning of firing! cease firing!" but his order was not all heeded. When the Christianity in the Philippines. The accounts about the First natives saw that we were shooting our muskets to no purpose, Mass in the Philippines, the conversion of Rajah Humabon and crying out, they [were] determined to stand firm, but they [and] his wife, and the story of the image of the Sto. Niño were mostly redoubled their shouts. When our muskets were discharged, the taken from Pigafetta's book. Finally, Pigafetta has numerous natives would never stand still but leaped hither and thither, accounts about the reaction of the Filipinos when they met the Spaniards. Some Filipinos were easily befriended by the About the Text Spaniards while others refused to interact and trade with them. The original document of Customs of the Tagalogs is currently Lapu-lapu is the most prominent Filipino character in Pigafetta's kept in the Archivo General de Indias (A.G.I.) in Seville, Spain. A duplicate copy of it is kept in the Archivo Franciscano Ibero-Oriental narrative. He was the first Filipino who led the resistance (A.F.I.O.), in Madrid, Spain. An English translation appeared in Volume movement against Spanish rule and successfully thwarted the VII of the Blair and Robertson's The Philippine Islands. Another English first attempt of the Spaniards to take control of the Philippines. translation was published as part of the volume for precolonial It was mentioned earlier that Pigafetta was not the only Philippines in the second series of the Filipiniana Book Guild. The one who wrote about the expedition. The year after the ship excerpts presented below is from the latter version. Victoria arrived in Spain, Maximilianus Transylvanus' De Moluccis Insulis (The Moluccas Islands) came off the press. Its Excerpts from Customs of the Tagalogs subject matter is the same as that of Pigafetta's book but it is not This people always had chiefs, called by them datos, who governed them and were captains in their wars, and whom they obeyed an eyewitness account because the thor is not part of the and reverenced. The subject who committed any offense against them, expedition. He based his narrative on the interviews that he or spoke but a word to their wives and children, was severely punished. conducted with the survivors of the Victoria. His prominent These chiefs ruled over a few people; sometimes as many as interviewees were Juan Sebastián Elcano, Francisco Albo, and a hundred houses, sometimes even less than thirty. This tribal gathering Hernando de Bustamante. Compared to Pigafetta's work, his is called in Tagalog a barangay. It was inferred that the reason for giving account is far much shorter and contains less details. Another themselves this name rose from the fact (as they are classed, by their survivor who maintained a journal of the voyage was Francisco language, among the Malay nations) that when they came to this land, Albo (Victoria's pilot). His work is the shortest and it focused the head of the barangay, which is a boat, thus called-as is discussed at length in the first chapter of the first ten chapters-became the dato. And mainly on the location of the expedition on certain dates. Finally, so, even at present day, it is ascertained that the barangay in its origin the last contemporaneous source of information about Magellan was a family of parents, children, relations and slaves. There were many is the Italian-born historian of Spain, Peter Martyr d'Anghiera. of these barangays in each town, or at least, on account of wars, they From 1511 to 1530, he wrote accounts of the Spanish did not settle far from one another. They were not, however, subject to explorations of the New World which he divided into "decades." one another, except in friendship and relationship. The chiefs, in their The fifth decade appeared in 1523 and it recounted the conquest various wars, helped one another with their respective barangays. of Mexico and the circumnavigation of the world by Magellan. In addition to these chiefs, who corresponded to our knights, there were three castes: nobles, commoners, and slaves. The nobles were the freeborn whom they call maharlica. They did not pay tax or tribute to the dato, but must accompany him in war, at their own Lesson 4 expense. The chief offered them beforehand a feast, and afterward they CUSTOMS OF THE TAGALOGS divided the spoils. Moreover, when the dato went upon the water those Historical Context whom he summoned rowed for him. If he built a house, they helped him, During the first century of Spanish rule, the colonial and had to be fed up for it. The same was true when the whole barangay government had difficulty in running local politics because of the limited went to clear up his lands for tillage. The lands which they inhabited were number of Spaniards who wanted to live outside of Intramuros. This divided among the whole barangay, especially the irrigated portion, and situation forced Spanish officials to allow Filipinos to hold the position of thus each one knew his own. No one belonging to are not another gobernadorcillo. To ensure that the gobernadorcillos would remain loyal barangay would cultivate them unless after purchase or inheritance. The to the Crown, the friars assigned in the parishes were instructed to lands on the tingues, or mountain ridges, divided, but owned in common supervise and monitor the activities of the former. Hence, the friars by the barangay. Consequently, at the time of the rice harvest, any ended up performing the administrative duties that colonial officials individual of any particular barangay, although he may have come from should have been doing at the local level. They supervised the election some other village, if he commences to clear any land may sow it, and of the local executives, helped in the collection of taxes, were directly no one can compel him to abandon it. There are some villages (as, for involved in educating the youth, and performed other civic duties. example, Pila de Laguna) in which these nobles, or maharlicas, paid Consequently, the friars became the most knowledgeable and influential annually to the dato a hundred gantas of rice. The reason of this was figure in the pueblo. that, at the time of their settlement there, another chief, upon his arrival, The friars who were assigned in mission territories were bought with his own gold; and therefore the members of his barangay required periodically to inform their superiors of what was happening in paid him for arable land, and he divided it, among those whom he saw their respective areas. They prepared reports on the number of natives fit to reward. But now, since the advent of the Spaniards, it is not so they converted, the people's way of life, their socio-economic situation, divided. and the problems they encountered. Some of them submitted short The commoners are called aliping namamahay. They are letters while others who were keen observers and gifted writers wrote married, and serve their master, whether he be a dato or not, with half long dispatches. On top of the regular reports they submitted, they also of their cultivated lands, as was agreed upon in the beginning. They shared their personal observations and experiences. Plasencia's accompanied him wherever he went beyond the island, and rowed for Relacion de las Costumbres de Los Tagalogs (Customs of the Tagalogs, him. They live in their own houses, and are lords of their property and 1589) is an example of this kind of work. It contains numerous gold. Their children inherit it, and enjoy their property and lands. The information that historians could use in reconstructing the political and children, then, enjoy the rank of their fathers, and they cannot be made socio-cultural history of the Tagalog region. His work is a primary source slaves (sa guiguilir) nor can either parents or children be sold. If they because he personally witnessed the events and his account contained should fall by inheritance into the hands of a son of their master who was his observations. going to dwell in another village, they could not be taken from their own There were other friars and colonial officials who also wrote village and carried with him; but they would remain in their native village, about the Filipinos which could further enrich our knowledge of doing service there and cultivating the sowed lands. Philippine history during the early part of the Spanish period. For The slaves are called aliping sa guiguilir. They serve their example, Miguel de Loarca, an encomendero of Panay wrote his master in his house and on his cultivated lands, and The master grants Relación de las Islas Filipinas (1582) and described the Filipinos' way of them, should they see fit, and providing that he has profited through their life in the Western Visayas area. Lieutenant Governor Antonio de Morga industry, a portion of their harvests, so that they may work faithfully. For wrote Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas which provides information about these reasons, servants who are born in the house of their master are the state of the Philippines in the latter part of the 16th century. The other rarely, if ever, sold. That is the lot of captives in war, and of those brought Spanish missionaries who continued the historiographical tradition were up in the harvest fields.... Fr. Pedro Chirino S.J. (Relación de las Islas Filipinas, 1604), Fr. Juan The difference between the aliping namamahay and the Delgado S.J. (Historia General, 1751), Fr. Francisco Colin S.J. (Labor aliping sa guiguilir, should be noted; for, by a confusion of the two terms, Evangelica, 1663), and Fr. Francisco Ignacio Alcina S.J. (Historia many have been classed as slaves who really are not. The Indians natural del sitio, fertilidad y calidad de las Islas e Indios de Bisayas, seeing that the alcaldes-mayor do not understand this, have adopted the 1668). Most of what we know about Philippine history during the first custom of taking away the children of the aliping namamahay, making century of the Spanish period were derived from the accounts of the use of them as they would of aliping sa guiguilir, as servants in their Spanish friars. households, which is illegal, and if the aliping namamahay should appeal to justice, it is proved that he is an alipin as well as his father and mother About the Author before him and no reservation is made as to whether he is aliping Fray Juan de Plasencia (Joan de Portocarrero, real name) namamahay or aliping sa guiguilir. He is at once considered an alipin, was a member of the Franciscan Order who came together with the first without further declaration. In this way he becomes a sa guiguilir, and is batch of missionaries to the Philippines in 1578. He and fellow, even sold. Consequently, the alcaldes-mayor should be instructed to Franciscan Fray Diego de Oropesa, were assigned mission works in the ascertain, when anyone asks for his alipin, to which class he belongs, Southern Tagalog area. Plasencia also helped in the foundation and and to have the answer put in document that they give him. organization of numerous towns in Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan. In these three classes, those who are maharlicas on both His continuous interaction with the people he converted to Christianity father's and mother's side continue to be so forever; and if it happens enabled him to write a work titled Relacion de las Costumbres de Los that they should become slaves, it is through marriage, as I shall soon Tagalogs (Customs of the Tagalogs, 1589) where he vividly described explain. If these maharlicas had children among their slaves, the the political, social, economic, and cultural practices of the Filipinos children and their mothers became free; if one of them had children by before they were Christianized. a slave-woman of another, she was compelled, when pregnant, to give Plasencia did not limit himself to the task of administering the her master half of the gold tael, because of her risk of death, and for her sacraments and baptizing new converts. He believed that catechism or inability to labor during the pregnancy. In such case half of the child was explaining the basic tenets of Catholic faith is another very important free-namely, the half belonging to his father, who supplied the child with function of a missionary. His biggest challenge at that time was how to food. If he did not do this, he showed that he did not recognize him as make the articles of faith comprehensible to people who have never his child, in which case the latter was wholly a slave. If a free woman heard of Christ or the Catholic Church. He wrote the Doctrina Christiana had children by a slave, they were all free, provided he were not her en Lengua Española y Tagala which later became the first printed book husband. in the Philippines in 1593. He used it as reading material for those If two persons married, of whom one was a maharlica and the Filipinos who wished to deepen their faith in the newly-accepted religion. other a slave, whether namamahay or sa guiguilir, the children were Plasencia died in Liliw, Laguna in 1590. divided; the first, whether male or female, belonged to the father, as did the third and fifth; the second, the fourth, and the sixth fell to the mother, II and so on. In this manner, if the father were free, all those who belonged Worship of the Tagalogs to him were free; if he were a a slave, all those who belonged to him In all the villages, or in other parts of the Filipinas Islands, were slaves; and the same applied to the mother. If there should not be there are no temples consecrated to the performing of sacrifices, the more than one child he was half free and half slave. The question here adoration of their idols, or the general practice of idolatry. It is true that concerned the division, whether the child were male or female. Those they have the simbahan, which means a temple or place of adoration; who became slaves fell under the category of servitude which was their but it is because, formerly, when they wished to celebrate a festival, parent's, either namamahay or sa guiguilir. If there were an odd number which they called pandot or "worship," they celebrated it in a large house of children, the odd one was half free and half slave. I have not been of a chief. There they constructed, for the purpose of sheltering the able to ascertain with certainty when or what age the division of children assembled people, a temporary shed on each side of the house, with a was made, for each one suited himself in this respect. Of these two kinds roof called sibi, to protect people from the wet when it rained. They so of slaves the sa guiguilir could be sold, but not the namamahay and their constructed the house that it may contain people-dividing it after the children, nor could they be transferred. However, they could be fashion of ships, into three compartments. On the posts of the house transferred from the barangay by inheritance, provided they remained in they set small lamps, called Sorihile: in the center of the house they the same village. placed one large lamp, adorned with leaves of the white palm, wrought The maharlicas could not, after marriage, move from one into many designs. They also brought together many drums, large and village to another, or from one barangay to another, without paying a small, which they beat successively while the feast lasted, which was certain fine in gold, as arranged among them. This fine was larger or usually four days. During this time the whole barangay, or family, united smaller according to the inclination of the different villages, running from and joined in the worship which they called nagaanitos. The house, for one to three taels and a banquet to the entire barangay. Failure to pay the above-mentioned period of time, was called a temple. the fine might result in a war between the barangay where the person Among their many idols there was one called Bathala, whom left and the one which he entered. This applied equally to men and they especially worshipped. The title, seems to signify "all powerful," or women except that when one married a woman of another village, the "maker of all things." They also worshippedthe sun, which, on account children were afterwards divided equally between the two barangays. of its beauty, is almost universally respected and honored by the This arrangement kept them obedient to the dato, or chief, which is no heathens. They worshipped too, the moon, especially when it was new, longer the case-because if the dato is energetic and commands what at which time they had great rejoicings, adoring it and bidding it the religious fathers enjoin him, they soon leave him and to other villages welcome. Some of them also adored the stars, although they did not and other datos, who endure and protect them and do not order them know them by their names, as the Spaniards and other nations know the about. This is the kind of dato that they now prefer, not him who has the planets-with the exception of the morning star they called Tala. They spirit to command. There is a great need of reform in this, for the chiefs knew, too, the "seven little goats" [The Pleiades]-as we call them-and, are spiritless and faint-go hearted. consequently, the change of seasons, which they call Mapolon; and Investigations made and sentences passed by the dato must Balatic, which is our Greater Bear. They possessed many idols called take place in the presence if those in his barangay. If any of the litigants lic-ha, which were images with different shapes; and at times they felt himself aggrieved, an arbiter was unanimously selected from another worshipped any little trifle, in which they adored, as did the Romans, village or barangay, whether he were a dato or not; since they had for some particular dead man who was brave in war and endowed with this purpose some reasons, known as fair and just men, who were said special faculties, to whom they commended themselves for protection in to give true judgment according to their customs. If the controversy lay their tribulations. They had another idol called Dian Masalanta, who was between two chiefs, when they wished to avoid war, they also convoked the patron of lovers and of generation. The idols called Lacapati and judges to act as arbiters; they did the same if the disputants belonged to Idianale were patrons of the cultivated lands and of husbandry. They two different barangays. In this ceremony they always had to drink, the paid reverence to water-lizards called by them buaya or crocodiles, for plaintiff inviting the others. They had laws by which they condemned to fear of being harmed by them. They were even in the bait of offering death a man of low birth who insulted the daughter or wife of chief; these animals a portion of what they carried in their boats, by throwing it likewise witches of the same class. into the water, or placing it upon the bank. They condemned no one to slavery, unless he merited the They were, moreover, very liable to find auguries in things death penalty. As for the witches, they killed them, and their children and they witnessed. For example, if they left their house and met on the way accomplices became slaves of the chief, after he had made some a serpent or rat, or a bird called tigmamanuguin which was singing in the recompense to the injured person. All other offenses were punished by tree, or if they chanced upon anyone who sneezed, they returned at fines in gold, which, if not paid with promptness, exposed the culprit to once to their house, considering the incident as an augury that some evil serve, until the payment should be made, the person was aggrieved, to might befall them if they should continue their journey-especially when whom the money was paid. This was done in the following way: Half the the abovementioned bird sang. This song has two different forms: in the cultivated lands and all their produce belonged to their master. The one case it was considered an evil omen; in the other, as a good omen, master provided the culprit with food and clothing, thus enslaving the and then they continued their journey. They also practiced divination, to culprit and his children until such time as he might amass enough money see whether weapons, such as dagger or knife, were useful and lucky to pay the fine. If the father should by chance pay his debt, the master for their possessor whenever occasion should offer. then claimed that he has fed and clothed his children, and should be These natives had no established division of years, months, paid therefor. In this he kept possession of the children if the payment and days; these are determined by the cultivation of soil, counted by could not be met. This last was usually the case, and they remained moons, and the different effect produced upon the trees when yielding slaves. If the culprit had some relative or friend who paid for him, he was flowers, fruits, and leaves: all this helps them in making up a year. The obliged to render the latter half his service until he was paid-not, winter and summer are distinguished as sun-time and water-time-the however, service within the house as aliping sa guiguilir, but living latter term designating winter in those regions, where there is no cold, independently, as alipin namamahay. If the creditor were not served in snow, or ice. this wise, the culprit had to pay double of what was lent him. In this way Their manner of offering sacrifice was to proclaim a feast, and slaves were made by debt; either sa guiguilir, if they served the master offer to the devil what they had to eat. This was done in front of an idol, to whom the judgment applied; or aliping namamahay, if they served the which they anoint with fragrant perfumes, such as musk and civet, or person who lent them wherewith to pay. gum of the storax-tree and other odoriferous woods, and praise it in poetic songs sung by the officiating priest, male or female, who is called Dowries are given by the men to the women's parents. If the catolonan. The participants made responses to the song, beseeching latter are living, they enjoy use of it. At their death, provided the dowry the idol to favor them with those things of which they were in need, and has not been consumed, it is divided like the rest of the estate, equally generally, by offering repeated healths, they all become intoxicated. In among the children, except in the case the father should care to bestow some of the idolatries they were accustomed to place a good piece of something additional upon their daughter. If the wife, at the time of her cloth, doubled, over the idol, and over the cloth a chain or large gold ring, marriage, has neither father, mother, nor grandparents, she enjoys her thus worshipping the devil without having sight of him. The devil was dowry-which in such a case, belongs to no other relative or child. It sometimes liable to enter into the body of the catolonan, and, assuming should be noticed that unmarried women can own no property, in land her shape and appearance, filled her with so great arrogance-he being or dowry, for the result of all their labors accrues to their parents. the cause of it-that she seemed to shoot flames from her eyes; her hair In the case of a divorce before the birth of the children, if the stood on end, a fearful sight to those beholding, and she uttered words wife left the husband for the purpose of marrying another, all her dowry of arrogance and superiority. In some districts, especially the mountains, and an equal additional amount fell to the husband; but if she left him, when in those idolatries the devil incarnated himself and took on the form and did not marry another, the dowry was returned. When the husband of his minister, the latter had to be tied to a tree by his companions, to left his wife, he lost half of the dowry, and the other half was returned to prevent the devil in his infernal fury from destroying him. This, however, him. If he possessed children at the time of his divorce, the whole dowry happened but rarely. The objects of sacrifice were goats, fowls, and and the fine went to the children, and was held for them by their swine, which were flayed, decapitated, and laid bare before the idol. grandparents or other responsible relatives. They performed another ceremony by cooking a jar of rice until the water In the matter of marriage dowries which fathers bestow upon was evaporated. After which they broke the jar, and the rice was left as their sons when they are about to be married, and half of which is given an intact mass which was set before the idol; and all about it, at intervals, immediately, even when they are only children, there is a great deal were placed a few buyos-which is a small fruit wrapped in a leaf with more complexity. There is a fine stipulated in the contract, that he who some lime, a food generally eaten in these regions-as well as fried food violates it shall pay a certain sum which varies according to the practice and fruits. All these above-mentioned articles were eaten by guests at of the village and the affluence of the individual. The fine was heaviest the feast; the heads [of animals], after being "offered," as they expressed if, upon the death of the parents, the son or daughter should be unwilling it, were cooked and eaten also. to marry because it had been arranged by his or her parents. In this case The reasons for offering this sacrifice and adoration were, in the dowry which the parents had received was returned and nothing addition to whatever personal matters there might be, the recovery of a more. But if the parents were living, they paid the fine, because it was sick person, the prosperous voyage of those embarking on the sea, a assumed that it had been their design to separate the children. good harvest in the sowed lands. a propitious result in wars, a successful delivery in childbirth, and a happy outcome in married life. If this took place among people of rank, the festivities lasted thirty days. The distinctions made among the priests of the devil were as follows: The first, called catolonan, as above stated, was either a man or woman. This office was an honorable one among the natives, and was held ordinarily by people of rank, this rule being general in all the islands. The second was called mangagauay, or witches who useful because it contains information about the social classes, political deceived by pretending to heal the sick. These priests even induced stratifications, and legal system of the Tagalog region. Many of what we maladies by their charms, which in proportion to the strength and know about the duties and responsibilities of the datu, maharlika and efficacy of witchcraft, are capable of causing death. In this way, if they alipin property rights, marriage rituals, burial practices, and the manner wished to kill at once they did so; or they could prolong life for a year by in which justice is dispensed. Plasencia's account also preserves and binding to the waist a live serpent, which was believed to be the devil, or popularizes the unwritten customs, traditions, and religious and at least his substance. This office was general throughout the land. The superstitious beliefs of the Filipinos. One can also say that our historical third was called manyisalat, which is the same as mangagauay. These knowledge about the manananggal, aswang, hukluban, and gayuma, priests had the power of applying such remedies to lovers that they among others came from Plasencia's works. would abandon and despise their own wives, and in fact could prevent Priests and missionaries also read Plasencia's Customs of the them from having intercourse with the latter. If the woman, constrained Tagalogs and Doctrina Christiana because they contain insights that can by these means, were abandoned, it would bring sickness upon her; and help and inspire them to become effective evangelizers. The realization on account of the desertion she would discharge blood and matter. This that one needs to master the local language and study the culture of the office was also general throughout the land. people to be a successful missionary is one insight from Plasencia. They The fourth was called mancocolam, whose duty it was to emit also learned from Plasencia that preaching should be accompanied with fire from himself at night, once or oftener each month. This fire could not reading materials that contain the basic elements of faith. These be extinguished; nor could it be thus emitted except as the priest readings will serve as guide and reference when the missionaries are no wallowed in the ordure and filth which falls from the houses; and he who longer around. All these insights from Plasencia are applicable not only lived in the house where the priest was wallowing in order to emit this to missionaries but to other professions as well. fire from himself fell ill and died. This office was general. Plasencia's historical writings also disprove the claim of some The fifth was called hocloban, which is another kind of witch, Spaniards that when they arrived in the Philippines, Filipinos were still of greater efficacy than the mangagauay. Without use of medicine, and uncivilized and lacking in culture. It is clear in the excerpts quoted that by simply saluting or raising the hand, they killed whom they chose. But at the time Plasencia was assigned in the Tagalog region, Filipinos were if they desired to heal those whom they made ill by their charms, they already politically and economically organized. They had a functioning did so by using other charms. Moreover, if they wished to destroy the government, tax system, set of laws, criminal justice system, indigenous house of the same Indian hostile to them, they were able to do so without calendar, and long-standing customs and traditions. Moreover, they had instruments. This was in Catanduanes, an island off the upper part of a concept of a supreme being (Bathala), practiced burial customs, and Luzon. believed in life after death. Lastly, Plasencia mentioned that the people The sixth was called silagan, whose office it was, if they saw he met were wearing garments and gold ornaments, and their houses anyone clothed in white, to tear out his liver and eat it, thus causing his were decorated with idols. All of these lead to the conclusion that prior death. His, like the preceding, was in the island of Catanduanes. Let no to the coming of the Spaniards Filipinos were already civilized and one, moreover, consider this a fable; because in Calavan, they tore out maintained a lifestyle that was on a par with or even better than that of in this way through the anus all the intestines of a Spanish notary, who the people from other countries in Southeast Asia. was buried in Calilaya by father Fray Juan de Merida. The seventh was called magtatangal, his purpose was to show himself at night to many persons, without his head or entrails. In Lesson 5 such wise the devil walked about, carried, or pretended to carry, his head THE KARTILYA OF THE KATIPUNAN to different places; and, in the morning, returned it to his body-remaining Historical Context as before, alive. This seems to be a fable, although the natives affirm The first move towards independence began on July 7, 1892 that they have seen it, because the devil probably caused them to when the Katipunan was established by Andres Bonifacio. This was a believe. This occurred in Catanduanes. result of the failure of the Reform Movement in Spain in which Filipinos The eighth they called osuang, which is equivalent to a attempted to demand reforms for the Philippines from the Spanish "sorcerer;" they say that they have seen him fly, and that he murdered government. Bonifacio saw the futility of the efforts of the Filipino men and ate their flesh. This was among the Visayas Islands; among propagandists and organized an underground movement against Spain. the Tagalogs these did not exist. The ninth was another class of witches called mangagayoma. They made charms for lovers out of herbs, The Kataastaasang Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga stones, and wood, which would infuse the heart with love. Thus did they Anak ng Bayan or KKK was a revolutionary society that espoused deceive the people, although sometimes, through the intervention of the independence and freedom for the Philippines through force of arms. Its devil, they gained their ends. main objective was separation of the Philippines from Spain and, at the The tenth was known as sonat, which is equivalent to same time, the development of the Filipinos as citizens of their own "preacher." It was his office to help one die, at which time he predicted nation once independence was achieved. The latter was done through the salvation or condemnation of the soul. It was not lawful for the the written works by Bonifacio and fellow Katipunero, Emilio Jacinto, function of this office to be fulfilled by others than people of high who wrote a number of poems and essays for the society members. standing, on account of the esteem in which it was held. This office was The recruitment process of the Katipunan followed the general throughout the islands. Masonic initiation rites while its structure was said to be based on Rizal's The eleventh, pangatahojan, was a soothsayer, and predicted aborted reformist organization, the La Liga Filipina. The new members the future. This office was general in the islands. of the society were indoctrinated with the Katipunan rules and its The twelfth, bayoguin, signified a "cotquean," a man whose teachings that emphasized the value of the love of one's country and nature inclined toward that of a woman. fellow Filipinos. Their manner of burying the dead was as follows: the deceased was buried beside his house; and, if he were a chief, he was About the Author placed beneath a little house or porch which they constructed for this Emilio Jacinto was born on December 15, 1875 in the district purpose. Before interring him, they mourned him for four days; and of Trozo in Tondo, Manila. He was the son of Mariano Jacinto, a afterward laid him on boat which served as a coffin or bier, placing him bookkeeper, and Josefa Dizon. Living a life of poverty, Jacinto still beneath the porch, where guard kept over him by a slave. In place of managed to get a good education. He finished his elementary education rowers, various animals were placed within the boat, each one being in a private school then took up his secondary education at the Colegio assigned a place at the oar by twos-male and female of each species de San Juan de Letran. He later studied law at the University of Santo being together-as for example two goats, two deer, or two fowls. It was Tomas where he developed a love of reading and improved his skills in the slave's care to see that they were fed. If the deceased had been a Spanish. Unfortunately, he had to stop his studies when the Philippine warrior, a living slave was tied beneath his body until in this way he died. Revolution began in 1896. In course of time, all suffered decay; and for many days the relatives of Jacinto joined the Katipunan in 1894 at the age of 18 and took the dead man bewailed him, singing dirges, and praises of his good name Pingkian. It was the symbolic during this time that he developed qualities, until they wearied of it. This grief was accompanied by eating his nationalistic ideals. Through his enthusiasm and ideas, Jacinto and drinking. This was a custom of the Tagalogs.... became a guiding light to the members of the society. He wrote the These infidels said that they knew that there was another life Kartilya as well as the oath of the Katipuneros. He also edited the of rest which they called maca, just as if we should say "panadise," or in Katipunan newspaper, Kalayaan, and was the author of several literary other words, "village of rest." They say that those who go to this place writings using the pen-name "Dimas Ilaw." He served the Katipunan in are the just, and the valiant, and those who lived without doing harm, or different capacities such as secretary, fiscal, editor, and later was who possessed moral virtues, They said also, that in the other life and appointed General by Bonifacio in 1897. He also served as an adviser mortality, there was a place of punishment, grief, and affliction called to the Supremo. casanaan, which was a "place of anguish," they also maintained that no After the death of Bonifacio in Cavite in 1897, Jacinto one would go to heaven, where there only dwelt Bathala, "the maker of continued the fight against the Spaniards even after the truce following all things," who governed from above. There were also other pagans the Pact of Biak-na-Bato. He was wounded in a battle against the who confessed more clearly to a bell, which they called, as I have said, Spaniards in Magdalena, Laguna and was captured. Upon investigation, casanaan; they said that all the wicked went to that place, and there Jacinto was released after he managed to convince the Spanish soldiers dwelt the demons, whom they called sitan. he was a spy in their service when he showed them a military pass issued to a man he killed several months ago. Jacinto quickly went into There were also ghosts, which they called vibit; and hiding in Manila. There he sent a letter to Apolinario Mabini in Malolos, phantoms, which they called tigbalaang. They had another deception- Bulacan stating his plan to continue his law studies at the newly- namely, if any woman died in childbirth, she and the child suffered established Literary University of the Philippines. But this plan was punishment; and that, at night, she could be heard lamenting. This is discontinued when Jacinto had to go back to Laguna to lead his fellow called patianac. May honor and glory be to God our Lord, that among patriots in the war against the new enemy, the Americans. He the Tagalogs not a trace of this is left; and that those who are now established his headquarters in the town of Majayjay where he, marrying do not even know what it is, thanks to the preaching of the holy unfortunately, contracted malaria. He died on April 6, 1892. gospel, which has banished it. About the Text Relevance In his study of the Katipunan history and its documents, Jim Plasencia's Customs of the Tagalogs is a very popular primary Richardson said that "the Kartilya is the best known of all Katipunan source as it vividly describes the way of life of the Filipinos before texts" and that it is "the only document of any length set in print by the Spanish and Christian influences. It also covers numerous topics that Katipunan prior to August 1896 that is known to be still extant." The are relevant in many disciplines. Political scientists, for instance, find it Kartilya was printed as a small pamphlet that was distributed to the members of the Katipunan. Its term was derived from the Spanish cartilla Huag mong sasayangin ang panahun; ang yamang nawala'y which was the primer used for grade schools during the Spanish period. magyayaring magbalik; nguni't panahung nagdaan na'y di na muli pang And like the cartillas, this document served as the primary lessons for magdadaan. the members of the Katipunan. Ipagtangol mo ang inaapi, at kabakahin ang umaapi. The Kartilya presents not only the teachings for the neophyte Ang taong matalino'y ang may pagiingat sa bawat sasabihin, Katipunero but also the guiding principles of the society. These at matutong ipaglihim ang dapat ipaglihim. teachings are expected from the members even after the attainment of Sa daang matinik ng kabuhayan, lalaki ay siyang patnugot ng freedom from the colonizers. The Kartilya ends with a document of asawa't mga anak; kung ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, ang affirmation by the member to the society's teachings. patutunguhan ng inaakay ay kasamaan din. The Kartilya was not just a document for the Katipunan. Its Ang babai ay huag mong tignang isang bagay na libangan importance today is predicated on the teachings that embodied the lamang, kun di isang katuang at karamay sa mga kahirapan nitong moral and nationalistic principles of a nation that fought for kabuhayan; gamitan mo ng boong pagpipitagan ang kaniyang kahinaan, independence. These principles are relevant as the sense of nationhood at alalahanin ang inang pinagbuhata't nagiwi sa iyong kasangulan. still holds true when the cultural and historical values of every Filipino Ang di mo ibig na gawin sa asawa mo, anak at kapatid, ay are threatened by the onslaught of foreign influences brought about by huag mong gagawin sa asawa, anak, at kapatid ng iba. today's globalization. Ang kamahalan ng tao'y wala sa pagkahari, wala sa tangus ng ilong at puti ng mukha, wala sa pagkaparing kahilili ng Dios, wala sa Kartilya ng Katipunan mataas na kalagayan sa balat ng lupa; wagas at tunay na mahal na tao, Tagalog Text kahit laking gubat at walang nababatid kun di ang sariling wika, yaong KATIPUNAN may magandang asal, may isang pangungusap, may dangal at puri; NANG MANGA yaong napaaapi't di nakikiapi; yaong marunong magdamdam at A. N. B. marunong lumingap sa bayang tinubuan. Paglaganap ng mga aral na ito at maningning na sumikat ang SA MAY NASANG MAKISANIB araw ng mahal na Kalayaan dito sa kaabaabang Sangkalupuan, at SA KATIPUNANG ITO sabugan ng matamis niyang liwanag ang nangagkaisang magkalahi't magkakapatid ng ligayang walang katapusan, ang mga ginugol na Sa pagkakailangan, na ang lahat na nagiibig pumasuk sa buhay, pagud, at mga tiniis na kahirapa'y labis nang natumbasan. katipunang ito, ay magkaroon ng lubos na pananalig at kaisipan sa mga Kung lahat ng ito'y mataruk na ng nagiibig pumasuk at layong tinutungo at mga kaaralang pinaiiral, minarapat na ipakilala sa inaakala niyang matutupad ang mga tutungkulin, maitatala ang kaniyang kanila ang mga bagay na ito, at ng bukas makalawa'y huag silang ninanasa sa kasunod nito. magsisi at tuparing maluag sa kalooban ang kanilang mga tutungkulin. Ang kabagayang pinaguusig ng katipunang ito ay lubos na Note: The teachings are followed by a form to be filled out with name, dakila at mahalaga; papagisahin ang loob at kaisipan ng lahat ng hometown, age, occupation, status, and address. The Kartilya tagalog(*) sa pamagitan ng isang mahigpit na upang sa pagkakaisang concludes with a brief undertaking to be signed by the person who ito'y magkalakas na masinsing tabing na nakabubulag sa kaisipan at intends to join the association. matuklasan tunay na landas ng Katuiran at Kaliwanagan. Dito'y isa sa mga kaunaunahang utos, ang tunay na sa English Translation bayang tinubuan at lubos na pagdadamayan ng isa't isa. ASSOCIATION OF Maralita, mayaman, mangmang, marunong, lahat dito'y THE SONS OF THE PEOPLE magkakapantay at tunay na magkakapatid. Kapagkarakang mapusok dito ang sino man, tataligdan pilit To Those Who Want to Join this Association ang buhalhal na kaugalian, at paiilalim sa kapangyarihan ng mga banal na utos ng katipunan. In order that all who want to enter this Association may have Ang gawang lahat, na laban sa kamahalan at kalinisan, dito'y a full understanding and knowledge of its guiding principles and main kinasusuklaman; kaya't sa bagay na ito ipinaiilalim sa na pakikibalita ang teachings, it is necessary to make these things known to them so that kabuhayan ng sino mang nagiibig makisanib sa katipunang ito. they will not, tomorrow or the next day, repent, and so that they may Kung ang hangad ng papasuk dito'y ang tumalastas lamang perform their duties wholeheartedly. ng mga kalihiman nito, o ang ikagiginhawa ng sariling katawan, o ang This Association pursues a most worthy and momentous kilalanin ang mga naririto't ng maipagbili sa isang dakot na salapi, huag object: to unite the hearts and minds of all the Tagalogs by means of an magpatuloy, sapagkat dito'y bantain lamang ay talastas na ng makapal inviolable oath, in order that this union may be strong enough to tear na nakikiramdam sa kaniya, at karakarakang nilalapatan ng mabisang aside the thick veil that obscures thought, and to find the true path of gamut, na laan sa mga sukaban. Reason and Enlightenment. Dito'y gawa ang hinahanap at gawa ang tinitignan; kaya't hindi One of the foremost rules here is true love of the native land dapat pumasuk ang di makagagawa, kahit magaling magsalita. and genuine compassion for one another. Ipinauunawa din, na ang mga katungkulang ginaganap ng Poor, rich, ignorant, wise-here, all are equal and brethren. lahat ng napaaanak sa katipunang ito ay lubhang mabibigat lalung lalu As soon as anybody enters here, he shall perforce renoun na, kung gugunitain na di magyayaring maiiwasan at walang kusang disorderly babits and shall submit to the authority of the sac commands pagkukulang na di aabutin ng kakilakilabot na kaparusahan. of the Katipunan. All acts contrary to noble and clean living are repugna here, (*) Sa salitang tagalog katutura'y ang lahat nang tumubo sa and hence the life of anyone who wants to affiliate with Association will Sangkalupaang ito; sa makatuid, bisaya man, iloko man, kapangpangan be submitted to a searching investigation. man, etc., ay tagalog din. If the applicant merely wishes to know the secrets of Kung ang hangad ng papasuk dito, ang siya'y abuluyan o ang Association, or to seek personal gratification, or to know wh are here in ginhawa't malayaw na katahimikan ng katawan, huag magpatuloy, order to sell them for a handful of silver, be cannot proceed, for here the sapagkat mabigat na mga katungkulan ang matatagpuan, gaya ng many who are watching him will already know his intentions, and will pagtatangkilik sa mga naaapi at madalubong na paguusig sa lahat ng immediately have recourse to an effective remedy, such as befits kasamaan; sa bagay na ito ay aabutin ang maligalig na pamumuhay. traitors. Di kaila sa kangino paman ang mga nagbalang kapahamakan Here, only actions are demanded and esteemed; hen sa mga tagalog na nakaiisip nitong mga banal na kabagayan (at hindi anybody who is not willing to act should not enter, no matter how good man), at mga pahirap na ibinibigay ang naghaharing kalupitan, kalikuan a speaker he might be. at kasamaan. It is also announced that the duties to be performed by the Talastas din naman ng lahat ang pagkakailangan ng salapi, members of this association are exceedingly hard, especially na sa ngayo'y isa sa mga unang lakas na maaasahang magbibigay remembers that there can be no dereliction or wilful evasion of duty buhay sa lahat; sa bagay na ito, kinakailangan ang lubos na pagtupad without the exaction of a terrible punishment. sa mga pagbabayaran; piso sa pagpasok at sa buan buan ay sikapat. If an applicant merely desires financial support relief a wants Ang salaping ito'y ipinagbibigay alam ng nagiingat sa tuing to lead a life of bodily comfort and ease, he had better proceed, for he kapanahunan, bukod pa sa mapagsisiyasat ng sinoman kailan ma't will encounter weighty tasks, like the protection of the oppressed and ibigin. Di makikilos ang salaping ito, kundi pagkayarian ng karamihan. the relentless fight against all that is evil, In this way, his fate will be a Ang lahat ng ipinagsaysay at dapat gunitain at mahinahong vexatious life. pagbulaybulayin, sapagkat di magaganap at di matitiis ng walang tunay Nobody is unaware of the misfortune that threaten the na pagibig sa tinubuang lupa, at tunay na adhikang ipagtangkilik ang Filipinos who contemplate these things that are sacred (and even those Kagalingan. that are not) and the sufferings they are made endure by the reign of At ng lalong mapagtimbang ng sariling isip at kabaitan, cruelty, injustice and evil. basahin sumusunod na Everybody also knows the need for money, which today is one of the main things upon which we depend to bring sustenance to all. In this regard, the punctual payment of dues is required: one peso upon MGA ARAL NANG entry and then twelve and a half centavos each month. The custodian of KATIPUNAN NG MGA A.N.B the funds will periodically render an account to the members, and each Ang kabuhayang hindi ginugugol sa isang malaki at banal na member has a right to examine the accounts, should be so wish. The kadahilanan ay kahoy na walang lilim, kundi damong makamandag. funds cannot be expended without the consent of the majority. Ang gawang magaling na nagbubuhat sa pagpipita sa sarili, All this must be thought over and deliberated upon calmly, as at hindi sa talagang nasang gumawa ng kagalingan, ay di kabaitan. it cannot be accomplished or endured by anyone who has no love for his Ang tunay na kabanalan ay ang pagkakawang gawa, ang native land and no genuine desire to promote Progress. pagibig sa kapua at ang isukat ang bawat kilos, gawa't pangungusap sa And for the upliftment of your mind and virtue, read the talagang Katuiran. following Maitim man at maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao'y dunong pagpipita magkakapantay; mangyayaring ang isa'y higtan sa yaman, sa ganda...; ngunit di mahihigtan sa pagkatao. Ang may mataas na kalooban inuuna ang puri sa sarili; ang may hamak na kalooban inuuna ang pagpipita sa sarili sa puri. Sa taong may hiya, salita'y panunumpa. Teachings of the Cavite. Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista read the declaration that was later Katipunan of The Sons of the People signed by 177 persons, including an American mlitary officer. The Philippine National Anthem, then known as "Marcha Nacional Filipina," A life that is not dedicated to a great and sacred cause is like composed by Julian Felipe, was played by the Banda de San Francisco a tree without a shade, or a poisonous weed. de Malabon and the Philippine flag was again unfurled. A good deed lacks virtue if it springs from a desire for personal profit and not from a sincere desire to do good. About the Author True charity resides in acts of compassion, in love for one's (Although the actual author of the proclamation Ambrosio fellow men, and in making true Reason the measure of every move, Rianzares Bautista, the initiator of Philippine independence that led to deed and word. the making of the proclamation was Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.) Be their skin dark or pale, all men are equal. One can be Emilio Aguinaldo was born on March 22, 1869 in Kawit, Cavite superior to another in knowledge, wealth and beauty... but not in being. (Cavite el Viejo), the second to the youngest of eight children of Carlos A person with a noble character values honor above self- Aguinaldo and Trinidad Famy. The Aguinaldos were a wealthy and interest, while a person with an ignoble character values self-interest influential family with Carlos being gobernadorcillo for several terms. above honor. Following his father's death in 1883, Emilio assisted his mother in the An honorable man's word is his bond. family business and worked to help earn the family income. Don't waste time; lost wealth may be recovered, but time lost Aguinaldo followed in his father's footsteps and was chosen is lost forever. capitan municipal of Kawit in 1894. Months later, he joined the Katipunan Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor. choosing the name Magdalo, a name that was also given to another An intelligent man is he who takes care in everything he says branch of the Katipunan (the other was the Magdiwang) which he set up and keeps quiet about what must be kept secret. in his province. Along the thorny path of life, the man leads the way and his When the revolution began in 1896, the Katipunan in Cavite wife and children follow. If the leader goes the way of perdition, a succeeded in driving away the Spaniards from the province. But helpmate territorial and logistical problems between the two groups soon to ask Do not regard a woman as a mere plaything, but as helpmate for help forced Aguinaldo from Supremo Andres Bonifacio in settling the and partner in the hardships of this existence. Have due regard to her conflict. Bonifacio's intervention, however, only worsened the situation weakness, and remember the mother who brought you into this world and the only solution the two factions saw was to create a revolutionary and nurtured you in your infancy. government. What you would not want done to your wife, daughter and Elections for a pamahalaang panghihimagsik were held in sister, do not do to the wife, daughter and sister of another. Barrio Tejeros, San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias) on A man's worth does not come from him being a king, or in the March 22, 1897. Aguinaldo was elected President with Mariano Trias height of his nose and the whiteness of his face, or in him being a priest, (Vice-President), Artemio Ricarte (Captain-General), Emiliano Riego de a representative of God, or in his exalted position on the face of this Dios (Director of War), and Andres Bonifacio (Director of the Interior). earth. Pure and truly noble is he who, though born in the forest and able But the elections were disrupted following a protest over Bonifacio's to speak only his own tongue, behaves decently, is true to his word, has educational qualification for such a position. Bonifacio angrily declared dignity and honor, who is not an oppressor and does not abet the result of the elections null and void and walked out. The Magdalos, oppressors, who knows how to cherish and look after the land of his however, considered the election binding and the new government was birth. founded. When Bonifacio tried to put up his own government with an When these doctrines have spread and the brilliant sun of armed group, he was arrested and tried for sedition. Found guilty, the beloved liberty shines on these poor Islands, and sheds its sweet light Supremo and his brother Procopio were executed on May 10, 1897. upon a united race, a people in everlasting happiness, then the lives lost, The internal dissent caused by Bonifacio's death weakened the struggle and the suffering will have been more than recompensed. the Katipunan further. The Spanish troops regained Cavite and Aguinaldo was forced to retreat to the mountains of Biak-na-Bato. But Relevance the Spaniards soon realized that going after the rebels in their mountain The current relevance of the Kartilya lies in the fact that it hideout was futile. A stalemate ensued broken only by a truce proposal established not only the rules for the members of the organization but to which the rebels agreed. In exchange for an indemnity, amnesty, and the principles for the citizens of a nation once independence had been colonial reform, Aguinaldo and his officers went into exile in Hong Kong achieved. Though written in the 19th century, the Kartilya is significant in December 1897. to the lives of modern Filipinos as it reads like a simple creed for living The Spanish-American War in 1898 eventually changed in the light of the many changes occurring at present. Philippine history. After the Americans won the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898, Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines with their help and announced the resumption of the revolution against Spain. After winning Lesson 6 several victories against the Spaniards, he declared Philippine THE ACT OF PROCLAMATION OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE independence on June 12, 1898. FILIPINO PEOPLE (ACTA DE LA PROCLAMACIÓN DE LA But the Filipinos soon realized that the Americans were to INDEPENDENCIA DEL PUEBLO FILIPINO) become their new colonizers. After the Spanish defeat in 1898, the United States began to send fresh troops to the Philippines. In 1899, Historical Context Aguinaldo convened a Congress in Malolos, Bulacan in which the The first phase of the Philippine Revolution ended in a delegates wrote a Constitution and established the Philippine Republic stalemate between the Spaniards and the Filipino rebels. In December with Aguinaldo as President in January 1899. 1897, a truce was declared between the two forces with the Filipino Three weeks later, the continuing friction with the Americans leaders, led by Gen, Emilio Aguinaldo, agreeing to be exiled to Hong erupted into a conflict in February 1899. The Philippine-American War Kong while the Spaniards paid an indemnity for the damages caused as eventually ended in 1901 with the capture of Aguinaldo. Soon after, he a result of the conflict. The truce, however, lasted for only a few months pledged allegiance to the United States and returned to private life on before it collapsed. The renewed conflict would have been disastrous for his family farm. He briefly hugged the limelight when he ran for the the Spain and the United States over the another revolution in Cuba. presidency of the Philippine Commonwealth but lost to Manuel L. This eventually led to the Spanish-American War in 1898 and the arrival Quezon. of a new colonizer to the Philippines-the Americans. Aguinaldo was charged with collaboration by the Americans Even before the Battle of Manila in 1898, Aguinaldo had for helping the Japanese during World War II but was later freed in a already been meeting with the Americans in Singapore. He talked general amnesty. As a private citizen, he devoted his time to the cause against the Spaniards before he went back to Hong Kong to meet with of veteran revolucionarios until his death at the age of 94 on February 6, consul E. Spencer Pratt regarding US-Filipino collaboration up with 1964. Commodore George Dewey, commander of the Asiatic Fleet. Unfortunately, Dewey had already left for the Philippines to attack the About the Text Spanish fleet following America's declaration of war against Spain in On June 10, 1896, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo issued a one- April. sentence decree appointing his Auditor General of War, Ambrosio Aguinaldo remained in Hong Kong and met with the American Rianzares Bautista, as a "special commissioner" to write the Act of the consul general Rounseville Wildman. He paid Wildman a total of Declaration of the Independence. The result was a sixteen-page 117,000 to purchase rifles and ammunition. A first shipment worth document that contained the aspirations of freedom from Spanish rule, F50;000 was made but the other half was never delivered. Wildman the sacrifices made, and the revolution that resulted from it. It was the never returned the money given to him. text of this declaration that was read in Kawit in the afternoon of the On May 19, 1898, Aguinaldo finally returned to the Philippines celebration of the declaration of independence. Copies of the document on board the U.S. cruiser McCulloch. Aguinaldo conferred with Dewey were made and distributed. However, there was a problem in on Philippine conditions and was supplied with arms captured from the determining how many witnesses really signed the declaration. The Spaniards. From his headquarters in Cavite, Aguinaldo announced the copies classified under Philippine Revolutionary Papers (PRP) in the resumption of the revolution against the Spaniards, thus beginning the National Library had varying numbers. Later research by historian-writer second phase of the revolution. The Filipinos immediately flocked to the Jim Richardson placed the total number of signees at 177. province to join the army. By the end of May, Aguinaldo was in command of an army of 12,000 troops. The Act of Proclamation of Independence of the Filipino People On May 28, the Filipino forces won their first victory in Alapan, In the town of Cavite-Viejo, Province of Cavite, this 12th day Imus. The newly-made Filipino flag was hoisted in Alapan then later of June 1898: unfurled at the Teatro Caviteño in Cavite Nuevo (now Cavite City) in Before me, Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista, War Counselor and front of the Filipinos and captured Spanish soldiers. A group of American Special Delegate designated to proclaim and solemnize this Declaration officers and soldiers also witnessed the ceremony. of Independence by the Dictatorial Government of the Philippines, Earlier, On May 24, Aguinaldo announced the creation the pursuant to, and by virtue of, a Decree issued by the Egregious Dictator dictatorial government. The formation of this type of rule was a necessity Don Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy, when the growing nation needed a strong leader. He emphasized that The undersigned assemblage of military chiefs and others of the dictatorship was only temporary as it would be a prelude to the the army who could not attend, as well as the representatives of the establishment of a republican form of government. various towns, On June 12, 1898, Aguinaldo declared Philippine Taking into account the fact that the people of this country are independence from Spanish rule at a ceremony in his house in Kawit, already tired of bearing the ominous yoke of Spanish domination, Because of arbitrary arrests and abuses of the Civil Guards in exchange for those controlled by them in Mindanao which were to be who cause deaths in connivance with and even under the express orders transferred to the Jesuits, thus revoking them completely and ordering of their superior officers who at times would order the shooting of those the return of those parishes, all of which proceedings are on file with the placed under arrest under the pretext that they attempted to escape in Ministry of Foreign Affairs to which they are sent last month of last year violation of known Rules and for the issuance of the proper Royal Decree which, in turn, caused the Regulations, which abuses were left unpunished, and growth of the tree of liberty in this our dear land that grew more and more because of unjust deportations of illustrious Filipinos, especially those through the iniquitous measures of oppression, until the last drop from decreed by General Blanco at the instigation of the Archbishop and the our chalice of suffering having been drained, the first spark of revolution friars interested in keeping them in ignorance for egoistic and selfish broke out in Caloocan, spread out to Santa Mesa and continued its ends, which deportations were carried out through processes more course to the adjoining regions of the province where the unequalled execrable than those of the Inquisition which every civilized nation heroism of its inhabitants fought a one-sided battle against superior repudiates as a trial without hearing, forces of General Blanco and General Polavieja for a period of three Had resolved to start a revolution in August 1896 in order to months, without proper arms nor ammunitions, except bolos, pointed regain the independence and sovereignty of which the people had been bamboos, and arrows. deprived by Spain through Governor Miguel López de Legazpi who, Moreover, we confer upon our famous Dictator Don Emilio continuing the course followed by his predecessor Ferdinand Magellan Aguinaldo all the powers necessary to enable him to discharge the who landed on the shores of Cebu and occupied said Island by means duties of Government, including the prerogatives of granting pardon and of a Pact of Friendship with Chief Tupas, although he was killed in battle amnesty, that took place in said shores to which battle he was provoked by Chief And, lastly, it was resolved unanimously that this Nation, Kalipulako of Mactan who suspected his evil designs, landed on the already free and independent as of this day, must use the same flag Island of Bohol by entering also into a Blood Compact with its Chief which up to now is being used, whose design and colors are found Sikatuna, with the purpose of later taking by force the Island of Cebu, described in the attached drawing, the white triangle signifying the and because his successor Tupas did not allow him to occupy it, he went distinctive emblem of the famous Society of the "Katipunan" which by to Manila, the capital, winning likewise the friendship of its Chiefs means of its blood compact inspired the masses to rise in revolution, the Soliman and Lakandula, later taking possession of the city and the whole three stars, signifying the three principal Islands of this Archipelago- Archipelago in the name of Spain by virtue of an order of King Philip II, Luzon, Mindanao, and Panay where this revolutionary movement and with these historical precedents and because in international law the started; the sun representing the gigantic steps made by the sons of the prescription established by law to legalize the vicious acquisition of country along the path of Progress and Civilization; the eight rays, private property is not recognized, the legitimacy of such revolution signifying the eight provinces-Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, cannot be put in doubt which was calmed but not completely stifled by Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna, and Batangas-which declared themselves the pacification proposed by Don Pedro A. Paterno with Don Emilio in a state of war as soon as the first revolt was initiated; and the colors Aguinaldo as President of the Republic established in Biak-na-Bato and of Blue, Red, and White, commemorating the flag of the United States accepted by Governor-General Don Fernando Primo de Rivera under of North America, as a manifestation of our profound gratitude towards terms, both written and oral, among them being a general amnesty for this Great Nation for its disinterested protection which it lent us and all deported and convicted persons; that by reason of the non-fulfillment continues lending us. of some of the terms, after the destruction of the Spanish Squadron by And holding up this flag of ours, I present it to the gentlemen the North American Navy, and bombardment of the plaza of Cavite, Don here assembled: Emilio Aguinaldo returned in order to initiate a new revolution and no (The text is followed by the Signatures of the Witnesses) sooner had he given the order to rise on the 31st of last month when several towns anticipating the revolution, rose in revolt on the 28th, such Relevance that a Spanish contingent of 178 men, between Imus and Cavite Viejo, Nothing is more relevant to Philippine history than the under the command of a major of the Marine Infantry capitulated, the declaration of independence from colonial rule. The Declaration is, of revolutionary movement spreading like wild fire to other towns of Cavite course, that sole document that proves the value Filipinos place on their and the other provinces of Bataan, Pampanga, Batangas, Bulacan, freedom. At present, our independence has been questioned especially Laguna, and Morong, some of them with seaports and such was the in relation to our dealings with the United States (which colonized us for success of the victory of our arms, truly marvelous and without equal in almost half a century and later recognized our independence in 1946). the history of colonial revolutions that in the first mentioned province only However, it must be understood that the independence we attained in the Detachments in Naic and Indang remained to surrender; in the 1898 was freedom that was fought for with the lives of Filipinos. The goal second, all Detachments had been wiped out; in the third, the resistance or objective of this independence, however, is something that we might of the Spanish forces was localized in the town of San Fernando where have failed to achieve and protect properly. It in this context that the Acta the greater part of them are concentrated, the remainder in Macabebe, must be studied again. Sexmoan, and Guagua; in the fourth, in the town of Lipa; in the fifth, in the capital and in Calumpit; and in the last two remaining provinces, only in their respective capitals, and the city of Manila will soon be besieged by our forces as well as the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Zambales, and some others in the Visayas where the revolution at the time of the pacification and others even before, so that the independence of our country and the revindication of our sovereignty is assured. And having as witness to the rectitude of our intentions the Supreme Judge of the Universe, and under the protection of the Powerful and Humanitarian Nation, the United States of America, we do hereby proclaim and declare solemnly in the name and by authority of the people of these Philippine Islands, of That they are and have the right to be free and independent; that they have ceased to have any allegiance to the Crown Spain; that all political ties between them are and should be completely severed and annulled; and that, like other free and independent States, they enjoy the full power to make War and Peace, conclude commercial treaties, enter into alliances, regulate commerce, and do all other acts and things which Independent State has a right to do, And imbued with firm confidence in Divine Providence, we hereby mutually bind ourselves to support this Declaration with our lives, our fortunes, and with our most sacred possession, our Honor. We recognize, approve, and ratify, with all the orders emanating from the same, the Dictatorship established by Don Emilio Aguinaldo whom we revere as the Supreme Head of this Nation, which today begins to have a life of its own, in the conviction that he has been the instrument chosen by God, in spite of his humble origin, to effectuate the redemption of this unfortunate country as foretold by Dr. Don José Rizal in his magnificent verses which he composed in his prison cell prior to his execution, liberating it from the Yoke of Spanish domination, And in punishment for the impunity with which the Government sanctioned the commission of abuses by its officials, and for the unjust execution of Rizal and others who were sacrificed in order to please the insatiable friars in their hydropical thirst for vengeance against and extermination all those who oppose their Machiavellian ends, trampling upon the Penal Code of these Islands, and of those suspected persons arrested by the Chiefs of Detachments at the instigation of the friars, without any form nor semblance of trial and without any spiritual aid of our sacred Religion; and likewise, and for the same ends, eminent Filipino priests, Doctor Don Jose Burgos, Don Mariano Gomez, and Don Jacinto Zamora were hanged whose innocent blood was shed due to the intrigues of these so-called Religious corporations which made the authorities to believe that the military uprising at the fort of San Felipe in Cavite on the night of January 21, 1872 was instigated by those Filipino martyrs, thereby impeding the execution of the decree-sentence issued by the Council of State in the appeal in the administrative case interposed by the secular clergy against the Royal Orders that directed that the parishes under them within the jurisdiction of this Bishopric be turned over to the Recollects