CHAPTER 3
COLONIZATION OF THE PHILIPPINES AND
THE CONFLICTING VIEWS: Site of the First
Mass
This chapter discusses the discovery of the
Philippine archipelago and how Ferdinand
Magellan proved that the eastern part of the world
can be reached through a westerly route. The
arrival of his expedition in the islands and his
relationship with the Filipino natives. It also
presents here the conflicting views about the site
of the first mass – Butuan or Limasawa.
MAIN POINTS AND
HIGHLIGHTS
Magellan’s Expedition
Battle of Mactan
Site of the First Mass
Two Powerful Countries in Europe
The colonization in the Philippines started when the two
powerful countries – Portugal and Spain – had cold rivalry
in conquering lands to expand their empire and to look
spices as one of the most prized goods which is
equivalent like gold. To pacify the situation, the Pope in
Vatican City, Pope Alexander VI mediated between the
two to avoid further conflict (Portugal and Spain are both
Catholic Nations). In this discussion, let us find out how
did Magellan end up here in the Philippine archipelago
after long voyage from Spain.
Discovery of the Philippine Archipelago
It was Magellan’s expedition that paved way to the
discovery of the Philippines during 1521. Ferdinand
Magellan was born in Portugal in 1480. In 1517, he
decided to move to Spain to look for an opportunity to
offer his service to the Spanish Court. Timely enough,
through the Treaty of Tordesillas, King Charles I (later
became King Charles IV) of Spain was convinced about
the proposed route plan of Magellan in looking for the
Spice Island and gave his blessing for a voyage under
the Crown of Spain. The King gave him a fleet of five
ships called Armada and a rank commander of the
expedition under the order of Santiago.
The Magellan’s Fleet:
1. The flagship Trinidad –under Magellan’s command
2. San Antonio –commanded by Juan de Cartagena
3. Concepcion –commanded by Gaspas de Quesada
4. Santiago – commanded by Joăo Serrăo
5. Victoria – named after the Church of Sta Maria de la
Victoria de Triana, where Magellan took an oath of
allegiance to King Charles V; commanded by Luis
Mendoza
From among the five ships sent by King Charles I, only
three left to continue the mission of expedition, the
Trinidad, Concepcion, and Victoria. It was the first time for
the European to sail in Pacific Ocean. Magellan named
it Mar Pacifico for its peace and calm unlike other
oceans that they travelled where the water was extremely
rough.
On March 16, 1521, they reached the island of Homonhon
at the eastern part of the province of Samar. They landed
there to gather food and also refresh the crew after their
long voyage from the Pacific Ocean.
Magellan had good relationship to the two kings named
Rajah Kulambo and Rajah Humabon. Aside from the spice
island, other missions of Magellan expedition were to
circumnavigate the worlds and to spread Christianity.
When they entered the Archipelago in 1521, their priority
was to Christianize all the early Filipinos they would meet.
And Rajah Humabon was the first native chieftain who
embraced Christianity.
Many native leaders accepted Spain’s offer of friendship.
However, there was one leader named Lapu-Lapu (Leader of
Mactan) who did not accept the friendship of Magellan. This
rejection angered Magellan and he devised a plan to subdue
the native king.
Unfortunately, Magellan did not expect that the people from
Mactan were already anticipating the battle and was ready to
fight. Caught off-guard and outnumbered, most of the
Spaniards got injured and was forced to retreat. Magellan was
killed in the battle.
The defeat of the Spaniards in Mactan and with the series of
unfortunate events, Magellan’s troops finally decided to leave
Among the five ships at the beginning of the expedition,
only Victoria was able to successfully went back to
Spain.
There was controversy regarding where the site of the
first mass was held in the Philippines when Ferdinand
Magellan reached our archiplegao – in (Masao) Butuan or
Limasawa (Leyte)?
Magellan’s Contribution in the World History
The expedition initiated of Ferdinand Magellan was
regarded as the greatest of all expedition made by man.
For the first time in history, man has circumnavigated
the world and has proven that the earth was round and
not flat. The expedition also proved that the largest
ocean in the world was the Pacific Ocean. This new
knowledge in geography provoked Europeans to
explore more territories and lands especially in the East.
This journey also paved way for the conquest of the
Philippine archipelago and the conversion of the Filipinos
to Christianity.
