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Lisod dawaton ang pagtuo. Di usab madawat sa uban nga ang Bisaya Dunay Lapulapu.
Nia ang kinatibok-ang bahin kabahin sa pangagpas nga si Lapulapu usa ka mugna o himohimo:
Prided by Filipinos as the first hero of the Philippines and a symbol of resistance against colonialism, this version of Lapu-Lapu simply did not exist. Oftentimes, he is pictured as a muscular warrior, a Muslim who dueled the Spanish invaders and killed their leader Magellan. This could not be farther from the truth.
From the only and irrefutable manuscripts of Antonio Pigafetta, a survivor of the battle of Mactan and shipmate of Ferdinand Magellan, Lapu-Lapu as nothing more than a village chief or datu.
In truth, Ferdinand Magellan was never a conqueror. His motivations were to simply reach the Spice Islands located in what is today’s Indonesia. He was only tasked to explore a trade route (which he proposed to the King of Spain at the time, Charles V). His arrival at Cebu was by chance.
Magellan and his crew were actually welcomed by a rival and political opponent of Lapu-Lapu, the Rajah of Sugbu, Humabon.
Lost in translation, it was actually Rajah Humabon who asked the Spanish to fight Lapu-Lapu on his behalf in exchange for converting to Christianity and pledging fealty to the crown of Spain. This was so Rajah Humabon would become the undisputed leader of the then Visayas region. Prior to the Spanish’s arrival, Lapu-Lapu and Humabon were already at odds due to their clashing spheres of influence.
As for resisting the Spanish, Lapu-Lapu was actually given chances for peace. He responded by saying he was willing to pledge loyalty to Spain but not to Humabon.
With no other options, the parties prepared for the inevitable battle. The Battle of Mactan was nothing more than a minor skirmish. While the Spanish had better armor and weapons, they had two obstacles: they were outnumbered 25:1, and they refused the aid of Humabon’s forces.
Because of the location (the beach shore, while the Mactans were on land), the weapons of the Spanish were rendered ineffective. The battle was not an epic fight, but simply a few shots in the air, and Magellan was shot with a poison arrow. His death allowed his men to escape.
According to Pigafetta’s writing, Lapu-Lapu was actually nowhere to be seen on the battlefield, and the descriptions of him were that he was a man in his 70’s. He certainly was not a Muslim, as he was said to have been tattooed, which is forbidden in Islam. It is possible that the myth that perpetuated the romanticized version of Lapu-Lapu can be traced back to the 1950's.
In 1952, the text 'Aginid Bayok Sa Atong Tawarik' was supposedly transcribed by a then 45-year-old Jovito Abellena, a member of a supposed old and respected family originating from what they called ‘Old Cebu’.
This transcribed work is allegedly based on an oral tradition the young Abellena heard as a boy. It was believed to be a narrative that explained Lapu-Lapu’s life and the events after his battle at Mactan.
However, an analysis into the paper brought its historicity into question, particularly the text’s anachronisms, choice of language, and finer details. If such an oral tradition did exist, it was most likely altered or even reduced to mere fiction due to the five centuries of accretions over generations.
In 1958, the administration under Carlos P. Garcia introduced the ‘Filipino First’ policy. While it is explicitly rooted for economic purposes--favoring locally made goods and businesses, it is possible that perhaps the nationalist intent also extended to the educational sector.
Carlos P. Garcia is credited for reviving Filipino cultural arts by emphasizing Filipino culture leading to the creation of the Republic Cultural Award which awards artists, scientists, historians, and writers. It is worth mentioning that his wife, Leonila "Inday" de la Serna Dimataga Garcia, was a native of today's Lapu-Lapu City.
While there is no definite proof that Carlos P. Garcia had his hands on the 'Aginid', the fact remains that his administration was marked by its staunch attempt to bring Filipino nationalism forward coincidentally just a few years after the text was transcribed.
So Lapu-Lapu did exist, but he was perhaps nothing like how he is presented today. It is important to remember that most Filipinos are familiar with lies, while another leader of the people is allying himself with a foreign power for power and leverage. Ironic or symbolic, what do you think?
- Carl Recto
Sources:
Abinales, Patricio N. & Amoroso, Donna J. All Politics is Local, 1946-1964. State and Society in the Philippines (illustrated ed.). Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 2005, pp. 182–184.
“Carlos P. Garcia (1957-1961)”. Philippine Presidents, April 6, 2010
Donkin, R.A. "Between East and West: The Moluccas and the Traffic in Spices up to the Arrival of Europeans", Volume 248 of Memoirs of the American Philosophical Society, Diane Publishing, 2003, p. 29.
Lach, Donald F. Asia in the Making of Europe, Volume I: The Century of Discovery. University of Chicago Press, 1994, p. 175.
Levinson, Nancy Smiler. “Magellan and the First Voyage Around the World, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt”, 2001, p. 39.
Limpag, Max. “Lapulapu Was Ready to Submit to the King of Spain Just Not to Humabon: Historian”. MyCebu.ph: Re/Discover Cebu, November 2, 2020, Lapulapu was ready to submit to the King of Spain just not to Humabon: historian.
Mayol, Ador Vincent. “Lapulapu: Hero behind the Myth.” INQUIRER.net, April 25, 2021, Lapulapu: Hero behind the myth.
Morison, S. E. The European Discovery of America: The Southern Voyages 1492–1616. Oxford University Press, New York, p. 438.
Ocampo, Ambeth R. “Lapu-Lapu, Magellan and Blind Patriotism.” INQUIRER.net, November 13, 2019, Lapu-Lapu, Magellan and blind patriotism.
Ocampo, Ambeth R. “Lapu-Lapu, National Hero.” INQUIRER.net, April 25, 2018, Lapu-Lapu, national hero.
Ocampo, Ambeth R. “The Battle of Mactan, According to Pigafetta.” INQUIRER.net, July 3, 2019, The Battle of Mactan, according to Pigafetta.
Ouano-Savellon, Romola. ""Aginid Bayok Sa Atong Tawarik": Archaic Cebuano and Historicity in a Folk Narrative." Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society 42, no. 3/4 (2014), May 19, 2021, pp. 207-209.
Scott, William Henry. Barangay: sixteenth-century Philippine culture and society. Ateneo de Manila University Press, 1994.
#ASharedPost #Hero #mobon #ItisalwaysthestoryofthelionhowhecatchhispreynotthepointviewofthedeerngagikaonRevisionisthistoryshouldneverbeentertainednorbeperpetuated.Thestoryof conquestisalwayswrittenandBIAStowardsthevictoriouswholivetotellthetale
Nia ang kinatibok-ang bahin kabahin sa pangagpas nga si Lapulapu usa ka mugna o himohimo:
Prided by Filipinos as the first hero of the Philippines and a symbol of resistance against colonialism, this version of Lapu-Lapu simply did not exist. Oftentimes, he is pictured as a muscular warrior, a Muslim who dueled the Spanish invaders and killed their leader Magellan. This could not be farther from the truth.
From the only and irrefutable manuscripts of Antonio Pigafetta, a survivor of the battle of Mactan and shipmate of Ferdinand Magellan, Lapu-Lapu as nothing more than a village chief or datu.
In truth, Ferdinand Magellan was never a conqueror. His motivations were to simply reach the Spice Islands located in what is today’s Indonesia. He was only tasked to explore a trade route (which he proposed to the King of Spain at the time, Charles V). His arrival at Cebu was by chance.
Magellan and his crew were actually welcomed by a rival and political opponent of Lapu-Lapu, the Rajah of Sugbu, Humabon.
Lost in translation, it was actually Rajah Humabon who asked the Spanish to fight Lapu-Lapu on his behalf in exchange for converting to Christianity and pledging fealty to the crown of Spain. This was so Rajah Humabon would become the undisputed leader of the then Visayas region. Prior to the Spanish’s arrival, Lapu-Lapu and Humabon were already at odds due to their clashing spheres of influence.
As for resisting the Spanish, Lapu-Lapu was actually given chances for peace. He responded by saying he was willing to pledge loyalty to Spain but not to Humabon.
With no other options, the parties prepared for the inevitable battle. The Battle of Mactan was nothing more than a minor skirmish. While the Spanish had better armor and weapons, they had two obstacles: they were outnumbered 25:1, and they refused the aid of Humabon’s forces.
Because of the location (the beach shore, while the Mactans were on land), the weapons of the Spanish were rendered ineffective. The battle was not an epic fight, but simply a few shots in the air, and Magellan was shot with a poison arrow. His death allowed his men to escape.
According to Pigafetta’s writing, Lapu-Lapu was actually nowhere to be seen on the battlefield, and the descriptions of him were that he was a man in his 70’s. He certainly was not a Muslim, as he was said to have been tattooed, which is forbidden in Islam. It is possible that the myth that perpetuated the romanticized version of Lapu-Lapu can be traced back to the 1950's.
In 1952, the text 'Aginid Bayok Sa Atong Tawarik' was supposedly transcribed by a then 45-year-old Jovito Abellena, a member of a supposed old and respected family originating from what they called ‘Old Cebu’.
This transcribed work is allegedly based on an oral tradition the young Abellena heard as a boy. It was believed to be a narrative that explained Lapu-Lapu’s life and the events after his battle at Mactan.
However, an analysis into the paper brought its historicity into question, particularly the text’s anachronisms, choice of language, and finer details. If such an oral tradition did exist, it was most likely altered or even reduced to mere fiction due to the five centuries of accretions over generations.
In 1958, the administration under Carlos P. Garcia introduced the ‘Filipino First’ policy. While it is explicitly rooted for economic purposes--favoring locally made goods and businesses, it is possible that perhaps the nationalist intent also extended to the educational sector.
Carlos P. Garcia is credited for reviving Filipino cultural arts by emphasizing Filipino culture leading to the creation of the Republic Cultural Award which awards artists, scientists, historians, and writers. It is worth mentioning that his wife, Leonila "Inday" de la Serna Dimataga Garcia, was a native of today's Lapu-Lapu City.
While there is no definite proof that Carlos P. Garcia had his hands on the 'Aginid', the fact remains that his administration was marked by its staunch attempt to bring Filipino nationalism forward coincidentally just a few years after the text was transcribed.
So Lapu-Lapu did exist, but he was perhaps nothing like how he is presented today. It is important to remember that most Filipinos are familiar with lies, while another leader of the people is allying himself with a foreign power for power and leverage. Ironic or symbolic, what do you think?
- Carl Recto
Sources:
Abinales, Patricio N. & Amoroso, Donna J. All Politics is Local, 1946-1964. State and Society in the Philippines (illustrated ed.). Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 2005, pp. 182–184.
“Carlos P. Garcia (1957-1961)”. Philippine Presidents, April 6, 2010
Donkin, R.A. "Between East and West: The Moluccas and the Traffic in Spices up to the Arrival of Europeans", Volume 248 of Memoirs of the American Philosophical Society, Diane Publishing, 2003, p. 29.
Lach, Donald F. Asia in the Making of Europe, Volume I: The Century of Discovery. University of Chicago Press, 1994, p. 175.
Levinson, Nancy Smiler. “Magellan and the First Voyage Around the World, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt”, 2001, p. 39.
Limpag, Max. “Lapulapu Was Ready to Submit to the King of Spain Just Not to Humabon: Historian”. MyCebu.ph: Re/Discover Cebu, November 2, 2020, Lapulapu was ready to submit to the King of Spain just not to Humabon: historian.
Mayol, Ador Vincent. “Lapulapu: Hero behind the Myth.” INQUIRER.net, April 25, 2021, Lapulapu: Hero behind the myth.
Morison, S. E. The European Discovery of America: The Southern Voyages 1492–1616. Oxford University Press, New York, p. 438.
Ocampo, Ambeth R. “Lapu-Lapu, Magellan and Blind Patriotism.” INQUIRER.net, November 13, 2019, Lapu-Lapu, Magellan and blind patriotism.
Ocampo, Ambeth R. “Lapu-Lapu, National Hero.” INQUIRER.net, April 25, 2018, Lapu-Lapu, national hero.
Ocampo, Ambeth R. “The Battle of Mactan, According to Pigafetta.” INQUIRER.net, July 3, 2019, The Battle of Mactan, according to Pigafetta.
Ouano-Savellon, Romola. ""Aginid Bayok Sa Atong Tawarik": Archaic Cebuano and Historicity in a Folk Narrative." Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society 42, no. 3/4 (2014), May 19, 2021, pp. 207-209.
Scott, William Henry. Barangay: sixteenth-century Philippine culture and society. Ateneo de Manila University Press, 1994.
#ASharedPost #Hero #mobon #ItisalwaysthestoryofthelionhowhecatchhispreynotthepointviewofthedeerngagikaonRevisionisthistoryshouldneverbeentertainednorbeperpetuated.Thestoryof conquestisalwayswrittenandBIAStowardsthevictoriouswholivetotellthetale
