Babaylan Bruha Book Club Podcast

Listen in as we learn of the differing dividing classes of the Visayans and how even “slaves” had upward mobility in the community. Come learn how and why Manila became the capital of the Philippines. Join your Ates as we continue on our learning and liberation journey.

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Will the pillaging of pre-colonial Philippine villages ever end?! Join us as we continue our conversation discussing the book “1521: Rediscovering the History of the Philippines”. In this episode we dive into Ch. 13 & 14. We see the return of Legazpi in this story, witness the fighting between the Portuguese and Spanish over Cebu, and continue to take deep breaths as we lament the one-sided treaty Chief Tupas reluctantly signed. 

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We have a two for one today, covering not one but TWO chapters! Chapter 11 was a great segue into setting up the next part of “How the Philippines was Conquered by conquistadors”. Entitled: Gold, God, & Glory, Ate Judy puts together a timeline of 1519 to 1564 where it continues on the narrative of when Spanish captain, Hernan Cortes, claimed Nueva Espana, or Mexico, for Spain. Spain continued its quest to send expeditioners to the Spice Islands after Magellan’s voyage. According to historians Nicholas Cushner, Charles Mann, and John Leddy Phalan - the true nature of man desiring gold and glory in the name of their God was inspired by knowing the price of spice, such as pepper, was a hot commodity.

Chapter 12 is all about the year 1565, where Legazpi makes his journey to Samar in the Visayas, to Manicani Island, Babalian, Limasawa or Massua, Butuan, to Mindanao, and finally to Mactan in Cebu on April 27 of 1565. Along the way he is and is not received by Filipinos. After years of mistrust and betrayal, it was confirmed by a captured chief during a conflict– that the Portuguese put a stain on Filipinos receiving any foreigners to their shore lands.

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This chapter speaks of betrayal on betrayal on betrayal. Oh the ways man betrays man. So, now we know Magellan was killed at the battle of Mactan by the hand of Cilapulapu. Whose running the ships and crew, now?

According to Pigafetta, the men elected 2 commanders, Magellan’s Portuguese brother-in-law, Duarte Barbosa & Joao Serrao. Both men had ties to Magellan, and we read that even if they did not like Magellan, both commanders respected him. Which leads us to our second point of noting that Magellan was widely disliked by his own people, which has been debatable if his demise was caused by not being liked or supported by crew members. For example, Ate Judy brings up Enrique, the translator slave Magellan had captured years ago - where was he during the battle and where/when he met his own demise as well?

Either way, the narrative continues to portray how upon post-Magellan’s death, both commanders accepted an invitation from Rajah Humabon to come to shore to retrieve jewels for the King of Spain and dine with them. Listen in to find out what happened when they came to shore and if Magellan’s crew ever found the Spice Islands like they originally set out to do.

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This chapter felt like a whole lotta he said/she said/”and so they say”… Ate Judy walks us through a metaphorical “big fish” break down of the known and yet not-as-known (yet), legendary, Mactan chief who conquered Magellan in the battle of Cebu, Cilapulapu. Citing our frequent historian, Pigafetta’s words with Philippine Daily Inquirer, Ambeth Ocampo; and Daniel Gerona; along with with Resil B. Mojares, a Cebu historian and scholar who wrote the Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society and Lapu Lapu: The Conqueror of Magellan, whose work builds off the previous finds of another celebrated Filipino historian, Heidi K. Gloria.

From “loanword” evolutions, Mojares and Gloria’s historical research and analyses take us on a comparison ride to consider the level of authority and power Chief Cilapulapu had. Tune in with us as we talk about the story of Chief Cilapulapu’s father, Datu Mangal and his quarrel with Captain Silyo that led to Chief Cilapupu’s acquisition of a debatable magical alho weapon from a biyanti tree (coconut tree?), and how this weapon became the final lance that pierced Magellan before his fall.

We can truly consider how much hearsay is occurring in modern day to connect the dots of our rich pre-colonial Philippines history, allegedly only passed down predominantly via oral folklore, with a couple of daring historian writers sprinkled in through the test of time and rediscovery.

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Let’s do a little recap on our journey with Magellan so far… First there was the Arrival. Then the Friendship. Next came the Conversion. And today… Today we talk about the BATTLE. Enter stage right: “Cilapulapu”, who we know to as simply “Lapu Lapu” today. Cilapulapu was a chief of Mactan, which was a nearby island to Cebu, where we last left Magellan. Lapu Lapu “refused to obey the King of Spain”. And after so many tributes and conversions, it seems like the next thing Magellan wanted to do was show off his military power, and Cilapulapu’s challenge seemed like the perfect opportunity… but only to Magellan. It seems, that this was not well received by his crew and even Pigafetta begged Magellan not to go into battle with Cilapulapu. Then commences one of the most famous battles in Philippine history.

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Prepare yourselves. This chapter was a continuance of Magellan’s voyage from Rajah Kolambu, who ruled over Butuan and Caraga on the island of Mindanao, now into the Cebu. Cebu was known for the largest and best trade port, which obviously caught Magellan’s ambitious eye. Honestly, a very weird and tension filled description of Rajah Humabon, as Ate Judy states the “european construct” title for King of Cebu and their first encounters to establish relations… or nah? As Pigafetta + Bergreen’s descriptions cite the sequence of events between Rajah Humabon, his nephew, Prince Tupas, Enrique, Pigafetta, Magellan, and Magellan’s foster son, and apparently Rajah Kolambu made an appearance in the discussions about agreeing to convert to Christianity.

A chapter filled with back and forths and extravagant, anxiety riddled entrances and exits, this one’s a doozy for us to dive into, today!

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So, Ferdinand Magellan. Villain? Visionary? Friend? Foe? Hero? This chapter provided the unfolding timeline of Magellan’s objective to “make a name for himself” like other Portugese explorers; by originally setting out to bring commerce to the Spice Islands, particularly Moluccas, as a part of the Indonesian archipelago. Most Filipinos were told that Magellan’s purpose was to bring Christianity to the islands.

Ate Judy cites a lot of Laurence Bergreen’s Over The Edge of the World, Pigafetta, and Enrique’s lenses. We learn that Magellan was born in 1480 and became part of the royal court, which allowed him access to education and resources. The bulk of this chapter tells the tales of the emerging friendship between the Filipino King, Rajah Kolambu. Tune in and let us know your own hot takes on Magellan!

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Now we’re getting into some juicy deets! This chapter held an intertwining of details cited from an Italian supernumerary ship crew member, Antonio Pigafetta. Being a supernumerary meant Pigafetta didn't partake in shipboard responsibilities besides documenting/writing about our favorite antagonist on Ferdinand Magellan. But will we shift our thoughts on Magellan after this chapter? Thanks to Pigafetta and his famous piece, Magellan’s Voyage: A Narrative Account of the First Circumnavigation, another author Laurence Bergreen, who wrote, Over the Edge of the World, was able to translate Spain’s “first landings” in the Philippines.

Through this translation, Bergreen took us on a journey on and off the ship and the intriguing first stages of actually peaceful, friendly, and apparently ritualistically blood bonding  interactions between 2 leaders: Magellan and an unidentified Filipino King from the island of Homonhon. It is said that this location was later to be named as Aquade for its water and first signs of gold, post-colonialism.

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This chapter was an interesting breakdown of the connection the Philippines shares with China. Dating as far back as the ninth century (Jan 1, 801 AD – Dec 31, 900 AD) , that equates to about 1000 years of exchange both countries have experienced. In fact, the oldest “Chinatown” is in the Philippines. China would trade things such as porcelain, trade gold, iron cases for perfumes, lead, colored glass beads, and iron needles to exchange for the yellow wax, cotton, pearls, shells, and medicinal betel nuts, and jute textiles that were products of the islands. It is said that Filipinos visited China before China came to the Philippines, initially mostly for trade through bartering, which eventually created an economic trade route that made the Philippines consider China a long-exchanging, global, and economically super powerful neighbor.

Listen in as we discuss what the Philippines may have been called before the Spanish arrived and why this chapter in particular was a difficult eye opener. 

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Time Stamps:

1. Grounding Prayer & Opening @ 1:11

2. Bruha Tings! @ 3:20

3. BROWN GIRL CLIFF NOTES / Chapter Overview @ 10:40

4. Vocabulary Words @ 13:30

5. Quotes @ 28:28

6. Closing Prayer @ 43:03