The
Kapre in the Island of Humunu
News from the fishermen spread like fire among
the inhabitants in the island of Zuluan about three strange boats, larger than balanghai, which anchored at the island
of Humunu. These strange watercrafts were manned by kapre – tall hairy people which according to stories inhabit a
nearby island. The kapre had been there
for days and the fishermen were scared to drop by. Nine Katutubo dared to paddle
to Humunu to investigate. They saw tall
white men whose habits and clothing were heard of only in myths. These
strangers were not kapre, only exhausted and hungry men nursing their sick. These
strangers must have come from a faraway land.
The Katutubo, overjoyed by the strangers’
presence, entertained the visitors as best as they could. Just like unusual local
events, people began to flock. The fishermen gave fresh fishes, bananas, palm
wine, and coconuts. And yes, out of hospitality, the Katutubo promised to bring
in their priced products – rice and wine.
By midday, three days later, the Katutubo visited
the strangers again. They were joined by Schione, their aging chief.
They brought with them coconuts (lubi), pomelo (acsua), wine (tuba nio nipa) and chicken (monoch). These were purchased by the strangers with colorful toys.
Both sides communicated in signs and the Katutubo
were more than willing to answer questions they almost did not understand.
Talks ranged from local names of body parts, ornaments, implements, fruits and animals
to names and location of places. The Katutubo were amazed by how their local
words were transcribed into symbols by on Antonio Pigafetta, the most inquisitive
of all of the strangers. Chianche (cloves),
mana (cinnamon), manissa (pepper), luia (ginger),
balaoan (gold) and other sample products
brought by the strangers were identified and recorded. The strangers also asked
where these goods grow. The surrounding islands were pointed and named – Cenalo
(Sigalo), Huinanghar (Hinunangan), Ibusson (Hibusson) and Abarien (Cabalian).[1]
The strangers then proceeded to Mazzava, an
island north of a bigger island, Butuan. The ruler of Butuan (Rajah Culambu)
and the ruler of Mazzava (Rajah Siaui) realized that their visitors were in
dire need to buy food and other basic needs to replenish his fleet’s resources.
Looking through the merchandise brought by them, the rulers noticed that these
are expensive-looking objects rarely brought by other Asian traders. They,
thus, recommended that the foreigners trade at Zubu, a richer port. However, they
intended to initially supply the fleet with rice, fish and other food
provisions. Later, the ruler of Mazzava even volunteered to personally lead
them to Cebu.[2]
At Cebu
It was an ordinary day in Cebu during the reign
of Rajah Humabon when loud explosions were heard at the bay. The citizens scampered
for their safety but the brave grabbed their weapons and rushed to the shore. They
saw large ships, larger than that of their Asian trading partners. They were
later informed that these ships belong to the great king of Spain and the explosions
were European salutes of peace.
The ruling rajah, Humabon, informed the
foreigners that all who dropped anchor at Zubu port need to pay taxes. However,
the foreigners refused claiming that their king, the King of Spain, do not
recognize any sovereign. Rebuffed, the rajah opted to enter into a treaty of
friendship and contented himself with gifts.
Then a week of mass baptism to a foreign faith
called Christianity followed. The local officials asked for preachers to stay
and teach them the rudiments of the new religion. But due to the lack of
manpower, Magellan promised to send priests in another time. The natives
curiously lined up for a ritual they barely understood. They were also given
strange names. Rajah Humabon was named Don Carlos and his wife, Juana.
In a span of eight days, most of the
inhabitants of Zubu had been baptized. The new “Christians” were made to
promise to be loyal to the king of Spain, to the Christian religion and to the
king of Zubu. As an expression, they were required to pay taxes to Magellan and
to destroy the images of their Gods, which they venerated for centuries. The
rajahs of the villages of Cingapola, Mandani, Lalan, Lalutan and Lubucin paid the
required tributes.[3] Zula,
one of the rajahs of the island of Mactan, sent goats in tribute. The foreigners
even burned a village for resisting.[4]
The
Victory of Lapulapu
Rajah Zula, through his son, reported that the
other rajah of Mactan, Lapulapu, prevented him from fulfilling his promises. He
then requested for assistance from the foreigners to subdue Lapulapu. Having pillaged
other villages, Magellan decided to personally put Lapulapu to his knees.
Rajah Lapulapu was prepared for war. He was a
fine man in the art of warfare and had been known as the most powerful chief in
the region. He assembled and commanded a troop of about one thousand five
hundred brave warriors armed with bamboo spears and blades. The shallow waters
surrounding the island of Mactan also worked to his advantage.
On the other hand, the intruders and their
leader, Magellan, were determined to burn Lapulapu’s village and coconut grove.
At midnight, April 27, 1521, their fleet sailed to Mactan. They arrived there few
hours before dawn. Rajah Humabun and his men on board more than twenty
balangays also went to Mactan to watch the fight.[5]
A Muslim trader, acting as an intermediary, approached
Lapulapu and informed him that those ships demand his submission to the King of
Zubu and obedience to the king of Spain. “How can I hold in the high regard a
man I have been commanding for the long time?” He retorted. War commenced.
The shallow waters prevented large ships from
approaching the beach.[6]
Thus, from their ships, the intruders
blasted off their canons but these rarely hit the shores. They were like
thunders roaring from the seas. When the last of the canons were blasted off,
forty nine fully-geared intruders leaped into the waters and waded to the shore.
Some of them rushed to the lands and set to fire more than twenty houses in the
village of Bulaia.[7]
In the midst of loud shouts, the native
warriors furiously attacked the intruders from all sides effectively enveloping
them. The sight of their burning houses made them even more furious. Poisoned
arrows rained from all directions, one of them pierced through Magellan’s leg.
From then on, the natives knew that the intruders’ arrogance was no match to
their boldness and tactical preparedness. The intruders scampered back to their
departing ships leaving their leader and six or eight soldiers to fight by
themselves.
Bamboo spears rained on the remaining intruders.
The native warriors hurled their spears against retreating enemies, picking up
the previously hurled ones and throwing them again.[8]
They throw a spear on Magellan’s face which he evaded but another one hit his
arm. One of the natives thrust a blade on his left leg. He fell down, his face
to the water.
[1]
Antonio Pigafetta, The First Voyage Round the World by Magellan,
Lord Stanley of Alderly (trans.), New York: Burt Frankin, 1874, pp. 73-75.
[2] Antonio Pigafetta, The First Voyage Round the World by Magellan,
Lord Stanley of Alderly (trans.), New York: Burt Frankin, 1874.
[3]
Antonio Pigafetta, The First Voyage Round the World by Magellan,
Lord Stanley of Alderly (trans.), New York: Burt Frankin, 1874, p.105.
[4]
Antonio Pigafetta, The
First Voyage Round the World by Magellan, Lord Stanley of Alderly (trans.), New
York: Burt Frankin, 1874, p. 94.
[5] Fernão Oliveira, The Voyage of Fernão de Magalhães to Claim
the Moluccas for the King of Castile, Manila: National Historical
Institute, 2002.
[6]
Antonio Pigafetta, The
First Voyage Round the World by Magellan, Lord Stanley of Alderly (trans.), New
York: Burt Frankin, 1874, p. 100.
[7]
Antonio Pigafetta, The
First Voyage Round the World by Magellan, Lord Stanley of Alderly (trans.), New
York: Burt Frankin, 1874, p. 101.
[8]
Antonio Pigafetta, The
First Voyage Round the World by Magellan, Lord Stanley of Alderly (trans.), New
York: Burt Frankin, 1874, p. 101.
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