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*Battle at Mactan (story)*
THE BATTLE OF MACTAN on April 27, 1521 marked the first organized resistance of the Filipinos against
foreign invaders. Raha Lapu-Lapu, a chieftain of Mactan Island, defeated Spanish sailors under
Portuguese sea captain and explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
After Magellan landed on the island of Homonhon on March 16, 1521, he parleyed with Rajah Calambu
of Limasawa, who guided him to Cebu on April 7. Through Magellan’s interpreter, a Malay servant by the
name of Enrique, Rajah Humabon of Cebu became an ally. Impressed by Magellan’s artillery (consisting
of guns, swords, body armor, 12 cannons, and 50 cross-bows), Rajah Humabon and Datu Zula suggested
to Magellan that they go to the nearby island of Mactan and punish Lapu-Lapu.
According to the accounts of Antonio Pigaffeta, Magellan’s voyage chronicler, the Portuguese sea captain
deployed 48 armored men, less than half his crew, with swords, axes, shields, cross-bows and guns.
Filipino historians note that because of the rocky outcroppings and coral near the beach, he could not
land on Mactan. Forced to anchor far from shore, Magellan could not bring his ship’s firepower to bear
on Lapu-Lapu’s warriors.
As the crew were retreating, Pigaffeta records that Magellan was surrounded by warriors. His crew had
to wade through the surf to make landing, Pigaffeta narrates. Eight crewmen were killed. Pigafetta, the
supernumerary on the voyage who later returned to Seville, Spain, records Lapu-Lapu had at least 1,500
native warriors in the battle.
Lapu-Lapu is the first Filipino to resist foreign invaders. The Battle of Mactan, even if it was situated in
the early years of Spanish invasion marks the start of an organized Filipino resistance against foreign
aggression. The defeat and death of Magellan is a humiliation in the part of Spain. It only shows that
even if the warriors of Lapu-lapu were outnumbered their bravery and patriotism ousted the Spanish
troops. Yet, the national consciousness of the Filipinos during that time is still futile compared to the
uprisings centuries later that brought the Philippine Revolution to its peak.
*Explanations*
The Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521, when Lapu-Lapu and his men killed Ferdinand Magellan was
looked upon by many enthusiasts of the Filipino martial arts (FMA) as a landmark where native fighting
skills triumphed over Occidental method of warfare.
The most credible account of what transpired during the Battle of Mactan was the chronicles of Antonio
Pigafetta, an Italian knight and diarist who traveled with Magellan and recorded the history of his
voyage.
In that encounter, it is evident that the Spaniards possessed the advantage of superior military
technology over the natives. But the over confidence they put on the formidability of their armament
cost them a victory.
It is good to examine the weapons of both sides as per the records of Pigafetta. The quotes in this article
were taken from the English translation of Pigafetta’s chronicles titled, “Pigafetta’s Account (1521) Part II,
published in “1898: The Shaping of Philippine History (Vol. II No. 17)”
Lapu-Lapu and his men were armed with the following weapons: cutlasses (kampilan), wooden shield,
stones as projectiles, bow and arrow, spears with metal points and bamboo lances. On the nature of the
latter, Pigafetta wrote, “They replied that if we had lances they had lances of bamboo and stakes
hardened with fire.”
Clad in armor, Magellan and his men were armed with muskets, crossbows, lances, swords and mortars.
Another important facet of this battle is the size of contingents from both sides. On the number of the
Spanish soldiers, Pigafetta wrote, “At midnight, sixty men of ours set out armed with sorselets and
helmets, together with the Christian king, the prince, some of the chief men, and twenty or thirty
balanguias.”
It is good to note that while the sixty Spanish soldiers were accompanied by an army of native warriors
friendly to them, this contingent did not participated in the fight as Pigafetta commented after the
battle, “The Christian king would have aided us, but the captain charged him before we landed not to
leave his balanghai [boat], but to stay to see how we fought.”
*Facts*
Lapu-Lapu is known to be the first Filipino hero who fought and won against the Spanish colonization yet
just like many other Filipino heroes who fought vigorously for our freedom, he is given a little regard.
Most of us only knew him as one of the Datus of Mactan in the Visayas who killed the Portuguese
explorer Ferdinand Magellan during the battle of Mactan in April 27, 1521 wherein the heavily armed
Spaniards (with lances, swords, crossbows, and muskets) were defeated by Lapu-lapu’s warriors armed
with iron swords, bows, and “bamboo” spears.
As the Philippines’ first known hero, Filipinos ought to know more about the bravery of Datu Lapu-Lapu
and learn how did we win the battle of Mactan against the Spanish conquistadors.
* Realization and Learnings *
The Battle of Mactan was regarded as the most important part of our History. It was the first ever revolt
in our Country, and the First to succeed to overthrow the Spanish colonists. I have learned from it to
Love our Country, just as I love myself. We are the Filipinos, and we own these land. Our Blood and our
names were in it, and we are the only one who will defend it.
This battle signifies the bravery of our dear ancestors during the pre-Spanish colonialism. For the
Spaniards, it only proves that what ever cause you want to implement to a certain area or region may
result to uncertain circumstances. Either there will be in favor or not (i.e Christianity by Spaniards for the
natives). The bravery of our ancestors play an important role to resist the foreign rule and influence at
least.

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Battle at Mactan (story)

* Realization and Learnings *

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