Discoveries. Battles. Legends.

During Professor Aronson's English class today, we had Professor Tuyay, a fellow SWCC member who teaches a class about Asian-American Sociology, give us a presentation. Tuyay focused on the Filipino background information, and I found it to be really intriguing. In one part of his lecture, he spoke of three people: Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, and Lapu-Lapu. Since the presentation happened in a matter of 50 minutes, information was limited. So I took the liberty of doing some research of my own as well because I really wanted to learn more about these individuals. I'd like to mention in advance, this is quite a lengthy post, so I apologize. :)

The date is not when he "discovered America", it
was the year this day was established by Roosevelt.

I have a few images that evoke sarcasm in regards to Christopher Columbus' "discovery" of America, which I seem to agree with as a matter of fact. To summarize my answer to this question of whether he founded America or not is simple, no. That is all. Thank you. Just kidding! :) Anyway. People had lived here long, long, long before his existence. He is known for is death and destruction. Columbus is also seen as a symbol of slavery, and the celebration of his arrival likened to a celebration of Hitler and the Holocaust.

Many people are surprised to learn that Christopher Columbus and his men enslaved native inhabitants of the West Indies. They forced the natives to convert to Catholicism, and were violent in order to gain riches. Before his first voyage to the Americas, he had a contract with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain that explained how profit was important to him and he wanted some of the riches if he found any--10% to be exact. So he enslaved native people in order to be his servants. On his second voyage, he even began exporting slaves in order to receive profit since he wasn't gaining any money. Columbus ignored the plead of not being able to send slaves anymore in order to keep getting Ferdinand and Isabella's support.

It is said that the origin of syphilis--a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Trepomena pallidum--was due to Columbus. (Or, one out of two hypotheses as to how syphilis emanated.) Now, I'd rather not post a picture of what syphilis because it is disgusting--no offense to anyone who has it; search images up if you dare though. It was proposed that him and his crewmen carried it to Europe after their voyage to the Americas. 

Now who is this handsome fellow to the left, you ask? That is Ferdinand Magellan. In 1519, he sailed around South America in order to reach the Spice Islands where the Spice Girls once lived. Only joking people. :) He sailed across Atlantic Ocean into the Pacific Ocean.  He was the first to circumnavigate the earth. But he was unable to finish the voyage as he was killed during the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines. On the voyage of circumnavigation, the Spanish realized that America was not connected to Asia. 

How did the death of Magellan go, you ask? Well let me tell you! There's so much to say. About a month after reaching the equator, Magellan and his crew reached the island of Homonhon in the Philippines. 

This image depicts the Battle of Mactan

He then was guided to Cebu by Rajah Siaiu, someone whom he traded with as well.  A man named Rajah Humabon of Cuba was kind to Magellan and his crew. Humabon had an ally named Datu Zalu, and they convinced Magellan to kill their enemy, Lapu-Lapu. (Ah, see where this all begins to tie in? *Light bulb flashes on*) In my opinion though, Humabon and Zalu were just trying to get Magellan to do their dirty work. But hey, it worked. So Magellan tried to convert Lapu-Lapu to Christianity, but he didn't give in. A few weeks later, Magllan attacked Mactan. But Lapu-Lapu led 1,500 Mactan warriors armed with native weapons in battle against Magellan, his crew, and their guns. Ultimately, Lapu-Lapu and his people tore him up, and the ocean stole away the remainder of his body. Because after this little attack, Magellan's body was missing for good.

Okay, now this is my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great (how many "great"'s should I include?) uncle, Lapu-Lapu. Totally kidding! Although that'd be awesome. Who knows though? We could be related by the tiniest sliver. Or not.. :) He is, in fact, Lapu-Lapu. Very indigenous looking indeed. This great man was the ruler of Mactan. From all the information that I just mentioned, I believe it's very credible in calling him a "great man".. Wouldn't you agree? His real name was Datu Kalipulaku. He was known as the first native to resist Spanish colonization. He is also recognized for bringing Christianity to the Philippines. In the province of Cebu, they even dedicated a shrine, AND a city named after Lapu-Lapu. 

Interesting legends: 

1.) "Some natives believe that in his final years, Lapu-Lapu did not die, but turned into a stone, and is forever guarding the seas of Mactan. Fishermen in the island city throw coins at a stone shaped like a man as a way of asking for permission to fish in the chieftain’s territory."

2. ) "Another story passed on by the natives of the land says Lapu-Lapu became the statue placed on a pedestal at the center of the plaza. The statue faces the old city hall building where the mayors used to hold office and once held a crossbow in the immortal stance of someone about to shoot an arrow at an enemy. The people of the city decided to change this crossbow with a bolo after a succession of three mayors died due to a heart attack."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME! I'D APPRECIATE FEEDBACK, FOR THIS TOOK ME ABOUT TWO HOURS TO DO. THANKS EVERYONE. :)