"Magellan's Voyage Around the World" as translated by James Alexander Robertson, let’s dive deeper into specific elements

of the voyage, from

Magellan’s departure to the circumnavigation's completion, as well as some unique aspects of Pigafetta’s account captured in Robertson’s work.

1. Departure from Spain and the Atlantic Crossing

Magellan set sail from Seville, Spain on September 20, 1519, with five ships: the Trinidad (Magellan’s flagship), San Antonio, Concepción, Victoria,
and Santiago. The fleet consisted of about 270 men, including sailors, officers, priests, and chroniclers like Antonio Pigafetta. As Robertson
translates Pigafetta’s vivid details, we understand the complexities of organizing such a massive expedition aimed at finding the Spice Islands by
sailing westward, contrary to the routes established by Portuguese explorers.

The crossing of the Atlantic was not without difficulty. Magellan had to deal with internal strife among his crew, which included Spaniards who
resented taking orders from a Portuguese leader. Pigafetta's account, as brought to life by Robertson, reveals how Magellan's diplomatic skills and
leadership were crucial in maintaining order and moving forward.

2. Mutiny at Port St. Julian

While anchored at Port St. Julian (in modern-day Argentina), the crew faced harsh conditions. Tensions grew, leading to a major mutiny in April
1520. Pigafetta’s account captures the details of this mutiny, with Robertson’s translation highlighting Magellan’s resolve. Magellan dealt swiftly
with the mutineers, executing some and marooning others, restoring control over his fleet. This brutal but necessary decision saved the expedition
from potential collapse.

The Santiago was sent to explore the southern coastline and wrecked during a reconnaissance mission. This loss reduced Magellan’s fleet to four
ships, adding further stress to the voyage.

3. Discovery of the Strait of Magellan

The discovery of the strait, which would later be named the Straits of Magellan, is a key turning point in the journey. It took the fleet 38 days to
navigate the perilous strait through shifting winds, strong currents, and treacherous shoals. Pigafetta, through Robertson’s translation, describes the
desolate but awe-inspiring landscapes of Patagonia, noting the encounters with indigenous peoples (whom Pigafetta refers to as "giants") and the
difficulty of navigation.

Magellan’s success in navigating the strait finally brought the fleet into the Pacific Ocean on November 28, 1520, an achievement of immense
importance. This marked the first European navigation of the strait and the beginning of the Pacific crossing, which Pigafetta described as vast and
daunting, leading to the naming of the ocean ("Pacific" for its calm nature compared to the Atlantic).

4. Pacific Crossing: Starvation and Suffering

The Pacific crossing was one of the most grueling phases of the expedition. Magellan had severely underestimated the size of the ocean, and the
crew was left drifting for three months without sight of land. Pigafetta’s journal, as translated by Robertson, details the extreme conditions faced by
the crew:

 Food shortages: The crew was forced to eat rats, sawdust, and leather straps to survive. They also drank water that had become foul and
green with algae.

 Disease: Many of the crew suffered from scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C. Pigafetta describes how their gums swelled, their
teeth loosened, and many men died from the illness.

The fleet finally reached the Mariana Islands in March 1521, landing at Guam. However, Pigafetta noted that the natives initially took supplies from
the ship, which caused tension, leading Magellan to call the island "The Island of Thieves."

5. The Arrival in the Philippines

On March 16, 1521, the fleet sighted the island of Homonhon, marking the arrival in the Philippines. This section is particularly rich in Pigafetta’s
detailed ethnographic observations of the local inhabitants, their customs, and their physical appearance. As translated by Robertson, Pigafetta
describes the kindness and hospitality shown by the local people, contrasting with the prior challenges of the voyage.

6. First Mass and Conversion of Cebu

After a brief stay in Homonhon, Magellan sailed to Limasawa and then on to Cebu, where he made alliances with Rajah Humabon. Pigafetta’s
account provides detailed descriptions of the baptism of Humabon and his people. On March 31, 1521, the first Catholic Mass was celebrated on
Limasawa Island—a significant event in the history of Christianity in Southeast Asia. Magellan’s goal of spreading Christianity was met with success
in Cebu, where many converted.

7. The Battle of Mactan

As mentioned earlier, Pigafetta’s account of the Battle of Mactan is one of the most famous parts of the text. He describes Magellan's attempt to
convert the island’s chieftain, Lapu-Lapu, who refused to submit to Spanish rule. Magellan, confident in his European weaponry and armor, led a
small force of 60 men to attack Mactan. However, the local warriors, using spears and bamboo weapons, outnumbered and outmaneuvered
Magellan’s troops in the shallow waters near the shore.

Pigafetta’s translation by Robertson recounts Magellan’s heroic death, noting how he refused to retreat and fought until he was overwhelmed. The
defeat shocked the remaining crew and marked a significant turning point in the expedition.

8. After Magellan’s Death: The Leadership Crisis

Following Magellan’s death, a leadership crisis ensued. The remaining fleet was reduced in number, and the captains struggled to regain control.
Relations with the Cebuanos also deteriorated, leading to a massacre in which many Spaniards were killed after a trap was set by Rajah Humabon,
who turned on the Spanish once Magellan was gone.

Eventually, Juan Sebastián Elcano took command, and the fleet, reduced to two ships, continued westward. They reached the Spice Islands
(Maluku) in November 1521, where they successfully traded for the spices they sought. However, only one ship, the Victoria, managed to complete
the journey back to Spain.

9. The Return to Spain

On September 6, 1522, the Victoria, under Elcano’s command, arrived in Seville, completing the first circumnavigation of the world. Of the original
270 men, only 18 survivors returned, including Antonio Pigafetta. The expedition proved the world was round, established new trade routes, and
had a profound impact on global history, though it came at great cost in lives and resources.

Pigafetta’s Account and Robertson’s Translation

Pigafetta’s journal is more than just a narrative of the voyage; it is also a rich document of cross-cultural encounters, geography, and natural history.
His detailed descriptions of the people, plants, animals, and customs he encountered during the voyage make it an invaluable resource for
historians and anthropologists.

James Alexander Robertson’s translation provides modern readers access to these invaluable insights, with annotations and explanations that help
clarify historical and cultural contexts. His work is considered one of the best English translations of Pigafetta’s chronicle.

This translation captures the monumental achievement of Magellan’s voyage and the triumphs and tragedies that defined this era of exploration,
making it a crucial text for understanding early global exploration.

Arrival in the Philippines:

Magellan’s fleet reached the Philippines in March 1521 after months of navigating through the Pacific. On March 16, 1521, they landed on the
island of Homonhon, part of what is now Eastern Samar. The fleet, exhausted and in need of supplies, was welcomed by the local inhabitants.
Homonhon was uninhabited at the time, but nearby islanders offered provisions. This marked the beginning of Magellan’s interaction with the local
populations.

Soon after, they moved to Limasawa Island (Leyte) where they encountered the rulers Rajah Kolambu and Rajah Siagu. On March 31, 1521, the first
recorded Catholic Mass in the Philippines was held at Limasawa, celebrated by Magellan’s priest, symbolizing the beginning of Christianity’s
introduction to the archipelago.

Interaction with Cebu:

Magellan sailed to Cebu, where he befriended Rajah Humabon, a local ruler. Through this relationship, Magellan was able to baptize Humabon, his
wife, and hundreds of Cebuanos, cementing alliances. The Christian faith was further spread as Rajah Humabon and his people embraced it. This
part of the expedition demonstrated the dual goals of Magellan’s journey: to find new trade routes and to spread Christianity.

Conflict in Mactan and Departure:

However, not all local rulers were as welcoming. The most significant event occurred on April 27, 1521, on Mactan Island, where Magellan
attempted to subdue Lapu-Lapu, a local chieftain who resisted foreign rule. The Battle of Mactan led to Magellan's death. Pigafetta’s accounts
suggest that Magellan underestimated the strength of Lapu-Lapu’s forces. His death left the remaining crew leaderless and vulnerable.

After Magellan's death, the remaining crew members regrouped and eventually fled the region. They continued their journey westward, though
with a severely reduced crew, eventually completing the first circumnavigation of the globe under the command of Juan Sebastián Elcano.
Primary Source: Pigafetta's Testimony on the Route of Magellan's Expedition

Source: Emma Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands, Vols. 33 and 34, as cited in Miguel A. Bernad, "Butuan or Limasawa?
The Site of the First Mass in the Philippines: A Reexamination of Evidence" 1981, Kinaadman: A Journal of Southern Philippines, Vol. III, 1-35.

1. Saturday, 16 March 1521 - Magellan's expedition sighted a "high land" named "Zamal" which was some 300 leagues westward of Ladrones (now
the Marianas) Islands.

2. Sunday, March 17 - "The following day" after sighting Zamal Island, they landed on "another island which was uninhabited" and which lay "to the
right" of the above-mentioned island of "Zamal." (To the "right" here would mean on their starboard going south or southwest.) There they set up
two tents for the sick members of the crew and had a sow killed for them. The name of this island was "Humunu" (Homonhon). This island was
located at 10 degrees North latitude.

3. On that same day (Sunday, March 17), Magellan named the entire archipelago the "Islands of Saint Lazarus," the reason being that it was Sunday
in the Lenten season when the Gospel assigned for the Mass and the liturgical Office was the eleventh chapter of St. John, which tells of the raising
of Lazarus from the dead.

4. Monday, March 18- In the afternoon of their second day on that island, they saw a boat coming towards them with nine men in it. An exchange of
gifts was affected. Magellan asked for food supplies, and the men went away, promising to bring rice and other supplies in "four days."

5. There were two springs of water on that island of Homonhon. Also, they saw there some indications that there was gold in these islands.
Consequently, Magellan renamed the island and called it the "Watering Place of Good Omen" (Acquada la di bouni segnialli).

6. Friday, March 22 - At noon the natives returned. This time they were in two boats, and they brought food supplies.

7. Magellan's expedition stayed eight days at Homonhon: from Sunday, March 17, to the Monday of the following week, March 25.

8. Monday, March 25 In the afternoon, the expedition weighed - anchor and left the island of Homonhon. In the ecclesiastical
calendar, this day (March 25) was the feast-day of the Incarnation, also called the feast of the Annunciation and therefore "Our Lady's Day." On this
day, as they were about to weigh anchor, an accident happened to Pigafetta: he fell into the water but was rescued. He attributed his narrow escape
from death as grace obtained through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on her feast-day.

9. The route taken by the expedition after leaving Homonhon was "toward the west southwest, between four islands: namely, Cenalo, Hiunanghan,
Ibusson and Albarien." Very probably "Cenalo" is a misspelling in the Italian manuscript for what Pigafetta in his map calls "Ceilon" and Albo calls
"Seilani": namely the island of Leyte. "Hiunanghan" (a misspelling of Hinunangan) seemed to Pigafetta to be a separate island, but is actually on the
mainland of Leyte (i.e., "Ceylon"). On the other hand, Hibuson (Pigafetta's Ibusson) is an island 4/9/2024 east of Leyte's southern tip. Thus, it is easy
to see what Pigafetta meant by sailing "toward the west southwest" past those islands. They left Homonhon sailing westward towards Leyte, then
followed the Leyte coast southward, passing between the island of Hibuson on their portside and Hiunangan Bay on their starboard, and
then continued southward, then turning westward to "Mazaua."

10. Thursday, March 28 - In the morning of Holy Thursday, March 28, they anchored off an island where the previous night they had seen a light or a
bonfire. That island "lies in a latitude of nine and two-thirds towards the Arctic Pole (i.e., North) and in a longitude of one hundred and sixty-two
degrees from the line of demarcation. It is twenty-five leagues from the Acquada, and is called Mazaua."

11. They remained seven days on Mazaua Island.

12. Thursday, April 4 - They left Mazaua, bound for Cebu. They were guided thither by the king of Mazaua who sailed in his own boat. Their route
took them past five "islands" namely: "Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baibai, and Gatighan."

13. At Gatighan, they sailed westward to the three islands of the Camotes Group, namely, Poro, Pasihan and Ponson. Here the Spanish ships
stopped to allow the king of Mazaua to catch up with them, since the Spanish ships were much faster than the native balanghai-a thing that excited
the admiration of the king of Mazaua.

14. From the Camotes Islands they sailed southwards towards "Zubu."

15. Sunday, April 7 - At noon they entered the harbor of "Zubu" (Cebu). It had taken them three days to negotiate the journey from Mazaua
northwards to the Camotes Islands and then southwards to Cebu. It must be pointed out that both Albo and Pigafetta's testimonies coincide and
corroborate each other. Pigafetta gave more details on what they did during their weeklong stay at Mazaua.