Magellan first saw Samal, Davao on March 16,1521??

quotes written by Pigafetta, from book "First Voyage Round the World by Magellan":

Saturday, the 16th of March, 1521, we arrived at daybreak in sight of a high island, three hundred leagues distant from the before-mentioned Thieves Island, This Isle is called Zamal(1). The next day the general wished to land at another uninhabited island near the first , to be in greater security and to take water, also to repose there a few days.

1. Samar? Or Samal?

The next day the general wished to land at another uninhabited island near the first,

Talikod Island??


These people became very familiar and friendly with us(1), and explained many things to us in their languageand told us the names of the islands which we saw with our eyes before us(2). The island where they dwelt is called Zuluam, and is not large.(3).

1. Samal Tribe?


2. Talikod Island, Davao City area, Davao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental?


3. Other name for Zamal or Samal Island?

The island we were at was named Humunu(1); nevertheless because we found there two springs of very fresh water we called it the Watering place of good signs, and because we found here the first signs of gold. there is much white coral to be found here, and large trees which bear fruit smaller than an almond, and which are like pines. There are also many pine tress both good and bad. In this place there were many circumjacent islands, on which account we named them the Archipelago of St. Lazarus, because we stayed there on the day and feast of St. Lazarus(2).

1. Talikod Island?


2. Davao Gulf area?

That same day (March 25,1521) we took the course between West and Southwest(1) and passed amist four small islands, that is to say, Cenalo, Huinanghar, ibusson and Abarien.(2)

from Samal, Davao they changed course "west and southwest" or 1. Northernmost tip of Mindanao in present day Surigao City?


2. Cluster of islands along Surigao del Norte area, Siargao, Dinagat, Liloan in Leyte, Limasawa?(When viewed on their trip from Samal, Davao, these islands, esp. leyte did look "small" as the expedition viewed these islands by its tip!)

Thursday, the 28th of March, having seen the night before fire upon an island, at the morning we came to anchor at this island; where we saw a small boat which they call Boloto, with eight men inside, which approached the ship of the captain-general. Then a slave of the captain's who was from Sumatra(1), otherwise named Trapobrana, spoke from afar to these people, who understood his talk (2), and came near to the side of the ship, but they withdrew immediately, and would not enter the ship from fear of us.

1. from Sri-Vijayan empire?

2. "Lumad Visayan" - mixture of Old Malay, Dravidian Kavi, Sanskrit?

The island of this king was called Zaluan and Calagan(1), and when these two kings wish to one anotherr they come to this island where we were(2). Of these kings the painted one is called Raia Calambu, and the other one Raia Siani.

1. Butuan and Caraga?


2. Masao, Butuan?

It seemed that the Spanish expedition of Magellan, lacking in accurate geographical description of the area, tend to identify land masses surrounded by bodies of water as "island," Masao in Butuan seemed to be carved out from river delta that was perhaps misunderstood as "island."

If based on the mainstream historical claim that the first mass was held in Limasawa, Leyte, it's ridiculous for the Raja's of Butuan and Caraga to sail all the way to Limasawa to attend the first mass, unless of course if they chartered a fastcraft ferry for the special occassion, and for Pigafetta and Magellan's crew to visit his kingdom, for both Raja's to meet cordially for gamehunting, there must be regular schedules of fastcraft ferries for the Limasawa - Kingdoms of Butuan and Caraga route since 1521!! LOL

repost on the Samal People and Giants

Samal Island, or PU located in Davao Gulf  indeed had a very long history. In the ancient of times it had been said (partly read from researches by UP Prof. Fe Mangahas)  the island was once inhabited by giants called the Dinagat. These giants were abusive for they would raid villages (most likely along mainland Davao) and steal, vandalize (like defecating on their kitchen), and kidnap women and made sex slaves. Babies out of such abuse that were born giants were assimilated, those that remained human-size were rejected and separated with the kidnapped women to be their slaves.

The humans, fed up with the abusive giants, gathered together to device ways on how to get rid of them. They decided to deceive the giants by sending them delectable foods laden on a small boat. the giants upon seeing the boat, surmised it as offering of submission by the tiny humans and that the humans had finally conceded to their "superiority." The food however, was laced with poison.



The Dinagats only allowed all their fellow giants to partake of the food and prohibited human-sized slaves and the kinapped women to partake of the feast whom they treated as inferior class. All the giants were ultimately killed, except for the human-sized slaves, now Free. Thus the survivors called themselves "Samal," which said to be meant as dregs, or left-over.

However, there were indeed accounts of first-hand witnesses (local inhabitants, construction workers, treasure hunters) who discovered skeletal remains in Samal. Most of these discovered remains were stolen and unaccounted for. Even foreign scientists investigated the phenomenon. but mediocre nartional historical authorities (as they had, until recently, ignored the role of Mindanao legacy in mainstream history lessons ) outrightly dismissed these priceless gems of local history that could otherwise spell the difference to the dysfunctional state of this oligarch-dominated state and society.

Even the Sama's creation myth is very old, and eerily similar with the myths of the ancient Sumerians (Abraham's father was a Sumerian priest) supposedly the oldest civilization in the World, according to western historians that is. It was also intriguing that the bible mentioned about such giants most probably borrowed from Sumerian accounts, known as Nephilims, borne of angel (read: Extraterrestrial) and human parents.

enigmatic Samal

Even for locals living in Davao City, nearby Samal (that's only about 7 minute ride by barge from the mainland) is an island now gradualy revealing not just her beauty, but also her mystery. It is a paradise-like island we thought we knew. We thought the island was just the next byword for tourism destination owing to its pristine beaches with even some areas having powdery white sand so fine that its shore could diffuse heat of the tropical sun as one walks over it, an island of breathtaking sceneries and unspoilt wonders that Davao region hopes to keep that way while balancing with progress. Just a few years ago, it was also discovered that the island's batcave shelters the world's largest fruit bat colony (Geoffrey's Rousette species). It turned out there's even more to the island.

From my recent personal research posted in the previous blog, enigmatic Samal may also have one of the country's oldest history, with its rich past even inhabited by legendary giants of yore (well, not necessary "legend," there were actual discoveries of giant skeletal remains that unfortunately were looted or neglected, add up the Philippines authorities' lack of enthusiasm in archiving these otherwise valuable legacies).

It also made me recall of another enigmatic religious group in Samal, the Moncadistas. They are a religious colony known for their tradition of eating uncooked and raw food with no fish or meat. The group was founded by Hilario Camino Moncado (1898-1956). At nine years of age, he graduated with honors from the College of Mystery and Psychics in Calcutta, India. During earlier times, many of the group's male members sported long hairs and beards. The Moncadistas are known to be peaceful and law-abiding citizens.

Another personal observation that I tend to notice while in Samal, were the local dogs, yup, the local canines. Unlike their counterparts in the mainland, it seemed that most local dogs in Samal do not have the habit of barking at strangers. Perhaps it was due to the geographical confines of the island, but I least expected that even these creatures could create a " canine culture" that is uniquely Samal. I wonder if other visitors had noticed it too.

It makes one wonder, even with locals, what enigmatic character would this beautiful island reveal next.