In these 21st century there are at least 11 million Filipinos working or living outside our country. But did we think for at least in a moment who is the first Filipino OFW? Even before time Filipinos are behind the curtain of every success stories of achievements, but never been recognized. In our surprise the first person that really circumnavigate the Globe is a Cebuano.... WHAT !.. REALLY ?... I know, I know that 's what you think right now. But hey!, this is a true to life story... remember?
This is his story:
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Enrique |
In the 16th century Age of Exploration when Europeans discovered both the New World (North and South America) and the exotic Old World of the Indies and the Pacific.
Sometime in 1508, a young Malay boy from the archipelago that would later be named Enrique Trapobana with a native tongue of Cebuano Visayan, since he was only able to understand fully the natives on landing in Limasawa and later in Cebu. With a short sarong of indeterminate color, standing under the scorching sun on a crude, wooden platform in the slave market of the Moluccas now Malaysia. His status as slave is proof that he left his homeland against his will, probably captured from a beach somewhere in the Visayas which Muslim pirates raided for the human for their slave trade. There is no bitterness or defiance in this young Malay’s level gaze. On his tanned beardless face, a half-smile plays which soon broadens to reveal a row of perfectly white teeth. It is that smile, characteristic of his race. That day in Moluccas, the smile catches the eye of a weather-beaten explorer who is standing in the slave market, shopping for a manservant. A Portuguese aristocrat, named Ferdinando Magellanes. He approves of what he sees in the strapping Malay: the erect head of long, thick, very black hair; the wide shoulders; the smooth, unscarred torso with well-developed muscles; the sturdy legs.
Sometime in 1508, a young Malay boy from the archipelago that would later be named Enrique Trapobana with a native tongue of Cebuano Visayan, since he was only able to understand fully the natives on landing in Limasawa and later in Cebu. With a short sarong of indeterminate color, standing under the scorching sun on a crude, wooden platform in the slave market of the Moluccas now Malaysia. His status as slave is proof that he left his homeland against his will, probably captured from a beach somewhere in the Visayas which Muslim pirates raided for the human for their slave trade. There is no bitterness or defiance in this young Malay’s level gaze. On his tanned beardless face, a half-smile plays which soon broadens to reveal a row of perfectly white teeth. It is that smile, characteristic of his race. That day in Moluccas, the smile catches the eye of a weather-beaten explorer who is standing in the slave market, shopping for a manservant. A Portuguese aristocrat, named Ferdinando Magellanes. He approves of what he sees in the strapping Malay: the erect head of long, thick, very black hair; the wide shoulders; the smooth, unscarred torso with well-developed muscles; the sturdy legs.
The buyer steps forward and claims the Malay with a few gold coins. The transaction is completed by a friar in the entourage, who baptizes him with a Christian name, that of the day’s saint, “Enrique,” and he is brought home by his master to Portugal. They travel through the Indian Ocean, along the western coast of Africa to Lisbon. For the next 10 years Enrique is Magellan’s body servant, a carrier, and valued assistant. He would have been with Magellan on the campaign fought Moorish rebels in North Africa, when Magellan crushed his knee as his horse fell during battle, during the years Magellan maneuvered his way through the Byzantine Renaissance court politics in Lisbon and Madrid, where Enrique learned Portuguese, Spanish and even French.
By 1518-1519 Magellan had hatched a plan to lead an expedition to find a route to the fabled Spice Islands, but the Portuguese King Manuel rebuffed him. There were two reasons. One was that Portugal was already engaged in the highly lucrative trade in the Indies, using Vasco da Gama’s route and direct contacts with India, China and Southeast Asia. It already enjoyed a bonanza of silks and spices that had previously been monopolized by Venice and Genoa. The second was that the king could not stand Magellan, who was arrogant and overbearing, repeatedly demanding money and honors for his accomplishments.
Through his connections with navigators and astronomers, Magellan succeeded in convincing the young Spanish king, who was also Emperor Charles V, to finance his expedition. Magellan used visual aids worthy of our 21st century communication skills, a painted globe depicting the world, and the presentation of Enrique, native of the Spice Islands and all-important interpreter of the newly-found islanders. An Armada of the Moluccas was officially allowed with Magellan as Captain General.
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Route of Ferdinand Magellan |
Overjoyed that he would be returning to his homeland, Enrique merited a berth in the Flagship, Trinidad. A fleet of five ships left San Lucar de Barrameda in Spain, in September 1519, with officers and a crew of 260 Spaniards, Portuguese, French, Britons and North Africans. The expedition was beset by difficulties and disasters: inferior, inadequate supplies; three mutinies and conspiracies, furious storms, cannibals, violent deaths. From Spain, it sailed south to Cape Verde, crossed the Atlantic and sailed around South America, along Brazil, came to a strait full of glaciers, and finally emerged into an endless ocean, the Pacific, the largest body of water in the world, an immensity “past imagination” which Magellan’s armada crossed under curiously perfect weather conditions. The admiral, his officers and crew were tormented instead by uncertainty, treason, despair, starvation, scurvy ( vitamin c deficiency) , and the loss of two ships. They discovered Micronesia and finally landed at Guam where they were robbed of weapons and provisions.
One morning, in March 16 1521, the ocean currents brought them to a large majestic island of Samar, but high cliffs impeded landing, and they sailed to a smaller island, Homonhon, which appeared to have a safe harbor. Pleasant natives appeared in a boat and gave the mariners coconuts, rice wine and bananas. They moved on to the next island which had attracted them with campfires lighting up the sky. As the Trinidad approached the shore, Enrique was ordered to communicate with the brown men on the beach... " Hoy ! nag Ger-Ger mo diha ? (a Cebuano slang which only a Cebuano can understand ).... nakabalik nako ! ". They replied in the same language with shouts of recognition and familiarity... " wah ! bai eking oi, nag sugba mig butete gikan sa Pasil ug nag pabokal mig tubig para larang "... Magellan and the other Europeans in the three black galleons were flooded with relief and gratitude, until that moment, they had been painfully uncertain of where they were, or where Enrique had come from. They found magnificent shelter and excellent foods (fish, roast pork with gravy,and unlimited rice) in a breezy grass huts, And a native king who was decorated with large chains of gold named Humabon.
Enrique as the first, true circumnavigator of the globe. He had sailed from the Philippines where he had been kidnapped then to the Moluccas, from there to Europe and back again to the archipelago with Magellan.
Enrique was considered the first documented OFW, and the first balikbayan (without the balikbayan box). He was against doing battle with Lapu-lapu, who had resisted Christianity and Spanish sovereignty. Enrique refused to get off the boat at Mactan " ah ! soloha oroy ninyo, kalapok diha, toli-on gyud mo diha..Tausug raba na si Lapu-Lapu".. he said to them, but they didn't understand. After Magellan’s defeat and death, he declined to return with the surviving Europeans, who told him he was still a slave (but with the promise that they will give him a Indefinite leave to remain visa) because he is a property of Magellan’s widow. He was back in his homeland and had decided to remain. And he was ready to kill, if need, just to continue to stay in his country with his own people, The Philippines and the Filipino people.
note: Magellan went to Moluccas (Malaysia) under Portugal through the east route passing the indian ocean, then went back to Moluccas in 1520 through the west route under Spain seeking for a new route for the spice island... OK ? gets na.
note: Magellan went to Moluccas (Malaysia) under Portugal through the east route passing the indian ocean, then went back to Moluccas in 1520 through the west route under Spain seeking for a new route for the spice island... OK ? gets na.