WOULD you believe Cebuano natives under King Humabon and Queen Amihan massacred some 27 members of Ferdinand Magellan’s crew and sold eight who survived to Chinese slave traders, just days after the Portuguese conquistador died at the hands of Datu Lapu-Lapu of Maktang way back on April 27, 1521?
Magellan’s loyal chronicler Antonio Pigafetta actually wrote about this unfortunate incident. Together with the accounts of other survivors who escaped Cebu on board the remaining three galleons, the historian Lawrence Bergreen, in his book “Magellan’s Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe: Over the Edge of the World,” pieced together a blow-by-blow account of the massacre.
Humabon quickly dealt with the rest of Magellan’s crew who thought they were at home with an ally and a friend who embraced Christianity. On Wednesday, May 1st, Humabon requested the armada’s leaders to a feast. Over 30 men, a quarter of the entire crew, heeded the invitation.
As the banquet was about to end, armed men emerged from the shadows and killed 27 of their guests and captured the priest Valderama and Juan Serrano who was an old man. (more)
