Philippine E-Journals

Two Filipiniana Items: A Review

Marcelino A. Foronda Jr.

Discipline: Cultural Studies

 

Abstract:

Philippine culture is in the debt of some foreigners for their efforts in collecting Philippine folklore material: proverbs, legends, tales, narrative poems, popular epics, and descriptions of religious beliefs and ceremonies. Pigafetta, Magellan's chronicler in the first continuous voyage around the world, is possibly the first foreigner to record some such material. While his log book of the voyage contains material which now appear hyperbolic, probably a consequence of relying too much on mere hearsay, still - and the student of Philippine culture today should be grateful - his book abounds in material which would have been lost to posterity were it not for his efforts.