Philippine Events with Great Impact and Importance in World History

The Philippines is a tiny country situated in Southeast Asia. Comprising of more than 7,100 islands, it’s endowed with countless natural beauties and wonders. Small as it is but it had also contributed numerous events which were of enormous importance in world history. Here are some of them.

Battle of Mactan

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The Battle of Mactan is a historic event that took place in the Visayas during the Age of Exploration and navigation. The Battle of Mactan was fought on April 27, 1521. The warriors of Lapu-Lapu, a native chieftain of Mactan Island, defeated Spanish sailors and soldiers under the command of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. The Battle of Mactan is commemorated by a memorial monument, known as the Mactan Shrine, in honor of Rajah Lapu Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan.

Because Magellan underestimated the capabilities of the natives, his forces suffered a humiliating defeat that eventually led to his untimely death. Lapu-Lapu utilized a strategy that gave him and his warrior’s advantage; they waited for Magellan’s group in a shallow shore where they (Spaniards) can’t use their canons forcing Magellan and his men to engage in a hand to hand battle using only their sword/sable. In some accounts, Magellan even boasted that he will teach the native a lesson. But surprisingly, without the aid of canons and guns, the Spanish sailors were easily beaten by the Filipinos. Because of this incident and victory of Lapu-Lapu, he was regarded as the first Filipino hero.

Sandugo or Blood Compact

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Blood compact or blood covenant is an ancient tradition. It is an old ritual where two people drink each other’s blood as part of a native custom to seal a friendship, a pact or treaty, or to validate an agreement. One of the more classic examples of the blood compact called Sandugo in Filipino language took place in Bohol, Philippines. The ritual was made in native Bohol-style between the Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Filipino chieftain of Bohol, Datu Sikatuna. A blood compact was also made between Ferdinand Magellan and Rajah Humabon. Magellan himself took part in several of these ceremonies before attacking Mactan Island.