PRIMARY SOURCE ANALYSIS

Title of Source: EXCERPT FROM SUCESOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS

Type of Primary Source: A written account by Antonio de Morga

Who is the author of the primary source? What do you know about the author that may shape his/her perspective?

The author of Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas is Antonio de Morga. He was a Spanish high-ranking official in the Philippines from 1593 to1603. He is a lawyer and held the position of oidor or
judge of the Real Audiencia.

Who is the intended audience of the primary source?

This written account is primarily intended for Spaniards. The discoveries of Antonio de Morga are useful in understanding the culture of ancient Filipinos.
CONTENT & CONTEXT

Where and when was the primary source published or created?

The primary source was published at Mexico in 1609.

Describe the historical context. What was happening during this event or time period?

In this context, the events happened in the early Spaniards colonization in the Philippines. They explore the culture of ancient Filipinos. They try to understand the traditions and customs that early
Filipinos practice.

OBSERVE EXPLAIN INFER WONDER

DESCRIPTION OF SOURCE:
What do you observe? Consider the images,
people, objects, activities, actions, words,
phrases, facts, and numbers.
MEANING: MESSAGE/ ARGUMENT:
What is the meaning of the objects, words, What sentiment (attitude or feeling) do you think
symbols, etc.? the author is trying to convey through the source?
What, based on the source, can you infer about the
historical event or time period?
QUESTIONS:
What about the source makes you curious?
What questions still remain? What additional
information would you need to know in order
to deepen your understanding of the ideas
expressed in the source?
  The account discussed the tradition and
culture of early Filipinos. Specifically,
regarding the traditional food that they
eat. It discussed a seemingly irrelevant
and outdated parcel of our gastronomic
culture, the nganga or the betel chew.
 In addition, in this article it explained the
benefits that they may acquire in chewing
this so called nganga. One example of the
benefits of nganga is when the juice gets
into the stomach it strengthens the body
in various diseases.
 Also, in this written account it stated that
this nganga is always present in every
individuals. For example, the natives
especially the chiefs take whenever they
leave their houses for show and
entertainment their boxes of buyos which
they called buccetas.
1. Bagoong or fish Paste – Morga’s term for
this food is decayed fish
2. Nganga or betel chew – a Filipino food
3. Buyo – made from a tree whose shaped like
the tree of mulberry
4. Bonga – the fruit resembles an oak acorn
and white inside
5. Capa (Sapa) – the juice
6. Buccetas – boxes of buyos
Analyzing the excerpt of Antonio de Morga, he
discussed the old-age delicacy specifically the
gastronomic culture of nganga or betel chew. In the
excerpt of his work, he narrated the preparation,
process, health benefits, practices and preparation.
Based on his work, he pointed out the gastronomy of
early Filipinos played a vital role in the lives of
people in pre-colonial and colonial periods. He didn’t
critize this practice, nganga or betel chew, unlike the
eating of bagoong or fish paste that annotated by
Jose Rizal.
• How did people in precolonial and colonial
period discover the Buyo or Betel chew?
• Why did the author, Antonio de Morga,
decided to make an article about Betel chew
among other Filipino delicacies?
• How did early Filipinos become fond of
eating decayed fish?

Created by John DePasquale for classroom use