Philippine history : reassessed / Isidro Escare Abeto.

20. CONNOTATIONS OF "LIMASAWA". When Magellan came, there
was no island named "Limasawa" in the Philippines. The Island of
"Limasawa" came to history based upon Pigafetta's account stating
that Magellan held his first Christian mass in the island of Limasawa.
"The island of Limasawa" has two connotations, viz: an island
named "Limasawa", and an island of Limasawa, the chieftain. The
latter connotation is correct. The former is non-existent.
21. KATUNA NOT "SIKATUNA". The article ('Si') in the native dialect
has been made a permanent prefix to the name KATUNA, thus -
SIKATUNA. This is wrong. In the dialect, the article "Si" is used
thus: Li Pedro, Si Juan, or Si Katuna. Therefore, the correct name of
the Bohol chieftain is KATUNA.
22. TANDAY LUPALUPA NOT "LAPU-LAPU". The true name of the
ruler of Maktan Island was Tanday Lupalupa. The Spaniards had the
difficulty pronouncing "Lu-Ph-lu-PA" because of the acutely accented vowels"A" and "A". They conveniently reversed it "Lapulapu" as they had the propensity of changing other native names of
persons and places for colloquial convenience.
23. THE BOHOL BLOOD COMPACT. The famous blood compact in
Bohol was between Chieftain Katuna and Captain Alonso Albuquerque, not between "Sikatuna and Legazpi". Chieftain Katuna did not
climb the galleon to have a blood compact with Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi. Filipino pride and tradition would not permit that. Neither
Legazpi went down to the shore to meet the native chieftain. It was
risky and Legazpi, being the commander-in-chief of the Spanish fleet,
ordered his subalterns to perform the job for him. Besides, it was
repulsive to Spanish pride, too. Legazpi formed a commission
composed of his captains and soldiers headed by Captain Alonso Albuquerque to meet Chieftain Katuna at the latter's place. Through
diplomacy, a blood compact between Katuna and Albuquerque was
made for peace, amity and mutual help. Filipino painter Juan Luna
made the event more patent and world-famous with his painting
wherein he requested T.H. Pardo de Tavera to pose as Miguel Lopez
de Legazpi and Dr. Jose Rizal to pose as "Sikatuna".

XXII