Peer-reviewed
The Battle of Mactan and the Indigenous Discourse on War
The Spanish conquest of the Philippines is a neglected topic in Philippine historiography, with most interpretations, especially of its military aspect, being dated, biased, or cursory. This article revisits the conquest by focusing on the interaction of the Spanish and Filipino paradigms of warfare-what John Lynn calls a people's discourse on war. This discourse is a product of a people's history, geography, and culture and it affects such factors as how and why a people wage war. Through an examination of the Spanish and Filipino discourses on war, events of the Spanish conquest may be seen in their proper context, and the actions and motivations of the people involved are illumined
Article, 2007