13/06/2025
Noong 1521, si Enrique de Malacca ay kilala bilang alipin at interpreter ni Ferdinand Magellan. Sa mga tala, siya ay isang Malay na binili sa Malacca, ngunit ilang historian ang naniniwalang siya ay mula sa Butuan o Cebu — kaya posibleng Filipino siya o may kaugnayan sa mga unang Pilipino.
Bilang tagapagsalin, nakaikot siya mula sa Europe, Africa, Asia, hanggang sa Pilipinas. Nang mamatay si Magellan sa Labanan sa Mactan, iniulat na iniwan si Enrique sa Cebu — pero dito nagiging interesting ang kwento.
💭 What if nakabalik siya sa kanyang pinagmulan?
Kung totoo ngang siya’y taga-Butuan o Cebu, at nakauwi siya matapos ang expedition, nauna pa siya kay Juan Sebastián Elcano sa pag-ikot ng buong mundo. Ibig sabihin, si Enrique ang unang tao sa kasaysayan na nakapag-circumnavigate ng mundo — at posibleng isang Filipino!
✅ Historical Facts:
Enrique was documented by Antonio Pigafetta, chronicler of Magellan’s voyage.
He could speak and understand Visayan, which puzzled the Spaniards upon arriving in the Philippines — evidence he may have been from the region.
His fate after Cebu remains unknown — he disappeared from Spanish records.
🕵️♂️ Legend or Truth?
There’s no solid proof of his birthplace — but his ability to speak the local language hints he may have been Visayan. If proven, he holds the title of “First Circumnavigator of the Globe” — a title often credited to Elcano.
🎖️ Legacy:
Enrique remains a symbol of Filipino presence in global history, long before the Philippines was officially colonized.
He represents our people’s early global connections, resilience, and mystery.