Utterly fascinating stuff, and I think your insight on the reason for Humabon's tears is spot on. The deeper history of humanity has been one long process for building up larger scales of interpersonal integration, which so far has meant power structures with ever more sophisticated mechanisms for communication and control. Perhaps Humabon also glimpsed the reality that Christianity could not be stopped if its followers were this irrationally devoted to their cause, so his culture's victory over Magellan would be fleeting. Kind of like playing chess and realising your opponent just sacrificed a piece to bait you into a losing position.
I had to completely reprogram my logic to think like Humabon. He does not have any loyalties except to himself, so a defense of his culture does not make sense to him. Since Magellan displayed superior technology (fast ships, large cannons, impenetrable armor) and performed a miracle (the curing of Humabon's brother), there was a chance that allying with Magellan was the right move. The battle of Mactan was a no-lose move for Humabon. If Magellan won, he would have gotten rid of a powerful rival. In this case, he would have adopted whatever he needed to adopt to gain power in whatever the new game is, as his successors have done in the past five centuries https://x.com/kcorazo/status/1783766739563741272
Utterly fascinating stuff, and I think your insight on the reason for Humabon's tears is spot on. The deeper history of humanity has been one long process for building up larger scales of interpersonal integration, which so far has meant power structures with ever more sophisticated mechanisms for communication and control. Perhaps Humabon also glimpsed the reality that Christianity could not be stopped if its followers were this irrationally devoted to their cause, so his culture's victory over Magellan would be fleeting. Kind of like playing chess and realising your opponent just sacrificed a piece to bait you into a losing position.
I had to completely reprogram my logic to think like Humabon. He does not have any loyalties except to himself, so a defense of his culture does not make sense to him. Since Magellan displayed superior technology (fast ships, large cannons, impenetrable armor) and performed a miracle (the curing of Humabon's brother), there was a chance that allying with Magellan was the right move. The battle of Mactan was a no-lose move for Humabon. If Magellan won, he would have gotten rid of a powerful rival. In this case, he would have adopted whatever he needed to adopt to gain power in whatever the new game is, as his successors have done in the past five centuries https://x.com/kcorazo/status/1783766739563741272
Such a fascinating and rare insight into a cultural perspective outside the norm. Really looking forward to reading the book when it is ready.