Mindanao in the Journal of William Dampier: An Annotation of a 17th Century Source

This study revisits the precolonial history of Mindanao by closely examining William Dampier’s 17th-century journal, A New Voyage Around the World. While the historiography of the Philippines has primarily depended on documents from the Spanish colonial period, this paper underscores the importance of Dampier’s observations as a valuable and underappreciated historical resource. Dampier’s accounts provide profound insights into Mindanao’s geography, biodiversity, political systems, and cultural traditions before the extensive onset of Spanish colonization. His narratives depict a lively, decentralized community that actively participated in regional trade and was influenced by Islamic and Southeast Asian networks, countering colonial depictions of backwardness. Although Dampier's work has been referenced in a limited number of scholarly studies, it was an attempt to annotate Dampier in this study. By annotating Dampier’s descriptions, this study highlights the need to broaden Philippine historiography beyond sources focused solely on the Spanish perspective. It calls for future Filipino historians to engage with a more diverse range of historical documents, promoting a more inclusive, decolonized, and multifaceted comprehension of the nation's history. Through Dampier’s perspective, Mindanao is portrayed not as a marginal region but as a vibrant and crucial cultural and economic center in Southeast Asia.