Antonio Pigafetta, the Italian scholar who joined Ferdinand Magellan’s voyage in 1521, wrote some of the earliest descriptions of the Filipinos. His impressions of the early Filipinos were mostly positive. He noticed that the natives were hospitable and generous, often offering food, water, and shelter to the Spaniards. He admired their cleanliness and colorful clothing, which showed their creativity. Pigafetta also observed that Filipinos valued trade and used gold ornaments, which suggested wealth and skill in craftsmanship. However, he was also surprised by their religious beliefs, such as worshiping idols or anitos, which were very different from European Christianity. Overall, Pigafetta’s writings give us an image of Filipinos as welcoming, resourceful, and rich in culture even before Spanish colonization.