A.D. 982: First Recorded Date in Sino-Philippine Relations

May-akda:
• This document is written by Ma Tuan-lin
• He is a son of a high government official and was a noted Chinese scholar and teacher.
• Given the fact that he was educated, I think it makes this document very reliable. He was a son of a government official, which makes him very well aware of the relationship between China and Philippines.

Lugar at Panahon:
• The document is seen in a book titled Wen Shiann Tung Kuo (A General Investigation of the Chinese Cultural Sources) written in 1317-1319 and published in 1322.
• This was confirmed by the Sung Shih (Histor of the Sung Dynasty), which was published in 1343-1347.
• There were extensive trades being conducted with the Chinese people.

Paunahang Kaalaman:
• Philippines were performing trades with other nearby countries. This includes Indonesia, India and China.

Tagapakinig/Mambabasa:
• This document was written for the public: student, teachers, and etc.

Katwiran:
• In my opinion, I think this document was written to let all the Filipinos know when the Sino-Philippine period started. This is because a lot of people believe in different times.

Pangunahing Ideya:
• Chinese overseas merchants traded with our people during the misty centuries before Magellan’s arrival.
• People’s claims about the beginning of Sino-Philippines were all different and conjecural. o Some scholars believe that Sino-Philippines intercourse began as early as the period of Chou dynasty (1122-247 B.C.) o Others believe that it started in the 3rd century A.D. o Others speculate that it occurred during the T’ang dynasty (A.D. 618-907)
• The date A.D. 982 is recorded as the beginning of Sino-Philippine contact by Ma Tuan-lin. o He called Philippines Mo-yi (Ma-i).

Kabuluhan:
• This document is important, because it contains important fact about the Sino-Philippine period. It proves that certain events happened at that time.
• Based from the document, it states that Filipinos were conducting trades with China before Magellan’s arrival in 1521. This means that Filipinos were already civilized. They are able to communicate with foreign people and build a relationship with them.
• Katanungan: o What language did they use to communicate with one another?