Brier, Brian Jade B.

Philippine History Sp101

BSCE-1A March 27 T/F

SITE OF THE FIRST MASS

First Mass in the Philippines symbolizes the declaration of the national shrine to
commemorate the birth of Christianity in the Philippines. The introduction of Christianity on
Philippine shores is generally linked to the celebration of the first Holy Mass, and Butuan City
and Limasawa, Southern Leyte, both claims to be the venue of this historical religious rite.
Which now led to some controversies regarding which and where does the First mass happen.
When Ferdinand Magellan and his European crew including his Pilot, Francisco Albo
sailed from San Lucar de Barrameda for an expedition to search for the “spice island” then after
approximately 2 years of his voyage these explorers eventually landed on the Philippines on
March 28, 1521. The most complete account of the Magellan expedition is that by Antonio
Pigafetta notes “First Voyage Around the World”, Like Albo, he was a member of the
expedition and was therefore an eyewitness of the principal events which he describes, including
the first mass.
According to Miguel A Bernad upon his examination on the evidence from Pigafetta’s
book “First Voyage Around the World”, we shall consider five facts: (a) Pigafetta’s testimony as
regards the route taken by the expedition from the Pacific Ocean specifically starting on March
16 1521 until April 7.(b) Pigafettas’s map even though he was no cartographer it became
extremely useful to identify the island which he mentions in the narrative. (c) The Two King
where Pigafetta confirms the existence of the two native “kings” that guided them to Cebu, also
Pigafette says one was the “king” of mazaua and the so called “the finest looking man” the “king
of Butuan. That confirmed that Mazaua could not have been Butuan. (d) Seven Days Mazaua in
here they meet the “king” of mazaua on March 28 and exchanges gifts in one another. And on
Sunday of March 31 they celebrated a mass at Mazaua. (e) An Argument from Omission where
in if the mazaua is indeed in the vicinity of Butuan and at the beach so called Masao which is
near the river why is there no mentioned river on the note of Pigafetta.
The National Historical Institute (NHI) has already arrived at a decision following a two-
year study. In 1996, it reaffirmed the prevalent view moved by Republic Act 2733 that the main
Holy Mass was commended in Limasawa Island on March 31, 1521 wherein they cited the
evidence uphold by Antonio Pigafetta from his daily notes which entitled “Primo viaggo intomo
al mondo”