Daniella Manjares BSED MAJOR IN MATH 1-2

SITE OF THE FIRST MASS

*The first catholic Mass in the Philippines was held on March 31,1521 ( Eastern Sunday)

*Father Pedro De Valderrama

*Located at the Southern Leyte

*A popularly known as the birthplace of the church in the Philippines

* Holy First Mass marked the birth of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines

CONTREVERSIES BETWEEN LIMASAWA & MASAO/ BUTUAN

MASAO

*Zaide identified Masao in Butuan as the location of the First Mass. The basis of him is to claim the
diary of Antonio Pigafetta, chronicle of Magellan

* 1872: a monument to commemorate the site of first mass on the Philippines was erected in Butuan

*1953: The people in Butuan asked the Philippine Historical Committee to rehabilitate the monument
or place a marker on the site

LIMASAWA

 Jaime de Vera stated that the first mass was celebrated in Limasawa not in Butuan
 Historian Pastell stating by the footnote of Francisco Collens that Magellan did not go to
Butuan but from Limasawa to Cebu
 So that James Robertson agreed with Pastell’s in a footnote that “ Mazua”was actually
Limasawa
 In the authentic account of Pigafetata, the part was not in Butuan but an island named
“Mazua* (Masawa”)

EVIDENCE OF MASAO

1. The name of the place

2. The route from Homonhon
3. The latitide position
4. The geographical features
A. The bonfire
B. The balanghai
C. House
D. Abundance of Gold
E. A developed settlement
EVIDENCE OF LIMASAWA

1. The evidence of Albos log book

2. The evidence of Pigafetta
3. Summarry of the evidencd of Albo & Pigafetta
4. Confimatory evidence from Legazpi expedition

ACCORDING TO NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES (NHP) THEY CONFIRMED

THAT LIMASAWA IS THE SITE OF THE FIRST MASS HELD ON MARCH 31,1521 .