First Mass in the Philippines: The Limasawa-Butuan Controversy

Angeles University Foundation
Angeles City
College of Allied Medical Profession
First Mass in
the Philippines
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Submitted by: BSPT – 1B (Group 1)
De Guzman, Sophia
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Ramos, Stephanie Bea

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Balinang, Nina Marielle

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Canasa, Sophia
Guerrero, Lerrene
Machate, John Leo
Nojadera, Louie
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Pacia, Thomas Bhen

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Rapanan, Ariane
Submitted to:
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Mr. John Ray Camorongan

Readings in Philippine History
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Abstract
This study source was downloaded by 100000830160004 from CourseHero.com on 08-29-2021 09:28:44 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/56194641/First-Mass-in-the-Philippinesdocx/
Christianity is a huge part of Filipino culture as it is the most widespread religion in the
Philippines since the Spanish Colonial Period. The onset of Christianity is answered by many
different sources however one question remains, and that is where the first mass in the
Philippines took place. This controversy has many people divided as it was first believed to have
occurred in Butuan. Many years later, Historians started to argue that it was actually in another
area of the Philippines called Limasawa causing many debates to decide once and for all where
the origin is. Due to the lack of accounts and the lack of geographical knowledge of those who
had made one, many people find it difficult to interpret where the true location indicated in
accounts actually is. The paper gathers and analyzes evidence from multiple sources and
interprets both sides of the controversy using different primary and secondary sources.
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Module III: “One Past but Many Histories:” Controversies and Conflicting Views
Primary Source: Secondary Source:
The Evidence of Francisco The Butuan Tradition
Albo’s Log and The Evidence
of Pigafetta
Antonio Pigafetta was an Italian On Easter Sunday, March 31,
scholar and explorer from the 1521, a mass was held on the
Republic of Venice. He shore of Masao, Butuan, Agusan
travelled with Ferdinand del Norte officiated by the
Magellan, a Portuguese Augustinian Friar Pedro
explorer, along with his crew on Valderrama together with
their First Voyage around the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand
world. Moreover, Pigafetta was Magellan and his men together
also one of the few men who with the ruler of the Spaniards,
returned from the expedition Mazaua Rajah Siaiu and his
back to Spain in 1522. brother Rajah Colambu. At
Meanwhile, Francisco Albo was sundown, they planted a wooden
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a pilot in Magellan’s flagship, cross on the summit of a hill
er as
Brief historical
“Trinidad”. Albo, along with overlooking the sea and stayed in
co
background of the
Pigafetta, was one of the 18 the area for seven days and
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event.
survivors who returned with helped in the rice harvest for two
o.
Sebastian Elcano on the days together with more than a
rs e
“Victoria”. hundred of the Rajah’s men.
ou urc
Then, named the country the Islas
The introduction of Christianity de San Lazaro.
on Philippine shores is
o
generally linked to the

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celebration of the first Holy

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Mass, and Butuan City and

Limasawa, Southern Leyte,
both claim to be the venue of
this historical religious rite.
ed d
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Controversies In Magellan’s expedition, they  The local executives and

arising from the anchored off the eastern shore church officials re-filing the
two conflicting of a small island which Pigafetta petition to the National
versions of the calls the “Mazaua”. According to History Institute (NHI) that
is
historical datas the accounts, the crew stayed the first mass in the
Th
at the island for a week. Along Philippines was held in

with the two native chieftains, Butuan and not in Limasawa
and on Easter Sunday, they  Butuan Historians asks
celebrated the Mass and CBCP to resolve first mass
sh
planted a cross on the summit controversy

of the highest hill. The ongoing  On June 19, 1960 , The
controversy is the identity of the Philippine Congress
place called Mazaua. enacted a bill (R.A no. 2733)
declaring Limasawa as the
In addition to this, the National place where Magellan
Historical Institute (NHI) has celebrated the first recorded
already reached a conclusion mass in the Philippines. (But
after a two-year study. In 1996, there were no records to
it reaffirmed the popular belief support that Magellan went
propelled by Republic Act 2733 into Limasawa.)
that the first Holy Mass was  President Carlos P. Garcia
celebrated in Limasawa Island did not sign the law because
on March 31, 1521.The NHI he was not sure that
even cited the memoirs of “Mazua” in Pigafetta Codex
Antonio Pigafetta, who was really Limasawa.
chronicled the expedition of  American Historian Emma
Ferdinand Magellan, as “the Helen Blair and John
only credible primary source Alexander Robertson who
that yields the best evidence of claimed in 1909 that the
the celebration of the first island of Mazaua is the
Christian Mass on Philippine present island of Limasawa
soil.” This issue, however, without giving any
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remains debatable despite the explanation.
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pronouncement from the NHI.  In 1977, during the Martial
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Law, the Butúanons
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challenged the Limasawans
o.
to a debate whether
rs e Mazaua is in Butuan or
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Limasawa.
 Imelda Marcos built a
church made of steel in
o
east Limasawa in honor of

aC s
the first mass that was held

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there. After its inauguration,

the church was destroyed
by the typhoon. It proves
that East Limasawa is a lee
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shore and is exposed to the

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Northeast monsoon that has

at least 7 devastating
typhoons yearly, meaning,
Magellan wouldn’t be able
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to sail there.
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Main arguments The accounts of Antonio The first mass in the Philippines
and evidences Pigafetta and Francisco Albo, was held in Butuan, Masao and
presented on each who are eyewitnesses of not in Limasawa.
version Magellan’s voyage both stated
sh
that the First Mass took place Evidences:

on an island they called Mazava  According to BCHFI, it has
in Albo’s account and Mazaua gathered 28 new pieces of
in Pigafetta’s account. They scientific evidence and
both asserted that from the comparisons between the
island of Homonhon, they went two islands Mazzaua and
westwards towards the island of Limasawa to substantiate
Leyte and turned to a southwest Butuan’s claim, such as the
direction to reach this island. recovery of 10 Balahanghai
Based on this geographical boats which were
location provided by Albo and accidentally dug up near
Pigafetta, the island of Masao River in 1976. A
Limasawa in Southern Leyte is shrine was built for these
the counterpart. ancient boats which were
used by natives in Butuan
1. The evidence from Albo’s for sea travel even before
logbook the Spaniards came.
 Important evidence Yale
a. Geographical Evidence Codex.
 Fr. Francisco Colin, S.J. a
b. Planting of the Cross historian, provided an
account of Magellan’s
2. The evidence of Pigafetta arrival and the first mass in
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his book. While Francisco
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a. Pigafetta’s testimony Combes S.J.,a Jesuit writer
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regarding the route of the mid-17th century had
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- On March 16, 1521, his own version. Colin and
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Saturday: Magellan’s Combes gave different
rs e expedition sighted a accounts of the route taken
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“high land” named by Magellan. But confirmed
“Zamal” that Magellan landed in
- On March 17, Sunday: Butuan and planted the
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They landed on an cross in a solemn

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uninhabited island called ceremony.

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“Humunu”.  Historian Dr. Sonia M. Zaide

- On March 28, they presented the evidence:
anchored in an island (1) The diary of Antonio
called, “Mazaua” Pigafetta, the chronicler of
ed d
Magellan's voyage, the

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b. The evidence of name of the place was

Pigafetta’s map Mazaua. Limasawa has four
- Mazaua is a small syllables and begins with
island that lies on the another letter.
is
southwestern tip of the (2) The expedition traveled

Th
larger island of Ceilon, 20 to 25 leagues from

and east to the island of Homonhon, the first landing
Bohol. In Pigafetta’s point. If they had been to
map, the position of Limasawa Island, the
sh
Mazaua is almost the distance is only 14.6

same to the position of leagues or one-half of that
Limawasa. length. (3) The distance to
Cebu from Mazaua
c. The two native kings according to Pigafetta was
- An evidence regarding 35 leagues [140 miles]. The
the presence of the two distance from Limasawa to
kings at Mazzaua during Cebu is only 80 miles.
the visit of Magellan. The (4) it was mentioned that the
two kings were the King king came to their ship in a
of Mazzaua, Kulambo balanghai. Butuan is now
and the King of Butuan, the site of at least nine
Siagu. Pigafetta pointed excavated balanghai relics;
out that King Siagu was by contrast, Limasawa has
a visitor to Mazaua. no significant archeological
One statement from relics or balanghai tradition.
Pigafetta's account: (5) the Western explorers
“That island of his was got excited at the
called Butuan and abundance of gold in
Calagan. When those Mazaua, for that was the
kings wished to see one main currency at that time.
another, they both went Both archeological relics
to hunt in the same and the gold mines today
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island that we were”. attested to the abundance
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The “island where we of gold in the Agusan Valley.
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were” was Mazaua,
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where it was said that
o.
they stayed for 7 days.
rs e Therefore, Mazaua is not
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in Butuan.
d. The seven days at

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‘Mazaua’
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- Pigafetta said, “We

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remained there seven

days.”
- On March 28,
Thursday: At the
ed d
afternoon, the Spanish

ar stu
ships were anchored

nearthe native king’s
village.
- On March 31, Sunday:
is
“Early in the morning of

Th
Sunday, the last of March

and Easter day,” Along
with the King of Mazaua
and King of Butuan, at
sh
this day, the Mass was

celebrated. After, they
went to the summit of the
highest hill and planted a
cross.
- On April 4, Thursday:
They leave Mazaua,
bound for Cebu.
Taking the evidences found in In conclusion, based on the

Albo’s logbook and Pigafetta’s gathered data, the first recorded
account, it is clear that mass in the Philippines happened
Limasawa is the site where the on Easter Sunday March 21, 1521
first mass was held. From its in Masao, Butuan. Experts,
geographic location to the Historians, and Archeologists
evidences written in both provided credible artifacts or
accounts, it all points to the visible evidence to support their
place, Limawasa. Furthermore, claim that the first mass in the
On June 19, 1960, a law was Philippines was in fact, held at
also passed by Congress which Butuan and that there was no
is known as the Republic Act clear evidence that will testify that
No. 2733. This Act declares that it was in Limasawa. Furthermore,
the site of Magallanes on the accounts presented were only
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Limasawa Island is the national a secondary source which makes
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Group’s findings shrine to commemorate the first it less reliable compared to the
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and conclusions Mass ever held in the primary source.
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Philippines. This mass gave
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birth to Christianity and at
rs e
present times, is now the
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primary and largest religion in
the country.
o
In conclusion, Limasawa was

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the location of the First Mass in

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the Philippines, even if it was

only based on two accounts, for
they were proven as primary
sources. The corroboration of
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information and statements on

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those two was present as well.

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References:
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Rosario M. Cortes, C. P. Boncan, Ricardo T. J.,

"The Filipino Saga: History as Social Change"
New Day Publishers, 2000. p. 489.
sh
Maria Christine N. Halili,

"Philippine History"
Rex Book Store, 2014. p. 73.
Dirk Barreveld
"CEBU - A Tropical Paradise in the Pacific"
Lulu Press, Inc, 2014.
http://www.xeniaeditrice.it/mazaua.pdf
https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/01/31/opinion/columnists/topanalysis/magellan-never-
went-to-butuan/504604/
https://journals.ateneo.edu/ojs/index.php/budhi/article/view/582/579
https://www.academia.edu/38165265/FIRST_MASS_joan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQAgTVZNjLI&feature=youtu.be
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Angeles University Foundation

Ramos, Stephanie Bea

Balinang, Nina Marielle

Pacia, Thomas Bhen

Mr. John Ray Camorongan

generally linked to the

celebration of the first Holy

Mass, and Butuan City and

Controversies In Magellan’s expedition, they  The local executives and

at the island for a week. Along Philippines was held in

planted a cross on the summit controversy

east Limasawa in honor of

the first mass that was held

there. After its inauguration,

shore and is exposed to the

Northeast monsoon that has

that the First Mass took place Evidences:

They landed on an cross in a solemn

uninhabited island called ceremony.

“Humunu”.  Historian Dr. Sonia M. Zaide

Magellan's voyage, the

b. The evidence of name of the place was

southwestern tip of the (2) The expedition traveled

larger island of Ceilon, 20 to 25 leagues from

Mazaua is almost the distance is only 14.6

d. The seven days at

- Pigafetta said, “We

remained there seven

afternoon, the Spanish

ships were anchored

“Early in the morning of

Sunday, the last of March

this day, the Mass was

Taking the evidences found in In conclusion, based on the

In conclusion, Limasawa was

the location of the First Mass in

the Philippines, even if it was

information and statements on

those two was present as well.

Rosario M. Cortes, C. P. Boncan, Ricardo T. J.,

Maria Christine N. Halili,

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