Evidences that the First Mass held in Butuan

1. Passing a law is not a substantial evidence knowing that it was not even
approved by the executives and had no scientific evidence as well. Thus, we
firmly believe that Masawa, Butuan is the venue of the first mass here in the
Philippines. When we are going to take a look on the accounts of Pigaffetta
and Albo the word ‘Limasawa’ mass was not mentioned at all. So how come
you concluded that Limasawa is where the first mass was held?

2. Also, there is this island named Mazzau, a 2-3 syllable word which is much
closer to the word Masawa. It is essential to correct history which is backed
up by scientific evidence where in According to Butuan City Cultural and
Historical Foundation and Butuan Government, ten 1,600 year old Balanghai
boats were found in 1976 near Masao, River which is located in Butuan City.
On the other hand, after the celebration of the first mass the y stayed in the
place for 7 days and helped in the rice harvest for 2 days. That means to say,
what you can harvest from a typhoon prone area that is easily affected by
Floodlike Limasawa. So we firmly believe that the mass was held in Masawa,
Butuan and not in Limasawa, Leyte.

3. In the accuracy of the map and the calculation of the exact location of the
island of Mazzau is a questionable evidence to claim that the first mass
happened in Limasawa if geographical features says its Masawa, Butuan. If
you truly understand Pigafetta’s Journal, its says there that this island of
Mazzau has a great quantity of fowls, goats, pigs and many more especially
rice and gold mines. Masawa has it all richy and Limasawa is a small and
poor island and it lacks especially the presence of fertile ricefield and
abundance of gold. Also there is an existing route from Butuan to Cebu and
this two city has a great relationship with each other since then than
Limasawa to Cebu has none. And again, the presence of Balanghai in the
Butuan is the most sufficient evidence to prove that the birthplace of
Christianity is none other than but in Masawa, Butuan.

4. We firmly stand that Butuan was the place where the first mass happened.
As my team members mentioned, there are lot of things that can be
questionnable, such as the inaccuracy of map as well as the geographical
location. Moreover, when it is stated in the accounts of Pigafetta, that it is the
description was favorable on the side of Butuan. Because, it was a rich island
while Limasawa does not because it was an area that was prone to typhoons
and floods. In addition, the word ‘Limasawa’ was not stated in the accounts
Albo and Pigafetta. Instead, we have the word ‘Mazzau’ which is much closer
to the word ‘Mazzaua’ and not Limasawa. How come that passing a law
could be substantial evidence when it was not approved by executives? Even
the presence of gold mines can be found in Butuan. Also the most sufficient
evidence that could be found in Butuan was the presence of Balanghai Boats,
which only proves that the first mass really happened in Butuan
5. I strongly oppose the argument of the Proposition. On the statement of
Father Fernando Colins, a historian, in his work Labor Evangelica, he
asserted that Magellan went to Butuan and there he celebrated the First Mass
and erected a cross. And to support this, Antonio Pigafetta testified that he
gave a gift of certain things to the Queen Mother of France Louise of Savoy
and mother of Francis the First. Gian Battista Ramusio mentioned that a copy
of Pigafetta’s account was given to Louise of Savoy whereas the manuscript
was translated to French by Jacques Fabre and imprinted by Simon de
Collins. Then it was translated back into itallian version by Ramusio. And it
was the basis of collins account. Thus on the other way around, Collins
account was considered reliable. And there was a monument erected during
1872 to commemorate the First mass in Butuan on April 8, 1521. For the
reason, we claim that the First mass happened in Butuan.

Before ta mag sabat sa Proposition ma hmbl ta, “I disagree with the argument
presented by the nth speaker, I claim that blah-blah blah”

6. “I disagree with the argument presented by the nth speaker, I claim that this
Mazaua is in Butuan. And as a proof, in Historia de Mindanao y Jolo written
by Francis Combones S.J who worked as a missionary in the Philippines
states that Magellan went to Butuan because they heard the king there was
more powerful and they wanted to meet him. It was said that their
expectations were satisfied by the king. And there, they planted a cross on a
hill in a solemn ceremony as a sign of future alliance. In francisco Colin’s
work, the first mass occured the same day they planted the cross. For that
reason, we believed that the First Mass occured in Batuan.

7. Our team opposed the motion of this house. We claim that the first mass
took place in Butuan and not in Limasawa. We believe that our sources our
reliable and that Magellan landed first on Butuan where the First Mass took
place. The monument erected was a proof for it. In fact, there are artifacts that
will proved that the first mass occured in the island. Those are the presence of
Balanghai in butuan which they believe that it was used for transportation
during Magellan’s Visit. The opposition team used a wide range of Historical
Sources regarding these historical event. While the claims of the Proposition
teams are only based from two accounts. And butuan, as the site of the First
mass in the Philippines has been a belief for centuries