Carmina F.

Patenia
BSED-Ⅰ ENGLISH

“THE CITE OF THE FIRST CATHOLIC MASS IN THE PHILIPPINES”

INTRODUCTION

The first documented Catholic Mass in the Philippines was held on March
31,1521, just three days after Ferdinand Magellan landed on Philippine shore. This
event is seen to be the birth of Roman Catholicism in the country. It was conducted by
Father Pedro Valderrama of Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition. The site of the first mass
became one of the well-known controversies in Philippine history because the location
of the mass is contentious. Originally it was thought to be in the island of Limasawa, in
Leyte, but other historians argue that a mistranslation resulted to that error, and that the
place should be in Butuan. That issue reached the Congress, which in 1996 directed the
National Historical Institute to recommend a historical finding. The panel was composed
of several historians. The panel and the NHI reaffirmed in 1998 that the place is
Limasawa, but the controversy is still alive until today.

SUMMARY OF TEXT/LITERATURE

There are two conflicting ideas as to where the First Mass was really held, the
first one is in Limasawa which is a small island in the south of Leyte and the other is in
Butuan, particularly the beach called Masao. The small island near at the tip of Leyte
which is Limasawa was one recognized by the National Historical Institute (NHI) and
Philippine Government as the site of the First Mass. There have been many
contradictions on the recognition of Limasawa as the site of the first mass. But there is
strong evidence that the NHI considered, which was Pigafetta and Albo’s account. The
claims that Butuan or the beach in Butuan called Masao was the site of the first mass.
There is a tradition in Butuan that have been celebrated for more than three centuries
which started on17th century when a monument was erected at the mouth of the
Agusan River which was then under the jurisdiction of Butuan and now under the
municipality of Magallanes named after Ferdinand Magellan. The tradition in Butuan
was accepted by two Jesuit Historians; Father Francisco Colin S.J and Father Francisco
Combes. Both of them claims that Butuan was the site of the First Mass. In Father
Colins account he mentioned that of Pigafetta’s account when they arrived at
Homonhon but after that he did not mention Mazzaua or Limasawa but he particularly
mentioned Butuan where the First Mass was held. Father Combes, in his account
mentioned that Magellan and his men really landed on Limasawa but he did not mention
that they did not held the mass there, instead after having a good saty at Limasawa,
they heard of the river of Butuan whose cheif was a barbarian that is why Magellan
decided to plant a cross and conducted a solemn ceremony.

REACTION/INSIGHTS

According to the primary sources of Antonio Pigafetta and Francis Albo,

Ferdinand Magellan and his mission men have arrived in Southern Leyte on March 28,
1521. On Easter Sunday, which is March 31, 1521, Magellan ordered the first mass to
be conducted at an island, which is known to be bearing the name “Mazzau”. This given
name of the island have led some researchers and historians to conclude that the first
mass which was led by a priest named Fr. Pedro de Valderama who came with
Magellan’s fleet was held in Limasawa, Leyte. Francisco Albo’s diary during their long
voyage contains significant information, dates and events. This log-book is considered
as a credible primary source for it was written by Albo himself, and he wasn’t just a
random person during the voyage but he was the pilot in the flagship of Magellan
named “Trinidad.” Albo has provided in his log-book the important dates as well as the
different islands that they have navigated and their corresponding latitudes. According
to him, from the island of Homonhon where they first landed, they went westward
towards the island of Seilani (Leyte) and turned to a Southwest direction and after
traversing these islands, they were able to reached and come upon a small island
named Mazaua which is positioned at 9 and two-thirds degree North latitude. This given
latitude is the same as the latitude of Limasawa, located in the South of Leyte, which is
9 degrees and 54’ North and is far different from Butuan’s which is 8 degrees and 56’
North. Akin to Albo’s, the second evidence would be Pigafetta’s account titled “First
Voyage Around the World”. Antonio Pigafetta is likewise a witness during Magellan’s
exploration wherein he was able to delineate and narrate in detail the happenings
during the very first day when they have discovered the islands in the Philippines until
the time when they landed on Cebu. Pigafetta was able to include the routes they have
sailed as well as the maps, diagrams and/or sketches and these have added more
credibility as it supported Pigafetta’s testimonies. Pigafetta also stated in his account
that while they were on the island, they met two chieftains or rajahs. These were Raia
Siaui, the king of Mazaua and the other one was the king of Butuan who was said to be
visiting the island. For that reason, the chieftain of Butuan is not in Masao, Butuan that
time but in Mazaua wherein they stayed there for seven days. Father Francisco
Combes, a Jesuit writer of the mid17th century, and Fr. Francisco Colin, a historian,
both have suggested in their accounts that in between those days, the explorers once
left Mazaua and went to Butuan to offer a mass and return to Mazaua again and
proceed to Cebu. Examining and assessing Pigafetta and Albo's account from March 28
until they left the said island, it was stated that their stay was described as days of
planting of rice, meeting with chieftains and their natives, drinking, feasting, the
occurrence of the first mass, and planting of the cross on the summit. The authors never
mentioned that Magellan and his men sailed going somewhere in another place named
Butuan. Furthermore, Pigafetta used to mention landmarks to describe the place where
they are, however, the Agusan River, which was Butuan's nearest landmark was not
mentioned nor implied. Therefore, there were no solid pieces of evidence that can
support that Magellan has been to Butuan with his men. It was also mentioned by the
authors that voyage did go to Northern, Mindanao but only when Magellan died. The
“Legazpi Expedition” was also considered as a primary source that can support that the
first mass was held in Limasawa. Years after Magellan’s journey, Legazpi and his pilots
were curious about Mazaua that is why they tried to visit, investigate and ask the
natives living in the southeastern ends of the island of Leyte and according to Legazpi
investigations and inquiries, islands near Leyte and the island itself was totally
contrasting and different from Butuan in Mindanao. This only proves that Limasawa and
Butuan are not the same island basing it from the descriptions given by Pigafetta and
Albo. Moreover, after years of studying, examining, assessing and re-evaluating, the
National Historical Institute (NHI) have strongly asserted the provisions of Republic Act
2733 that the first Holy Mass was indeed solemnized in Limasawa Island and the only
valid and reliable primary source were Antonio Pigafetta’s narratives. National Historical
Institute has strengthened the claim on Limasawa, Leyte. Serafin D. Quiazon, National
Historical Institute Chairman and Executive Director, apprised on March 1, 1994 that the
approved Republic Act No. 7822 or the Act declaring Limasawa Island in the Province
of Southern Leyte a tourist zone, supports and vindicates that the first mass was
celebrated on March 31, 1521 in the island of Limasawa and not in Butuan City. The
account of Pigafetta entitled “The First Voyage around the World” was deemed to be
authentic primary source that provides substantial evidences.

CONCLUSION

In line with these arguments that have been fought over the years, it must be
remembered that we are dealing solely with a question of fact of whether where was the
first mass on the Philippine soil which was celebrated on Easter Sunday in March 1521
was in Butuan or Limasawa. There may be a lot of versions of these historical
arguments, but upon gathering and analyzing the evidences I found in both primary and
secondary sources, I have come in to a conclusion that Limasawa, Leyte is where the
first mass in the Philippines soil. Why so? The main undeniable, compelling reasons are
the accounts of Pigafetta and Albo, the map, position of the cross, and geographical
position of Mazaua with respect to its latitude testified in the memoirs of Albo and
Pigafetta fitting with the Limasawa Island.Lastly, the importance of Butuan in the history
of the Philippine is no way dependent upon its claim to have been the site of the first
mass in the Philippines. To reject that claim is in no way to belittle Butuan’s importance
in the history of the Philippines. In fact, the place of Butuan, in its own right deserves
honorable place in the study of Philippine culture and history for preserving or discovery
of history that was not clear and left behind. These stated accounts, sources and proofs
are sufficient to prove and confirm my stand.

REFERENCES:

 Lacuata, Rose Carmelle (August 20, 2020). "Limasawa, Not Butuan: Gov't Historians
Affirm Site of 1521 Easter Sunday Mass in PH". ABS-CBN News

 Borrinaga, Rolando O. (April 14, 2007). "The Right Place for Disputed First Mass in
Limasawa". Inquirer.net. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009.
Retrieved November 12, 2007.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1325039/limasawa-not-butuan-affirmed-as-site-of-first-
mass-in-ph

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1135513

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1134168

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-03/philippines-500th-anniversary-
first-mass-jubilee-celebrations.html