The account of Antonio Pigafetta met discrepancies against several Filipino historians on two arguments:

The first argument was against Masao, some Filipino historians have long contested the idea that
Limasawa was the site of the first Catholic mass in the country. Historian Sonia Zaide identified Masao
(also Mazaua) in Butuan as the location of the first Christian. The basis of Zaide’s claim is, the diary of
Antonio Pigafetta, chronicler of Magellan’s voyage. In 1995 then Congresswoman Ching Plaza of Agusan
del Norte-Butuan City filed a bill in Congress contesting the Limasawa hypothesis and asserting the “site
of the first mass” was Butuan. The Philippine Congress referred the matter to the National Historical
Institute for it to study the issue and recommend a historical finding. Then, the National Historical
Institute chair Dr. Samuel K. Tan reaffirmed Limasawa as the site of the first mass.

The second argument was against Bolinao Odoric of Pordenone, an Italian and Franciscan friar and
missionary explorer is heartily believed by many Pangasinenses to have celebrated the first mass in

Pangasinan in around 1324 that would have predated the mass held in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan. A
marker in front of Bolinao Church states that the first Mass on Philippine soil was celebrated in Bolinao
Bay in 1324 by a Franciscan missionary, Blessed Odorico. However, there is scholarly doubt that Odoric
was ever at the Philippines. Ultimately, the National Historical Institute led by its chair Ambeth Ocampo
recognized the historical records of Limasawa in Southern Leyte as the venue of the first Mass, held on
March 31, 1521.

Magellan’s voyage leads the vast geographical knowledge of mankind and proved once and for all that
the Earth is spherical in shape. Since his discovery of the Philippines, it broadened the archipelago into
the awareness that Europeans paved the way to Spanish colonization and civilization. The socio-
economic status also improved Pigafetta’s own narration about the Philippines: it tells us about culture
and languages that we all had in our past. Antonia Pagafat bisagraargliBidonit is interesting to ponder
what we could have been if Magellan did not discover the Philippines.

On March 16, 1521, Magellan and his crew arrived in the Philippines island, or what they called as
islands of Ladroni. They first reached the island of Zamal (Samar).

On March 18, 1521, there came some natives giving signs of joy for the presence of the crew of
Magellan. The native Filipinos did welcome the foreigners warmly. As described by Pigafetta, “they
exhibited great signs of pleasure at seeing us.

Seeing caps, that mirrors, the natives comb, are and reasonable other things. In return, the natives gave
them red offered fish, wine, coconuts, and other resources.

? Magellan named the place (Islands of Humunu) as the “Archipelago of San Lazarus” due to the several
islands located in that district. “Archipelago of San Lazarus” was the primitive name of the Philippines.

Magellan succeeds in his plan to influence the faith of the people on the island he has conquered.
The first Mass in our country happened on March 31 and Eastern day. The first cross was then set up in
Mazaua (Limasawa) as wished by Magellan for the benefits of the natives.

The native Filipinos have their idols before and a God, which they called “Abba,” but they threw this
belief away as they embraced Christianity which Magellan introduced.

Magellan and his crew went to Zubu (Cebu) on April 7, upon hearing good reports about the island from
the King of Mazaua.

They are not immediately warmly welcomed, for they were asked to pay tribute, but Magellan refused
to do so

There was a negotiation through a notary. The King of Zubu asked for On a Zubu, drop of the their
captain’s blood as power a sign to of their influence friendship, the faith both of agreed.people worked.

Analysis of the Content and Context

The primary source itself is a narrative depiction of the events that occurred.

The journal was written from the author’s experience or memory during Ferdinand Magellan’s voyage
worldwide, most specifically in the Philippine Islands.

It was very detailed and supplied a lot of information.

The narrative was in “in media’s res.” It started during the Battle in Mactan then proceeded to a
flashback when Magellan and his crew came to the island and their experiences during their stay.

It contains vivid descriptions of the pre-colonized Filipinos’ lives and cultures, such as their food, rich
natural resources, appearance, livelihood, and religion. It only proves that there were already
civilizations and political systems, even before they came to the archipelago.

Magellan and his crew were the people who converted some of the natives to Christianity.
Consequently, they were also the ones responsible for the first Mass in the Philippine Islands.

Ferdinand Magellan, indeed, died in the Philippines

Contribution and Relevance to Philippine History The account is proof of the richness, governance and,
independence in our country in the pre-colonial era

The faith of the natives before is just about raising hands and clapping, building different images of their
idols, until Magellan introduced Christianity to them. It was accepted and practiced by Filipinos and
propagated in the country in which it has been a significant part of our culture and beliefs.

The account of Pigafetta enriched Philippine historiography because it contains essential details about
the conditions of the Visayan Islands in the 16 th century.

Local textbook writers use his book as their historical information source about the beginning of
Christianity in the Philippines.
The document also narrated the status (inferiority) of the Filipinos in warfare, manner of dressing, and
system of writing.

Contribution and Relevance to World History

The Pigafetta document gave a detailed chronicle of the significant events of the exploration of
Ferdinand Magellan.

? Pigafetta’s chronicle contributed immensely to European historiography as it preserved and

popularized the MagellanElcano expedition’s achievements

? It provided a description, location, and distances of the places visited, thereby enhancing cartography
knowledge at that time. He proved to other explorers and thepeople today that circumnavigating the
world was possible.

? They proved that the Earth is not flat but an oblate sphere.

They confirmed that the Portuguese route is not the only way to the Spice Islands.

They discovered a large body of water on the side of the American continent, which they named the
Pacific Ocean.

They found a strait that connected the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and called it the Strait of Magellan.