ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

There are compelling arguments for choosing Masawa in Butuan over Limasawa in Samar-Leyte
as the site of the first Mass ever celebrated in the Philippines. There is no disputing the firsthand stories of
those who lived during that period, including Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan's official chronicler; Gines de
Mafra, a member of Magellan's original crew who managed to return to Spain and write about what he
discovered in Masawa; and other witnesses. NHI seat and official chairman Samuel K. Tan received the
findings of the Gancayo Commission in 1998. However, this discovery was only made public to the
Limasawa authorities on March 31, at the 478th anniversary of the First Mass.

As far as I know, the first Christian Mass was celebrated in the Philippines at Limasawa after
Magellan arrived in 1521, and the only main source of information on the celebration of the first Christian
Mass on Philippine territory is Antonio Pigafetta's account of it. Another is the English translation of
Pigaffeta's narrative by James Robertson from the original Italian manuscript is the most reliable since it
is "faithful" to the original text, as The European Languages Department of the University of the
Philippines has accredited the program. Furthermore, according to Pigafetta's Mazaua, the site of the
Philippines' first Christian Mass, is an island off the southern point of Leyte, whereas Masao in Butuan is
a district of Butuan City located in the Agusan River delta along Northern Mindanao's coast, not an
island. The pro-Limasawa group's computation of distances between Homonhon and Limasawa and
between Limasawa and Cebu meets or approximates Pigafetta's delineations of distances between
Homonhon and Mazaua and between Mazaua and Cebu. Furthermore, Magellan's fleet avoided Butuan
and other regions of Mindanao by sailing from Homonhon to Mazaua and then from Mazaua to Cebu.
The landing facilities at Limasawa caused no issues for Magellan's fleet, which landed on or near the
island's eastern side.

Despite the historical controversies and debates that have arisen between the two places being the
vicinity of our country's first mass, there is ample evidence and authentication that it took a national
shrine was established to honor Magallanes' role in the spread of Christianity, and the government has
designated Limasawa in Southern Leyte as the site of this shrine.

References:

Bernad, M. A. (n.d.). Butuan or limasawa: The site of the first mass in the Philippines: A
Reexaminationof the evidence. Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture. Retrieved
September 22, 2021, from
https://journals.ateneo.edu/ojs/index.php/budhi/article/view/582/579.

First mass - readings in Philippine history - PLM. StuDocu. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22,
2021, from https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/pamantasan-ng-lungsod-ng-maynila/
readings-in-philippine-history/first-mass/10457488.