TITLE PAGE

Topic 4
 Controversies and conflicting views in Philippine history

Learning Outcome:
 Demonstrate the ability to formulate arguments in favor or against a particular
issue using primary sources (Site of the First Mass)

Number of Weeks to be Taught:

 2

Background

There is a controversy regarding the site of the First Mass in the Philippines. The
subject of controversy is the identity of this place which Pigafetta calls “Mazaua.” Two
conflicting claims appear: one points to the little island in Leyte called Limasawa and the
other points to the beach Masao at the mouth of the Agusan River in Mindanao, near
what is now called Butuan city.

Below is the reexamination of the evidence for these two claims. Note that the full
text of this article can be accessed through this URL:

https://journals.ateneo.edu/ojs/index.php/budhi/article/view/582/579
 GUIDE CARD

Butuan or Limasawa? The Site of the First Mass in the Philippines: A

Reexamination of the Evidence by Miguel A. Bernad, S.J.

a. The Butuan Tradition

 Rests upon a tradition unbroken for three centuries, namely the 17 th, the 18th and
the 19th.
 A monument was erected in 1872 now at Magallanes municipality to strengthen
the claim:

“To the Immortal Magellan: The People of Butuan with their Parish Priest and the
Spaniards resident therein to commemorate his arrival and the celebration of the
First Mass on this site on the 8th of April 1521. Erected in 1872, under the District
Governor Jose Ma. Carvallo.”

The 17th Century

 Butuan tradition was accepted without question by two Jesuit historians:

 First, Fr. Francisco Colin S.J. published it in Labor Evangelica in Madrid (1663)
 Reissued by Fr. Pablo Pastells S.J. 240 years later in Madrid,1903
 Colin’s narration was accurate up to Homonhon
 But abruptly brings Magellan to Butuan without explaining
 The important thing in Colin’s account: he represents the First Mass, as well as
the planting of the cross which took place at Butuan on Easter Sunday of 1521

 The other, Fr. Francisco Combes S.J., lived as missionary in the Philippines,
published Historia de Mindanao y Jolo printed in 1667
 Reissued by Wenceslao Retana assisted by Fr. Pastells 230 years later
 Main point: Magellan landed in Mactan, planted the cross but no mention of the
First Mass
 Combe pictures Magellan as entering Philippine waters through the Strait of
Siargao
Colin and Combe’s Compared

 Both pictured Magellan having visited Butuan and Limasawa

 In Colin’s account, from Butuan to Limasawa, then from Limasawa to Cebu
 Combes cites two visits to Limasawa: Magellan visits first Limasawa; from
Limasawa to Butuan; then from Butuan to Limasawa again; then from Limasawa
to Cebu
 Both agree that Magellan’s expedition was assisted by Limasawa chieftain in
travel to Cebu
 Both agree they arrived in Cebu on 7th April 1521

 Meanwhile, Giovanni Francesco Gemelli Careri, influenced by Colin, had made

visit to Phil. and published Giro del Mundo (A Voyage Around The World, 1698)
 He confused two distinct events: the first Mass in Butuan, the other the baptism
of rajah of Cebu
 Confused the dates: First Mass in “WhitSunday” and baptism in Cebu took place
two weeks later
 Another priest Fr. Joaquin Martinez de Zuniga was influenced by Fr. Combes
 The former cited the latter that the Strait of Siargao lies “between” Leyte and
Limasawa (“at the mouth” or “entrance” of that Strait. The map invalidates this.

The 18th Century

 Colin’s passage describing Mindanao was misunderstood and misled later

writers
 For example, Fr. Juan de la Concepcion who mixed up several things and his
reconstruction was often repeated by later historians
 One, he thinks that “Las Velas” and Marianas Islands and Archipelago of San
Lazaro were all one and the same thing
 Two, he misconstrued Magellan’s route, depicting him as sighting southeastern
tip of Mindanao, sailing northwards along Pacific coast, entered Siargao Strait to
Limasawa “which is at the entrance of that strait”
The 19th Century

 Fray Joaquin Martinez de Zuniga (1760-1818) had a work describing his travels
around the Islands
 Wenceslao Retana, influenced by Fray Joaquin’s work, published a two-volume
edition in 1893 of Fr. Joaquin’s work who has this to say:
 “On Easter Sunday of the year 1521 Magellan was in Butuan.”
 By the 19th century, the Butuan tradition was taken for granted
 It was mentioned by writer after writer, each copying from the previous
 Unfortunately, subsequent writers copied not only the essence of the Butuan
tradition but a good deal of erroneous details
 For example, Fray Valentin, a Dominican friar, who said an incredible notion in
his publication that Magellan had sailed from “Limasagua” (sic) to Cebu by
coasting between Samar and Leyte
 Fray Valentin not only committed a misspelling because he did not check original
source but also erroneous geographically
 Looking at the map Magellan should have reached the Bicol Peninsula, not
Cebu, by that route

b. The Shift in Opinion

 How did the shift in opinion come about?

 Fr. Pablo Pastells S.J was the man initially responsible for the shift
 Assigned as missionary to Mindanao
 Served on the Pacific coast (Bislig, Caraga, Cateel)
 Took part in exploring Agusan River to its sources in 1884
 Shift was due to rediscovery of two primary sources: Pigafetta’s and Albo’s log
 Pastell’s had restudied both Pigafetta and Albo when preparing his edition of
Colin’s Labor Evangelica
 He found the three century Butuan tradition erroneous
 James Robertson translated Italian text of Pigafetta in Cleveland (1906)
 Pardo de Tavera and Jayme de Veyra among 20th scholars who accepted
Limasawa tradition
c. The Evidence for Limasawa

1. The evidence of Albo’s Log-Book

2. The evidence of Pigafetta
a. Pigafetta’s testimony regarding the route
b. The evidence of Pigafetta’s map
c. The two native kings
d. The seven days at “Mazaua”
e. An argument from omission
3. Confirmatory evidence from Legazpi expedition

1. The evidence of Albo’s Log-Book

 Francisco Albo was a pilot of “Trinidad”

 One of the 18 survivors led by Sebastian Elcano on the “Victoria”
 Began keeping his own diary while sailing southward in the Atlantic along the
coast of South America, off Brazil
 His account of their entry into Philippine waters may be summarized as follows:

1. 16th March 1521 sailed westerly course from Ladrones, saw land towards the
northwest, owing to shallow places did not approach it (Yunagan).
2. The same day went southwards to another island (Suluan) and anchored, they saw
canoes but fled, the island was at 9 and two-thirds degrees north
3. Departing the island, sailed westward to “Gada”, they took supply of wood and water.
Though no mention of latitude but from Pigafetta’s testimony it seems to be the
“Acquada” or Homonhon at 10 degrees Northlatitude
4. From that island sailed westwards to an island Seilani, inhabited and known to have
gold. (Pigafetta calls it Ceylon or Leyte)
5. Sailing southwards they turned southwest to an island “Mazava” at a latitude of 9 and
two thirds degrees North
6. People were very good at Mazava. Spaniards planted a cross upon mountain top,
from there shown three islands to the west and southwest, where they were told there
was much gold
7. From Mazava sailed northwards to Seilani, followed coast of Seilani in northwesterly
direction, ascending up to 10 degrees latitude where they saw three small islands
8. From there sailed westwards some 10 leagues, saw three islets,dropped anchor for
the night. In the morning sailed southwest some 12 leagues, down to a latitude 10
and 1/3 degrees; entered a channel between two islands, “Matan and Subu”
9. Sailed down that channel, turned westward and anchored at the town of (la villa) of
Subu, stayed many days, obtained provisions, entered into a peace pact with local
king
10.Town of Subu was on an east-west direction with the islands of Suluan and Mazava.
Between Mazava and Subu so many shallows that boats could not go westward
directly but had to go (as they did) in a round- about way

 The islands he calls Gada seems to be the Acquada of Pigafetta, namely

Homonhon where they took in supplies of water and wood
 The large island Seilani they coasted is Leyte
 Coasting southwards along the eastern coast of that island, then turn southwest
brought them to small island Mazava, at 9 and 2/3NL
 That fits location of Limasawa, south of Leyte at 9 degrees 54’ N
 Also, mention only planting of the cross at mountain-top where could be seen 3
islands to the south or the southwest

2. The Evidence from Pigafetta

a. Pigafetta’s testimony

 Most complete account is eyewitness Antonio Pigafetta’s First Voyage Around

the World
 His account of their entry into Philippine waters may be summarized as follows:

1. Saturday 16 March 1521 – sighted a “high land” named “Zamal” some 300
leagues from Ladrones( now Marianas) islands
2. Sunday 17 March – landed following day on another uninhabited island that “lay
to the right” of Zamal, set up two tents for the sick crews, had a sow killed. The
island was “Humunu”(Homonhon) at 10 degrees NL
3. Same day, Sunday 17 March – Magellan named “Islands of Saint Lazarus, it was
Sunday in Lenten Season the Gospel assigned for the Mass and the Liturgical
Office was the 11th Chapter of St. John, telling the raising of Lazarus from the
dead
4. Monday 18 March – there 2nd day in that island, saw a boat coming with nine
men; exchange of gifts, Magellan asked for food supplies, the men promised to
bring rice in “four days”
5. There were two springs in the island, also indications of gold presence.
Consequently, Magellan renamed it “Watering Place of Good Omen (Acquada la
di bouni segnialli)
6. Friday 22 March- natives returned in two boats, brought food supplies
7. Magellan’s expedition stayed for 8 days at Homonhon – March 17-25
 8. Monday 25 March – in the afternoon left Homonhon, Pigafetta fell into water but
rescued, attributed escape from death as a grace from Blessed Virgin Mary on
her feast day
9. Route taken after Homonhon was “ towards the west southwest, between four
islands: Cenalo, Hiunanghan, Ibusson, Albarien. Very probably “Cenalo” is
misspelling in Italian manuscript what Pigafetta calls “Ceilon” and Albo calls
Seilani.
10. Thus easy to see what Pigafetta meant sailing “toward the west southwest”.
From Homonhon westward towards Leyte, followed Leyte coast southward,
passing Hibuson and Hiunangan Bay on their starboard, continued southward,
turning westward to “Mazaua”
11. Thursday 28 March – Holy Thursday anchored off an island where previous night
they saw bonfire; it “lies in a latitude of 9 and 2/3 NL and 162 degrees East
longitude, 25 leagues form Acquada and is called Mazaua”, remained 7 days
12. Thursday 4 April – left Mazaua for Cebu, guided by the king of Mazaua, past five
islands: Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baibai, Gatighan.
13. At Gatighan, sailed westward to the thre islands of Camotes Group: Poro,
Pasihan, Ponson. Spanish ship stopped there waited the king of Mazaua
14. Form Camotes Islands sailed southwestward towards “Zubu”
15. Sunday 7 April – at noon entered harbor of Zubu; took them 3 days from Mazaua
norhtwrads to Camotes southwards to Cebu

Such is the route of Magellan described by Pigafetta which coincides with Albo’s. In
that route, southern most point reached before getting to Cebu was Mazaua, 9 and 2/3
NL

b. The Evidence of Pigafetta’s Map

1. Mazaua is a small island off the southwestern tip of Ceilon and is to the
east of Bohol. It lies near the passage between Bohol and western
coast of Ceilon
2. The island of Mazaua in Pigafetta’s map therefore lies in a position
roughly equivalent to the actual position of the island of Limasawa
3. In no way can Mazaua be identified with Butuan, which is situated and
much larger island (now Mindanao), the same island in which
“Calagan,” “Cippit,” “Mmgdanao” are also located
 c. The Two Kings

 There is confirmatory evidence in the presence of two native “kings” or rajahs at

Mazaua during Magellan’s visit
 The “king” of Mazaua who guided Magellan expedition to Cebu
 The other was a relative (“one of his brothers” as Pigafetta says) the king or rajah
of Butuan (“the finest looking man” Pigafetta had seen in those parts), he was a
visitor to Mazaua, his territory was Butuan
 “That island of his was called Butuan and Calagan. When those kings wished to
see one another, they both went to hunt in that island where we were”
The “island we were” was Mazaua, where they stayed 7 days. Thus, Mazaua
could not have been Butuan

d. Seven Days at Mazaua

 In that island of Mazaua – both Albo and Pigafetta said at 9 2/3 North latitude –
the Magellan expedition stayed a week (“We remained there seven days a
week”)
 Was it possible that the expedition left Mazaua, went south to Butuan, offered
Mass there, then returned to Mazaua before proceeding to Cebu?
 The following is the summary of Pigafetta’s day-by-day account:

1. Thursday 28 March – in the morning anchored near an island where they saw
a light the night before. A small boat came with 8 natives, to whom given
trinkets by Magellan as presents. The natives paddled away, two hours later
came two larger boats with the “king” sat under awning mats. Some went up
the ship but the king remained seated. An exchange of gifts was effected. In
the afternoon, the ships weighed anchor closer to the shore. This was
Thursday in Holy Week
2. Friday 29 March – “Next day. Holy Friday” Magellan sent slave interpreter
ashore to ask the king if he could provide food supplies, and to say they had
come as friends, not as enemies. In reply, king himself came with 6 or 8 men,
this time went up the ship and the two embraced. Another exchange of gifts
was made. The king and companions returned ashore, with them two
members of Magellan’s expedition as guests for the night. One of the two was
Pigafetta
3. Saturday 30 March – Pigafetta and companion had spent the previous evening
feasting and drinking with the king and his son. Pigafetta deplored the fact
that, although it was Good Friday, they had to eat meat. The following morning
 (Saturday) Pigafetta and companion took leave of their hosts and returned to
the ships
4. Sunday 31 March – early in the morning of Sunday, the last of March and
Easter day” Magellan sent the priest ashore with some men to prepare for
Mass. Later that morning Magellan landed with fifty men and Mass was
celebrated, after which a cross was venerated. Magellan returned to the ship
for noon-day meal, returned in the afternoon ashore to plant the cross on the
summit of the highest hill. In attendance both at the Mass and at the planting
of the cross were the king of Mazaua and the king of Butuan
5. Sunday 31 March – on that same afternoon, while on the summit of the
highest hill, asked the kings which ports he should go to get more supplies of
food than were avilable in that island. They replied three ports to choose from:
Ceylon, Subu, and Calagan. Of the three, Zubu had the most trade. Magellan
said he wished to go to Zubu the following morning. He asked for someone
to guide him. The king replied the pilots were available “any time”. Later in the
evening the king of Mazaua said he would himself go with Magellan to Zubu,
but would first bring the harvest in, asked Magellan for men to help
6. Monday 1 April – Magellan sent men to help with the harvest, but no work was
done that day because the two kings were sleeping off their drinking bout of
the night before.
7. Tuesday 2 April, and Wednesday 3 April – work on the harvest during the
“next two days”
8. Thursday 4 April – they leave Mazaua, bound for Cebu.
“We remained there seven days” says Pigafetta. Everyday is accounted for.
The Mass on Easter Sunday was celebrated in Mazaua, not in Butuan or
elsewhere.

e. An Argument from Omission

 If “Mazaua” were Butuan, there is a curious omission difficult to explain. Butuan

is a riverine settlement. It is situated on the Agusan River. The beach called
Masao is in the delta of that river. If the Magellan expedition were at that delta,
and if the Mass celebrated there, why is there no mention of the river?
 The fact that no mention of the river is a significant fact in Pigafetta’s seven-day
stay at “Mazaua”.
We must take him literally: Mazaua was an island surrounded by sea, not a river
delta.
The Legazpi Expedition

 Legazpi and his pilots inquired about “Mazaua”, accompanied by natives of the
village of Cabalian at the southeastern end of the island of Leyte
 They rounded “Panae” (Panaon), separated from Leyte by a narrow strait, and
anchored off “Mazaua”, but inhabitants were hostile
 They went to Camiguing (was “visible” from Mazaua), from there intended to go
to Butuan on the island of “Vindanao” but were brought to Bohol instead by
contrary winds
 Later, a small contingent of Spaniards managed to go to Butuan
It is clear: Mazaua was an island near Leyte and Panaon; Butuan was on the
island Mindanao
 LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Activity 1

Direction: To show how things become alike is being done by comparing. And, to show
how things become different is being done by differentiating. There are
likeness and differences in the accounts of the first Mass in the Philippines
that pertain to Butuan and Limasawa. Use the diagram below to compare
and contrast the opposing views of the site of the first Mass in the
Philippines.

Subjects (events) compared Cite reasons for comparison

LIMASAWA

Evidence 1 Evidence 2

BUTUAN

Evidence 1 Evidence 2
Give a summary of the evidence of Pigafetta and Albo

Why did the confusion on meeting the king of Butuan led to the controversy of the place
where the first Mass in the Philippines was said?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

ASSESSMENT

Direction: Write the answer to each question before the number.

________1. Who was the chronicler of Magellan’s First Voyage believed to have the
most complete account of the expedition?

________2. What was the name given by Magellan to the place where the first Mass
happened?

________3. What date did the Spaniards first arrive to the Philippines?

________4. What date did Easter Sunday in 1521 fall?

________5. What place was referred to by Pigafetta as the place of the first Catholic
Mass in the Philippines?
________6. When did Magellan and his men arrive in Cebu?

________7. How many survivors of Magellan’s Voyage came back to Spain in 1522?

________8. “Mazaua” was located in latitude ____________ from the equator

________9. Who was the other chronicler of Magellan’s voyage whose accounts
coincided with Pigafetta?

________10. Who among the historians above initially started the question on the site
of the first Mass in the Philippines?

ENRICHMENT

Direction: Find monument in your place or neighborhood. Take a photo of it with you.
Paste the picture inside the box. Construct a short narrative why such
monument was erected in such location.
 REFERENCES

Galicia, Reynaldo, Palencia, Marjueve, and Solmerano, Ernesto Thaddeus. Readings in

Philippine History. Sampaloc, Manila: Fastbooks Educational Supply, Inc., 2018.

https://journals.ateneo.edu/ojs/index.php/budhi/article/view/582/579