Pigafetta and Albo's accounts provide evidence that the first mass in the Philippines took place on Limasawa Island, south of Leyte, not in Butuan. Their records of the route Magellan's expedition took match the geography of the southern Philippines and indicate several island stops before arriving at Limasawa on March 31, 1521, where the mass was held and two local kings were present. However, a monument erected in Butuan in 1872 commemorated that city as the site of the first mass, contributing to a shift in tradition despite contradictory evidence from the original sources.
Pigafetta and Albo's accounts provide evidence that the first mass in the Philippines took place on Limasawa Island, south of Leyte, not in Butuan. Their records of the route Magellan's expedition took match the geography of the southern Philippines and indicate several island stops before arriving at Limasawa on March 31, 1521, where the mass was held and two local kings were present. However, a monument erected in Butuan in 1872 commemorated that city as the site of the first mass, contributing to a shift in tradition despite contradictory evidence from the original sources.
Pigafetta and Albo's accounts provide evidence that the first mass in the Philippines took place on Limasawa Island, south of Leyte, not in Butuan. Their records of the route Magellan's expedition took match the geography of the southern Philippines and indicate several island stops before arriving at Limasawa on March 31, 1521, where the mass was held and two local kings were present. However, a monument erected in Butuan in 1872 commemorated that city as the site of the first mass, contributing to a shift in tradition despite contradictory evidence from the original sources.
the Philippines The First Voyage Round the World by Antonio Pigafetta ► Ladrone Island- 3 island ► Saturday, March 16, 1521- arrive in island named Zamal ► Monday, March 18, 1521- ► Cochi- fruit with palm trees bear ► Palmito- tree which liquor comes out in drops down the tree like white must Sweet, bitter ► Cocho- fruit of palmito- large as head, first husk is green ► Humunu- land with two springs ► Watering Place of good sign- very fresh water, found first sign of gold ► Archipelago of St. Lazarus- stay and feast of St. Lazarus, 10 degrees north altitude and 161 degrees longitude from line of demarcation ► March 22- schione- gold rings suspended in ears of these people ► Caphre- people wear holes in ears so large that they can pass their arms through them ► March 25- Monday of Passion week, pass in the island of Cenalo, Huinanghar, Ibusson, Abarien ► March 28, Thursday- saw small boat called Boloto ► Traprobana- captain’s slave from Sumatra ► Ballanghai- two long boats ► Raia Calambu- painted king of Zuluan island ► Raia Siani- painted king of Calagan island ► March 31- easter, the captain sent the chaplain to say mass in a shore ► Aba- their God Butuan or Limasawa? The Site of the First Mass in the Philippines: A Reexamination of the Evidence ► Pigafetta- first mass is celebrated on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521 in an island called Mazaua ► 2 chieftains attend: rajah of Mazaua, rajah of Butuan ► Mazaua- little island south of Leyte called Limasawa and Masao at mouth of Agusan River in northern Mindanao, now called Butuan City Butuan Tradition
► Monument erected in 1872
near the mouth of Agusan River within municipality of Butuan but today a separate municipality of Magallanes, named after Ferdinand Magellen ► Monument is a brick pillar with marble slab ► To the Immortal Magellan: The People of Butuan with their Parish Priest and the Spaniards therein, commemorate his arrival and First Mass celebration on this site on April 8,1521 Erected in 1872 under District Governor Jose Ma. Carvallo ► April 8, 1521- an error or clumsy attempt to translate the original date in terms of Gregorian calendar 17th Century
► Father Francisco Colin S.J-
one of Jesuit historian, Labor Evangelica publish in Madrid in 1663 ► Labor Evangelica- 3 volume edition annotated by Fr. Pablo Pastells S.J ► Colin’s account on Magellan’s arrival: 15 degrees North Latitude they come in 2 islands name: Las Velas (the Sails) 12 degrees North- they come in Ladrones Island (Marianas Island) Few days- they saw Ibabao Island (Samar) Humunu- first island they touch, small uninhabited island near Guiuan Point Buenas Senas- they name the other islets San Lazaro- name of the whole archipelago, Saturday of Saint Lazarus Sunday in Lent in 1521 Easter Sunday- in territory of Butuan, the first mass is offered and a cross planted then Magellan took formal possession of the island Important thing in Colin’s account- he represents the first mass and the solemn Planting of the cross and the formal possession of the island ► Fr. Francisco Combes S.J- other Jesuit writer, wrote Historia de Mindanao y Jolo ► Fr. Combes Account Admiral Alonso de Magallanes- discover the archipelago Enter Strait of Siargao, Leyte, landing in Limasaua 3 powerful nations among Pintados (Visayans)-Caraga, Samar, Zebu Zebu- near to them, they pass between Bool and Leyte and Camotes Island and reach Mandawe on April 7, 1521 ► Colin and Combes compared - Magellan visit both Limasaua and Butuan - From Limasaua Magellan’s expedition went to Cebu 18th Century
► Colin: Mindanao- largest
island in size ► Danao- means lake ► Maguindanao- place and dwellers of lake ► Caraga- 1st province that Faces the sea across New Spain (Mexico) ► Did not say Magellan sighted Cape of San Agustin (where Caraga begin) but Magellan enter Philippine near Samar landing first at Homonhon ► Fray Juan de la Concepcion- One historians who made error 14 volume of History of the Philippines is publish in Manila He account that Magellan left island las Velas Latinas or the Archipelago of San Lazaro ► Magellan also name Marianas Island, first saw cape of San Agustin, sailed in Caraga, entered Siargao and landed in island of Limasawa ► He think Las Velas, Marianas Island and Archipelago of San Lazaro were the same 19th Century
► Fr. Joaquin Martinez de
Zuniga- accept the Butuan tradition ► Easter Sunday 1521- Magellan is in Butuan, ordered mass and plant a Cross on a hill rock near the beach ► John Foreman- March 16,1521, Magellan reached the Ladrones Island and arrive at mouth of Butuan River Shift in Opinion
► Due to rediscovery and
attentive study of 2 primary sources namely: Pigafetts’s account and Albo’s log The Evidence for Limasawa
1. Alba’s Log Book
2. Pigafetta’s Evidence a. Testimony regarding the route b. Pigafetta’s map c. 2 native kings d. 7 days at Mazaua e. Argument from omission 3. Summary of evidence of Albo and Pigafetta 4. Confirmatory evidence from Legazpi expedition Evidence of Albo’s Log Book
► Francisco Albo join
Magellan expedition as pilot in flagship” Trinidad” ► One of the 18 survivors of Sebastian Elcano “Victoria” ► Keep diary- a log book ► March 16, 1521- sailed from Ladrones and saw land name Yunagan ► Went to other island named Suluan ► They got wood and water in Gada ( Pigafetta’s account it was Homonhon) ► They sailed at Seilani, Pigafetta call it Ceylon-was Island of Leyte ► Turn to small island Mazava, they plant a cross on mountain-top ► They see 3 island and they enter a channel between 2 island name Matan and Subu ► Subu- enter a peace-pact with local king Evidence from Pigafetta
► Most complete account of
Magellan’s expedition ► Eyewitness of principal events ► First mass- Philippine Archipelago, Island of Saint Lazarus Pigafetta’s Testimony Regarding the Route
► March 16,1521- Saturday-
Magellan sighted high land named Zamal ► March 17,1521- landed to island Humunu (Homonhon); named the archipelago Island of Saint Lazarus, Sunday In Lenten season when gospel assign was 11th chapter of St. John, raising of Lazarus from the dead ► March 18, Monday- stay 4 days in that island, Homonhon was name Watering Place of Good Omen ► March 22, Friday- 8 days in In Homonhon, March 17-25 ► March 25, Monday- left Homonhon, feast of Incarnation, feast of Annunciation, Our Lady’s Day ► 4 islands after Homonhon are: 1. Cenalo- Ceilon 2. Huinanghan- Hinunangan, mainland of Leyte 3. Ibusson- east of Leyte 4. Albarien ► March 28,Thursday- Mazaua island ► April 4, Thursday- left Mazaua, bound for Cebu, 5 past island are Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baibai, Gatighan Canighan- southwest of Leyte Camotes Group- Poro, Pasihan, Pozon ► Sunday, April 7- enter Zubu or Cebu Summary of Evidence of Albo and Pigafetta
► Magellan enter in Samar and
dropped at Homonhon ► Mazaua- south of Leyte ► Sails in Canigao Channel between Bohol and Leyte ► Magellan did not go to Butuan Importance of Butuan
► First place in Mindanao
where Christian mission was establish Butuan Monument
► 1872- monument erected at
Magallanes near Butuan ► 1953- petition submitted at National Historical Commission for rehabilitation and re-erected of Butuan Monument ► Luis Montilla- chairman of National Historical Commission