An important date in the history of the Christian religion in the Philippines is the last day of

March, March 31 because on March 31 in 1521 on this day the first Christian worship in our
country was done or performed the first holy Mass. And first introduction of the Christian religion
in the Philippines even before this, the two sides of the Spaniards and the natives of Limasawa
had a good relationship by virtue of the Sanduguan Fernando Magallanes At Raja Kulambu on
March 29th next to the beach of Limasawa Island in present of the province of southern leyte
Here the ceremony of the first mass in history was performed which was attended by Fernando
Magallanes and approximately 50 of his men Antonio pigafetta was also present. It was also
attended by raja and siyago and some other natives of the island of Limasawa who wanted to
see what they considered to be a foreign ritual worship.

On Easter Sunday, the mass in Limasawa took place and the first mass ceremony was held on
the beach of Limasawa, led by Father Pedro Valderama, the only survivor who seemed to be a
member of Magellan's expedition. The natives followed the vehicle and performed some foreign
rituals. After the simple house, the construction of a wooden cross on top of the hill on the island
was carried out, which was attended by Father Valderama Magallanes pigafetta and Raja.

According to them, pigafetta prayed to our father Ave Maria and Hail Mary at the same time and
repeatedly and Raja Kulambu and Siyago also joined in. This event gave birth to the religion of
Christianity in our country which has become part of our national consciousness and culture in
the coming generation. Since 1872, the Spanish government has recognized Limasawa or the
island of Limasawa where the first mass in the country took place. This is also based and
supported by Pigafetta's records in his journal.

In fact, Republic Act No. 2733 was enacted on June 19, 1960, recognizing the island of
Limasawa as the place where the first mass was held. The former First Lady Imelda Marcos
even made a price on the top of the hill overlooking barangay Magallanes. island The Shrine of
the first holy mass, in 1984, cost millions of pesos, but over the years, this belief has been
challenged by the Filipino historian Sonia Zaide who proposed that the place of the first mass in
the Philippines happened, not in Limasawa but in Butuan Agusan del Norte based on Pigafetta's
notes.

Competing historians also went through a long time asserting their arguments using the notes of
Pigafetta and another who recorded their journey, Francisco Albo, who in turn gave a more
detailed description of the construction of the cross in Limasawa. According to albo, from the
hill, three islands can be seen in the west and south-west side, which matches the description
today in the southern part of Limasawa, similar to the butuan side, only one can be seen.
between the National Historical Commission of the Philippines issue and A few years later, it
was formally declared last year by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines that the
first mass in this country happened in preparation for the 60th anniversary of the birth of a
country and the arrival of Magallanes in our country.