Faculty of Teachers Education

Davao Oriental State University

Martinez Drive, Guang Guang, Mati City
Davao Oriental, Philippines 8200

CASE STUDY PAPER

WHERE DID THE FIRST CATHOLIC MASS TAKE PLACE IN THE

PHILIPPINES

Prepared by;

Cristy M. Awit
Althea Charisse M. Cartalla
Liana Nicole T. Dela Cruz
Oshin T. Egpit
Floraly C. Garde
Sarah Jane A. Magdipig
Estela M. Masangay
Romarliza R. Paulin
Jevy P. Pingkian
April Myles G. Sahidsahid
Princess D. Tan
BACKGROUND

The place in the Philippines where the first Catholic mass took place has
been a very extensive discussion displaying its importance to our country and
for us, Filipinos. This needs to be ascertained because it paves the way for
the spread of Christianity in Asia. Additionally, various debates and disputes
upsurge in relation to the determination of the exact place of this momentous
event in the history without reliable evidence to consider with. As Filipinos
involve as well in this long-term discussion, it is our responsibility to correct
history based on facts supported by archaeological evidence. There
are only two places which were deliberated in accordance with the primary
resources available in this long study. These include the Butuan and
Limasawa.

The above places became the basis of this long-standing discussion

whether which one is the place where the first Catholic mass was really
held. The mass was first believed to be conducted in the place of Butuan
but many scholars and historians contended against this claimand pinpoint
they assertions as they prove and study with supplementation of core
resources. The two primary sources which include the log by Francisco Albo
and a more complete account of Antonio Pigafetta are widely known and
utilized by the researchers and historians in this decisive part of our history.
The reason behind this is because the two authors of these major resources
are both member of the Magellan expedition and they are actually eye
witnesses of the authentic happening from that particular event. On Albo’s log,
even though that it is not very particular in the undertakings upon their
expedition, he still manage to mention about the place and activity
which strongly signifies the belief that
the first Catholic mass really occurred in Limasawa instead of Butuan. On
his written testimony, he specifies that the Spaniards planted cross on
theMountaintop in the place called Mazava which based on the inv
estigation thoroughlyaccompanied is now the Limasawa. It also matches the
west and southwest part of it where threeislands could be seen and
it perfectly fits the southern end of Limasawa.

These statement extremely supported the more specific account of Antonio

Pigefetta. He discussed in detailed the factual occurrence of their stay in
Mazua. He mentioned that Magellan direct a priest ashore with some men to
prepare for the Mass. It was particularly stated that it happened on early
morning of Sunday, the last of March and Easter day. After the mass was
celebrated, the cross was venerate dright after. This Mazua was later on
found to be the same place as Mazava which was mentioned in Albo’s log. It
suits the three islands that can be seen in the west and southwest part of
either of the names of this particular location.Basically, Mazua and Butuan is
now the place in the Philippines called as Limasawa.This place was highly
backed-up by many historians to be the actual place of the first Catholicmass
in the Philippines and the old argument regarding this issue have been
subside as the two primary resources have been inspected and complement
each other. The claim that Butuan is the actual place that fits the discussion
was rejected because a crucial aspect was not present in the
prerogative place which is the Agusan River. Butuan is a riverine
settlement, situated on afore mentioned river. Lack of vital evidence from
this trust amplify more that the Limasawa is the only place that could possibly
be the well-knowned place of the first mass. Finally, this is
very material for the history as it became the roots of all the virtue
of Christianity in the Philippines.

CASE EVALUATION

WHERE DID THE FIRST CATHOLIC MASS TAKE PLACE IN THE

PHILIPPINES?

The first Catholic Mass in the Philippines was held on March 31, 1521.
(Eastern Sunday) Father Pedro de Valderrama Holy first mass marked the
birth of Roman Catholism in the Philippines The place was located at the
Southern Leyte. A popularly known as the birthplace of the Church in the
Philippines.

On March 16, 1521, as they sailed in a westerly course from Landrones,

they saw land
towards the northwest but owing to many shallow places, they did
instead that
same day southwards to another small island named Saluan, an
d there they anchored. They saw canoes but fled at the Spaniard’s
approach. Then Sailed to Gada where they took a supply of wood and
water. From Pigafetta’s testimony, this seems to be the “Acquada” or
Homonhon. They then continue to Sail towards a large island, Seilani,
that wasinhabited and was known to have gold. Selani (called Ceylon by
Pigafetta) was theisland of Leyte. In Albos account the location of Mazava fits
the location of Limasawa

HoweveAlbodoes not mention the first Mass, but only the planting
of the cross upon themountain-top.Pigafetta and Seven days in
MazauaMarch 28, 1521, In the morning they anchored near an island where
they hadseen a light the night before a small boat (bolo to) came with
eight natives towhom Magellan threw some trinkets as presents. This was
Thursday in holy week.Next day. Holy Friday, Magellan sent his slave
interpreter ashore in a small boat to askthe king if he could provide the
expedition with food supplies, and to say that they had come as friends not as
enemies. The native king and his companions returned ashore,
bringing with them two members of Magellan's expedition as guests
for the night. One of the two was Pigafetta. March 30, 1521, Pigafetta and his
companion had spent the previous evening feasting and drinking with the
native king and his son. Pigafetta deplored the fact that although it was Good
Friday they had to eat meat. Early in the morning of Sunday,
thelast of March and Easter day, Magellan sent the priest ashore
with some men to prep are for the Mass. Later in the morning
Magellan landed with some fifty men
and Mass was celebrated, after which a cross was venerated. March
31, 1521, While on the summit of the highest hill, Magellan asked the two
kings which ports he should go to in order to obtain more abundant
supplies of food than were available in that island. they replied that there
were three ports to choose from: Ceylon, Zubu and Calagan and Zubu was
the port with the most trade. April 1, 1521, Magellan sent men ashore to help
with the harvest but no work was done that day because the two kings were
sleeping off their drinking bout the night before. They work on the harvest
during the next two hours

Issue The commission concluded that the First Mass was held in Limasawa
after it found that:
The most complete and reliable account of the Magellan expeditin
into Philippine shores in
1521 is that of Antonio Pigafetta which is deemed as the only
credible primary source of reports on the celebration of the first Christian
Mass on
Philippine soil. Pigafetta's Mazaua, the site of the first Christian M
ass held on Philippine soil, is an island lying off the southwestern
tip of Leyte while Masao in Butuan is not an island but a barangay of
Butuan City located in a delta of the Agusan River along the coast of Northern
Mindanao. The position of Mazaua, as plotted by Pigafetta,
matched that of Limasawa. Magellan's fleet took a route from Homonhon to
Mazaua and from Mazaua to Cebu that did not at any time touch Butuan or
any other part of Mindanao. The docking facilities at Limasawa did not pose
any problem for Magellan's fleet which anchored near or at some safe
distance from the island of the eastern shore.

Masao, Butuan City Evidences

•In 1872, a monument to commemorate the site of the first mass on the
Philippines was erected in Butuan.

•In 1953, the people in Butuan ask the Philippine Historical Committee
torehabilitate the monument or place a marker on the site.

•Gregorio Zaidea Filipino historian, author and politician from the town of
Pagsanjan, Laguna in the Philippines, claims the location of the first mass is
in Butuan base on Pigafetta’s acccount.

American historian Emma Helen Blair and John Alexander Robertson

claimed in 1909 that the island of Mazauais the present island of
Limawasabut did not give explanation. According to primary records, the
expedition traveled 20 to 25 leagues from Homonhon, the first landing point. If
they had been to Limasawa Island, the distance is only 14.6 leagues or one-
half of that length.
Limasawa, Southern Leyte Evidences

•Francisco Albo’s Log Book one of the pilot in the voyage of Magellan, who is
included in 18 survivors, writes on his book that they erected a cross on
amountain that overlooks the island.

•On June 19, 1960, the Philippine Congress enacted a bill [R.A. No.
2733]declaring Limasawaas the place where Magellan celebrated the
firstrecorded mass in the Philippines on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521.
In 1996, The first ever Christian Mass in the country on March 31, 1521
wascelebrated in the island of Limasawa, south of Leyte and not in
ButuanCity,so declared the National Historical Institute.

•Jesuit Priest Miguel A. Bernard , studied pigafetta’s maps and notice that in
pigafetta’sjournal he didn’t mention the crucial aspect of Butuan -the
river ,which makes a distinct characteristics of Butuan’s geography that
seemed to be much important to be missed .

Therefore, the First Catholic Mass in the Philipines was held on March31,
1521 , Easter Sunday. It was officiated by a priest named Father Pedro ‫ى‬
Valderramain the shore of Mazauain Pigafetta’s journal , whom people
believe is the town specifically in the shore of Limasawain Southern Leyte. It
is popularly known as the birthplace of the Church in the Philippines.

CONCLUSION

The first documented Catholic Mass in the Philippines was held on March
31, 1521, Easter Sunday. It was conducted by Father Pedro de Valderrama
of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition along the shores of what was referred to
in the journals of Antonio Pigafetta as "Mazaua".
Today, this site is widely believed by many historians and the government
to be Limasawa off the tip of Southern Leyte, However, until at least the
19th century, the prevailing belief was that the first mass was held in Butuan.
This belief is maintained by some, who assert that the first mass was
instead held at Masao, Butuan.
To end the conflict for the issue about the first mass, the National Historical
Commission of the Philippines panel adapted the recommendation and
unanimously agreed that the evidence and arguments presented by the pro-
Butuan advocates are not sufficient and convincing enough to warrant the
repeal or reversal of the ruling on the case by the National Historical
Institute. It is further strengthen by the evidence that it was only after 22
years, in 1543—when a Spanish expedition led by Ruy López de Villalobos
landed in Mindanao.
REFERENCES

Navarrete, M. F. de, Coleccion de los Viagesy Descuhrimientos (1837) Vol. IV,

Document 22.Google Scholar 2

Barlow, , Roger, , A Brief Summe of Geographic, Hak. Soc. Vol. 69, 2nd
series.Google Scholar 3
Cortesao, , Armando, (1935), Cartografia e Cartografos Portugueses, Vol. II,
Plate V.Google Scholar

A Log-Book of Magellan’s Voyage, 1519–1522, The Journal of Navigation ,

Volume 17 , Issue 1 , January 1964 , pp. 83 – 87

Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society Vol. 9, No. 3 (September 1981), pp.
192-216 (25 pages)
Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society Vol. 9, No. 3 (September 1981),
pp. 192-216 (25 pages)

“Beyond the Pale: Limasawa Hoax, A Tragedy in Philippine History

Homonhon Island: The Correct Site of the First Mass in the Philippines Lope
Coles Robredillo (Monsignor)

Diocese of Borongan, Diocesan Commission on the Cultural Heritage of the

Church, 2021 - Eastern Samar (Philippines) - 240 pages