Jaro, Aaron Michael M.

October 31, 2022

BSIT 303 Readings in Philippine History 03 Activity 3

1. Summarize two (2) learning resources from 03 Readings: The Site of the First Mass.
A. Where was the First Mass in the Philippines held?
• The first Holy Mass celebrations are typically seen as being responsible for the spread of
Christianity to Philippine coasts. This ancient religious ceremony is said to have taken
place in Limasawa and Butuan City in Southern Leyte. Rolly Narcisco is one of those
fervently advocating for Masau's formal acknowledgment as the legitimate site. Tomas
"Buddy" Gomez disputed the NHI's claim that Limasawa was the actual location. He
doesn't dispute the fact that a Mass was held there, as Antonio Pigafetta had claimed to
have written. Buddy bemoaned the fact that this "historical mistake" had been solidified
by later "copycat" historians.

B. Site of the First Mass, after 488 years Controversy Continues

• Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator, "rediscovered" the archipelago in March
1521, which was 488 years ago. The location of the first recorded Mass in the
Philippines will be disputed by two locations. At Bood Promontory in Pinmanculan,
Leyte, the Mass was celebrated. The debate over the First Mass is still going on, and
history specialists have been enlisted to weigh in. They have concluded that Limasawa
Island was the site of the First Mass that was officially documented in the Philippines.

2. State the viewpoint/argument of each resource.

A. Where was the first Mass in the Philippines held?
• The first Holy Mass is usually regarded as marking the arrival of Christianity in the
Philippines, and both Butuan City and Limasawa, Southern Leyte, lay claim to hosting
this important religious ceremony.

B. Site of the First Mass, after 488 years Controversy Continues

• We had no idea that more than 400 years later, Limasawa Island in southern Leyte and
Mazzua or Masao in Butuan would compete for the title of where the First Mass in the
Philippines was actually held.

3. Present what evidence that each resource used to support this viewpoint/argument.
• On March 31, 1521, Pedro Valderrama, the chaplain of the Spanish expedition group
under the command of Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan. Bood Promontory is
the site of commemoration of the thanksgiving mass that took place in Mazzua, Father
Amalla said in his sermon, not the specific location of the First Mass. Portuguese
navigator Ferdinand Magellan "rediscovered" the archipelago in March 1521, making
history 488 years ago.