CASE STUDY 1:

WHERE DID THE FIRST

MASS TAKE PLACE IN THE
PHILIPPINES?
PRIMARY SOURCE : ALBO'S LOG

2
•Butuan has long been
believed as the site of first
mass. In fact this has been
the case for three
centuries, culminating in
the erection of a
monument in 1872 near
Agusan River, which
commemorates the
expedition's arrival and
celebration of mass on
April 8, 1521. 3
LOG
•An official record of events during the

voyage of a ship or aircraft.

•A book in which these records are

made; logbook

3
 FRANCISCO ALBO

—a pilot of one of Magellan’s ship,

Trinidad. He was one of the 18 survivors
who returned with Sebastian Elcano on
the ship Victoria after they
circumnavigated the world.

— Albo's log is one of the primary sources

that historians refer in identifying the site
of the first Mass.
4
• According to Albo, they went to
an Island named "Masava" or the
"Limasawa"

•There they planted a cross upon

a mountain-top where they were
able to overlook the three islands
from west and southeast.
5
•From Mazava they sailed northwards again towards
Seilani. They followed the coast in a northwesterly
direction, ascending up to 10 degrees of latitude where
they saw three small islands.

•They sailed down that channel and then turned westward and
anchored at the town (la villa) of Subu where they stayed many
days and obtained provisions and entered into a peacepact with
the local king.
6
•It must be noted that in Albo’s account, the location of Mazava
fits the location of the island of Limasawa, at the southern tip of
Leyte. Also, Albo does not mention the first Mass, but only the
planting of the cross upon a mountain-top from which could be
seen three islands to the west and southwest, which also fits the
southern end of Limasawa.
THANK YOU^__^

By: Marwin J. Janani