SITE OF THE

FIRST MASS

DILAO, ROJIM A.
ROBREDILLO, KYLE REZZHIA
BSCE-2C

LIMASAWA VERSION MASAO VERSION

 According to Fr. Pedro de
Valderama,chaplain of the Magelan-Elcano
expedition the earliest recorded Mass in the
Philippine territory was held in Limasawa on
March 31,1521.
According to Fr. Pedro de
Valderama, chaplain of the Magelan-Elcano
expedition the earliest recorded Mass in the
Philippine territory was held in Limasawa
on March 31,1521.
Checking the modern plans it will
show that the island named Mazaua in the
account and maps of Pigafetta, the place tip
off mostly on Leyte island where Limasawa
is located during that time
• The route of Magellan's Expedition leads to
graphical location of Limasawa.
• The position and latitude of Mazaua
correspond to the position and latitude of
Limasawa.
• Expedition from Mazaua to Cebu.
• The survivors of the expedition went to
Mindanao later, but after Magellan's death.
• The Legazpi Expedition
• The cross in mountain-top can be seen
from the three islands = Subu, Matan, and
Seilani.
• Mazaua - near Leyte and Panaon; Butuan
on the Island of Mindanao
Evidence of Pigafetta's Map
• Location of Mazaua in the map (1st Map)
• Mazaua lies equivalent to the actual position
of Limasawa (Pigafetta's Map; 3rd Map)
• No way can Mazaua be identified with
Butuan (2nd Map)
The Two Kings
• Pigafetta says he was "the finest looking
man" that he had seen in those parts "The
island of his was called Butuan and
Calagan. When those kings wished to see
one another, they both went to hunt in that
island where we were"
Seven Days at Mazaua
Pigafetta says, "We remained there seven
days" o Thurs, 28 March to Thurs, 4 April.
According to Pigafetta, a Venetian
scholar who accompanied Magellan on his
voyage, the site of the first Mass was on the
Island of Mazaua. It happened on the
Easther of the Sunday, 31 of March 1521.
The location of the latitude, other
primary sources locate the place at 90 north
latitude, and others at nine 2'3. With this
location, it quickly takes away Limasawa as
a possible site because it is closer by 10
degrees and supports the claim of Masao,
Butuan because it is precisely at nine
degrees
• The subject of the controversy is the
identity of the place which pigafetta calls
mazaua.
• 2 conflicting claims as to its identity:
One school of thought points to the little
island south of leyte which in the maps is
called Limasawa and the other school
rejects that claim and points instead to
the beach called Masao at the mouth of
the Agusan River in Northern Mindanao,
near Butuan.
The Butuan Tradition
The monument was erected and it was a
brick pillar on which was a marble slab
that contained an inscription
whichmightbe translated to
commemorate his arrival and the
celebration of the first mass on this site
on the 8th of april 1521.
The 17th Century
Father Francisco Colin's account about
Magellan's arrival present the fact that he
represents the first mass as well as the
solemn planting of the cross and the
formal taking possession as having taken
place at Butuan on Easter Sunday 1521.
Father Francisco Combes main point out
in his account is that Magellan landed at
Butuan and there planted the cross ina
solemn ceremomy.
An Argument from Omission
• Butuan is a riverine settlement situated in the
Agusan River which is not mentioned by
Pigafetta in His accounts
• Legazpi's expediton - The river is a very
significant account
• Mazaua was an island surrounded by sea,
not a river delta Summary of the Evidence
of Albo and Pigafetta

CONCLUSION:
The site of the first Mass in the Philippines that happened in Limasawa on the
Easter Sunday of March 1521. The chronology of events are accurate to the given
evidences and it is on Limasawa. Butuan tradition is the based on second hand
information.

LIMASAWA VERSION- Rojim Dilao

MAZUA VERSION – Kyle Rezzhia Robredillo