It must be noted that there are Two primary sources that historians refer to in identifying the

site of the first mass:

 Log, by Francisco Albo

 Account of Antonio Pigafetta, Primo Viaggio Intorno al Mondo (First Voyage Around the
World)

First who is Francisco Albo?

 A pilot one of Magellan’s ship, Trinidad

 One of the 18 survivors who returned with Sebastian Elcano on the ship Victoria after they
circumnavigated around the world.
 Has kept all the events that has occurred as their group travel into different places here in our
country.

 According to him, they went to an island named MAZAUA and it fits the location of the island
Limasawa.

 There they planted a cross upon mountain-top where they were able to overlook the three
islands from West and Southwest.

And take note, that MAZAUA has the same location with LIMASAWA as stated in Albo’s account.
However it was not stated in the log, that if it is the same place where the planting of the cross and first
mass occur.

Historian Pablo Pastells stated on a footnote to Francisco Collins labor Evangilica, that Magellan did not
go to Butuan, but from Limasawa to Cebu.

And now let us know who is Antonio Pigafetta and his evidences about the site of the first mass

 Pigafetta, like Albo, was member of the Magellan expedition and an eyewitness of the events,
particularly, of the first mass.
 One of the 18 men out of 240 who returned to Spain in 1522.
ISLAND OF MAZAUA

The first mass was held on March 31, 1521. Based on Pigafetta’s account, at the 28 th of the
March at the same year, their group landed on a place called MAZAUA. This could mean that the mass
happened when they were staying at the island of Mazaua.

SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 1521

Based on Pigafetta’s detailed diary, it was Easter day when Magellan sent a priest ashore with
some men to prepare for the mass. Magellan together with 50 men and the mass was celebrated that
morning after which a cross was venerated.

In the afternoon, after eating their meal, Magellan and the Spaniards returned ashore and plant
the cross on the summit of the highest hill.

BUTUAN RIVER

It was also observed by Father Bernard that Pigafetta did not give the crucial aspect of Butuan. It
was a riverine settlement situated on the Agusan River. This seemed to be important to be missed since,
it will describe geographical features of Butuan that could lead to better understanding of the site of
the mass.

PIGAFETTA AND ALBO’S EVIDENCE

It must be pointed out that the testimonies given by Albo ad Pigafetta matches. The only
difference is that Pigafetta provided a more detailed description of their weeklong stay at MAZAUA.

FIRST MASS,

 Therefore the first Catholic mass was held on March 31,1521, Easter Sunday.
 Officiated by a priest named Father Pedro Valderrama in the shore of Mazaua in
Pigafetta’s journal, whom people believe is the town specifically in the shore of
 Limasawa in Southern Leyte. Popularity know as the birthplace of the church in our
country.

Also for the additional information, the NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES
(NHCP) sustained findings that the Limasawa Island in Souther Leyte was the site of the 1521 Easter
Sunday Mass, the first Catholic Mass in the country.