Readings in Philippine History

Position Paper about the First Mass Site in the Philippines

Pinpointing Mazaua:
The First Mass Site in the Philippines

Submitted By:
Group 1

Apitan, Lorie May

Gumapac, Brianna
Israel, Sherilyn
Javier, Jeremy
Latayan, Schermie Joi
Lizardo, Joyce Ailla
Magistrado, Zelyn Gabrielle
Malabanan, Lean James
Malones, Gabriel
Mamon, Jenny
Mendoza, Beverly
Tolentino, Chloe

BS Psychology 1103

Submitted to:
Mr. Bernardo P. Labosta Jr.
 Pinpointing Mazaua: The First Mass Site in the Philippines

"If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't
know it is part of a tree," a famous quote that talks abundantly about how history has a huge part
in everyone's life from the moment it has happened up until today's society. First, Mass.
Limasawa. Mazaua. Butuan. Various words that bring numerous confusion and perspectives to
us, Filipinos, to us, Christians. On March 31, 1521, the first mass in the Philippines occurred that
was attended by famous people such as Ferdinand Magellan, different Rajahs, islanders and
voyagers. Since then, it has always been a bewilderment of where it actually happened. The
claims said that the mass happened in the island called Mazaua, but the title Mazaua was the only
context left about the site alongside two significant sources, The First Voyage Around the World
and Francisco Albo‟s Logbook. Up until the present time, it was never sure if it was the island in
Leyte called Limasawa or the Masao, the community at the mouth of Agusan River which is now
called the city of Butuan. These are the two distinguished claims about the site of the mass. It
became a huge and loud topic, especially to Christians, because it is necessary to know where,
when and how the first assembly happened that helped us gain the root of knowledge and
religion we have today. We believe that the site of the first mass in the Philippines was
conducted in Limasawa. Even though history can have different sides and range, with the help of
factual and reliable evidence, we can make sure that our claim will be supported credibly that
will brand it as the real happenings in our history.

The thing about Butuan and why it is not where the first mass occurred is because of the
testimony of the route and map made by Pigafetta himself. As described here, Butuan is situated
near the delta of Agusan River which isn't mentioned in the account from the witness. Another
evidence to support this is the monument located in Butuan. They said that the monument is a
testimonial to the tradition that Magellan landed at Butuan and celebrated the first mass, but
according to Amazing Butuan, the evidence is not convincing and may be biased because anyone
can create a monument or statue everywhere and claim that the first mass happened there. In line
with it, a petition requesting the restoration and re-erection of the Butuan monument was
delivered to the National Historical Committee in 1953. The Butuan claim was therefore
dismissed after citing an amazing number of authorities in support of Butuan, using only what
appeared to be an apodictic remark by Don Jayme de Veyra: "En Limasawa y no en Butuan fue
en donde se celebró la primera misa en estas regiones,” which translates as “In Limasawa, not in
Butuan, the first mass in these regions was celebrated.” This evidence was provided by De Veyra
from the work „The Notes for a Philippine Cartography,‟ among Padre de Tavera's papers. In
addition, the first mass couldn't have taken place at Butuan because if we look at the contents of
Francisco Albo's log book, it says that after coasting along the eastern coast of the island of
Leyte in a southerly direction, then turning southwest, they came upon a small island named
Mazava. Mazava lies at a latitude of 9 and two thirds degrees north, which fits the location of the
small island of Limasawa, south Leyte. He also did not mention the first mass but only the
placing of the cross upon a mountain too. This also fits the southern end of Limasawa, but not to
the coast of Butuan, where neither the south nor the southwest islands could be seen. Antonio
Pigafetta's map and account about the route taken by the Magellan expedition provides further
support on this. Mazaua in Pigafetta's map is a small island which lies on a south western tip of
the larger island of Southern Leyte, and to the east of the island of Bohol. The island of Mazaua
therefore lies in a position roughly equivalent to the actual position of the island of Limasawa.
Mazaua cannot be identified with Butuan, which is situated in another and much larger island,
the same island in which Calagan, Cippit, and Mangdanao are also located. Additionally, the
presence of the two native kings at Mazaua, the rajah of Butuan and rajah or of Mazaua could
also be evidence. The relevant fact is that according to Pigafetta‟s account, the rajah of Butuan
was at Mazaua only to pay a visit.

We agree that the first mass happened in Limasawa. According to Antonio Pigafetta's
testimony about the route of the expedition, he has maps and sketches that lead to Limasawa.
Asserting that from the island of Homonhon they went westward towards the Island of Leyte and
turned to a southwest direction to reach this island. Based on this geographic location provided
by Pigafetta, the island of Limasawa in Southern Leyte is the counterpart. Pigafetta‟s work is the
most detailed and reliable source of information regarding Magellan's voyage compared to the
claims stated by the second account. According to the First Voyage Around the World also, the
two native kings can be evidence of Limasawa as the first mass site in the Philippines. There is
supporting evidence that two native "kings," or rajahs, were present at Mazaua during Magellan's
visit. One was Rajah Kolambu, the "king" of Mazaua, who later led the Magellan expedition to
Cebu. The other was a family member of Rajah Kolambu ("one of his brothers," according to
Pigafetta), namely Rajah Siawi, the king of the Rajah of Butuan. Pigafetta describes Rajah Siawi
as "the finest-looking man" he had ever seen in that region. Due to the fact that his territory was
Butuan, which was on a different island, the relevant information is that he was a visitor to
Mazaua. Butuan and Calagan were the names of that island. And when those kings wished to see
one another, they both went to hunt on that island. Pigafetta stayed on the island of Mazaua for
seven days. As a result, Butuan could not be Mazaua. Magellan did not travel to Butuan to meet
the monarch there. When on the island of Mazaua, they met two chieftains: one was the chieftain
of Mazaua, and the other was the chieftain of Butuan, who was rumoured to be visiting the
island. This contrasts with the history book authored by Francis Combes, S.J., a missionary who
served in the Philippines. He said that Magellan went to Butuan because they heard the king
there was stronger and they wanted to see him. It was said that the king met their hopes. As a
result, they held a solemn ceremony in which they placed a cross on a hill as a symbol of their
upcoming alliance. In this case, Pigafetta and Albo are eyewitnesses and their reports are
regarded as first-hand accounts. In contrast to assertions made by second hand stories, Pigafetta's
study is the most thorough and trustworthy source of information regarding Magellan's trip.
Conforming to the evidence of Albo's Log-Book, it stated that Francisco Albo joined the
Magellan expedition as a pilot in Magellan's flagship. Albo called the island where they
anchored and re-supplied water "Gada," while Pigafetta called it "Acquada," but it all means the
same thing, whether it's "Gada" or "Acquada." Both refer to the island of Homonhon, off the
coast of Guiaun Point in Eastern Samar, where they resupplied with water and took some
provisions generously provided by the natives. Finally, in Albo's logbook, Leyte was referred to
as "Seilani," whereas Pigafetta's account referred to it as "Ceylon." Albo's Logbook does not
explicitly state that Magellan and his crew stayed in Mazaua for a week and on Easter Sunday,
when the First Mass was celebrated. However in Albo's account, he did not mention the first
mass and where it took place. He mentioned that Magellan planted the cross upon a mountain-
top from which could be seen on three islands to the west and southwest. This best fits the
description of the geographical area of Limasawa as it is not applicable to Butuan because there
was no island found in those directions.

We believe based on Antonio Pigafetta's account in "The First Voyage Around the
World," that on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521, Limasawa hosted the first mass in the
Philippines, as evidenced by numerous documents. However, based on the facts effectively
articulated, the chronology of events is accurate to the evidence provided, and it is indeed on
Limasawa. The goal of our stand is to educate the masses and clear the misconceptions and
factless basis about the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, as well as providing our readers,
particularly the Filipino community, with information about what actually occurred in our
country. Misconceptions about the location of the First Mass will have a significant impact on
us, Filipinos, as we will be divided on what we believe. It will also have an impact on our
understanding of our history. Such erroneous claims about where it was held can also have an
impact on how we perceive our religious history, and even though Filipinos have different points
of views about this issue, we cannot deny the fact that the first mass brings us numerous
realizations and knowledge that we enjoy up until now in the present time.