1.

Summarize the event of 1st mass in the Philippines (200 words only)

 First mass in the Philippines was offered on Easter Sunday, 31 st of March 1521 on the
island of Mazaua, known today as Limasawa Island, Leyte. Magellan ordered a mass to be
celebrated and was officiated by Father Pedro Valderama, which was the only priest then
and the Andalusian chaplain of the fleet. It was early in the morning when the mass first
happened, the captain-general sent the priest with some men to prepare the place where
mass was to be held; together with the interpreter to tell the king that they were not going
to land in order to dine with him, but to declare mass. When the hour for mass arrived,
they arrived about fifty men without their body armor and dressed in their best clothes.
When the mass concluded, the captain-general arranged a fencing tournament then he
had a cross carried in and the nails and a crown, he’d wished to set it up in that place for
their benefit where it’s in the summit of the highest mountain, so every morning they
might adore and would put immediate respect to it. It was then the First Holy Mass well-
marked the birth of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines.

2. What are the controversies between limasawa and Butuan as site of the first mass in the
Philippines?

 The controversies for limasawa stated by the Philippine Committee on Geographic Names,
resolved the issue that the correct form should be Limasawa. Jaime C. de Veyra, “who had
made diligent study on the subject,” added that the name Limasawa “had been derived
from Masawa, the original name still in use by the natives, which Pigafetta mark down as
Massaua, duplicating the s.” Pigafetta locates Mazaua at nine and two-thirds degrees
north. This figure coincides exactly with that of Albo, a witness which is considered the
most knowledgeable of all in navigational matters. The figure corresponds most nearly to
the Southern part of Limasawa. And the evidence from latitudes ended in favor of
Limasawa and definitely excludes Butuan. On the other hand, the controversies for Butuan
stated that the Pigafetta’s map of Mazaua which has an east-west orientation does not fit
the north-south orientation of Limasawa. In fact, it looked like the north-eastern of
Mindanao. Travel time of three days (March 25-28) from Homonhon to Mazaua is too long
for Limasawa, which is just nearby and just enough for Masao, Butuan. And on the travel
directions from Homonhon to Mazaua, that is West Southwest, as written by Pigafetta and
Albo eliminates going north to Limasawa and points to Masao, Butuan. Therefore, both
controversie between Limasawa and Butuan addressed all about the locations and where
these parts and directions of the islands are more accurate based on their studies and
findings.

3. Which claim is correct and why?

 Pigafetta stated that mass was held in Limasawa on March 31, 1521, Easter Sunday, there
is no doubt that it was Limasawa, Limasawa was designated as a National Shrine to
commemorate the birth of Christianity in the Philippines and under the legislation it was
there when "the First Mass in the Philippines" was held.