III.

Philippines History: Spaces for Conflict and Controversies

Prepared by: Aldrin A. Sinconiegue, RSW
Source: Readings in Philippine History, Candelaria, Alphora, Kunting

A. Making Sense of the Past: Historical Interpretation.

Objective:
 Interpret Historical Events using primacy sources
 Recognize multiplicity of interpretation that can be read from historical text
 Identify advantages and disadvantages of employing critical tools in interpreting
historical events through primary sources
 Demonstrate ability to argue for against a particular issue using primary sources.

Two key concepts that needs defined before proceeding to the lesson.
 Interpretation – own perception
 Multiperspectivity - a characteristic of narration or representation, where more than
one perspective is represented to the audience.
Barraclough –
o History defines as “the attempt to discover, on the basis of fragmentary evidence,
the significant things about the past”
o He also notes that “the history we read, though based on the facts, is strictly
speaking, not factual at all, but a series of accepted judgement”.
o Such judgements of historians on how the past should be seen make the foundation
of historical interpretation.
Historians utilize facts collected primary sources of history and then draw their own reading
so that their intended audience may understand the historical event, a process that
essence” makes sense of the past”.
The premise is that not all primary resources are accessible to general audience, and
without the proper training and background. A non-historian interpreting a primary source
may do harm than good and may cause harm.
Interpretation of the past may vary according to who read and interpret the primary source.
As a student of history, must be equipped with different types of interpretations.
IV. MULTIPERSPECTIVITY

A. Where did the first Catholic mass takes Place in the Philippines?

Introduction The beginning of Christianity in the Philippines is linked to the celebration

of the first Holy Mass. There is a controversy regarding the first Catholic Mass that
happened in the Philippine shore. As Antonio Pigafetta stated the first mass was held on
the 31th of March 1521 on an island called "Mazaua." And now, this case study will help
to clear out the issue and to identify the place which Pigafetta calls "Mazaua." There are
two conflicting claims on the subject: one claims that it happened in Limasawa and the
other one claims that the event occured in Butuan.
Butuan claims that a monument erected in 1872 near Agusan River. The said monument
was a brick pillar that has a marble slab that contained an inscription and was later on
translated in English: "To the Immortal Magellan: the People of Butuan with their Parish
Priest and thee Spaniards resident therein, to commemorate his arrival and the
celebration of the First Mass on this site on the 8th of April 1521. Erected in 1872, under
the District Governor Jose Ma. Carvallo." The monument was built because it was
suggested by a Spanish friar of the Order of Augustinian Recollects. The given date for
the first Mass can be an error, or it can be an attempt to translate the original date in
terms of the Gregorian calendar. In any case, that monument is a testimonial that the
first mass really happened in Butuan.

The place Limasawa holds the title of the place where the first mass happened by law
and by some evidences. In 1996, it was proclaimed that the first Holy Mass was
celebrated in Limasawa Island on March 31, 1521 by Republic Act 2733. The memoirs of
Antonio Pigafetta that serves as a primary source and stands to be the most credible
source when it comes to the said historical event. However, Pigafetta never said that the
Easter Sunday Mass in Limasawa was the 'first.

The arguments for Masawa in Butuan and not Limasawa in Samar-Leyte as the site of
the first Mass celebrated in our country are strong. There are incontrovertible
eyewitness accounts of the people of that time: Antonio Pigafetta, the official chronicler
of Magellan’s voyage; Gines de Mafra, one of Magellan’s original crew who managed to
return to Spain and reported about what he found in Masawa; and other supporting
testimonies.
Pigafetta in his account specifically wrote: “That island was called Butuan and Calagan.
The name of the first king is Raia Colambu and the second Raia Siaui…It is twenty-five
leagues from Acquada, and is called Masaua.”

Also the differences with respect to the recorded latitudinal locations of Masawa and
Limasawa as reported by the different chroniclers of that time favor the former more
than the latter. It can be argued that the accuracy of these estimations, given the
facilities of that time, may not be that precise. Besides, there can also be strong motives
for making intentionally wrong latitudinal locations to mislead enemies and competitors
Another argument forwarded is that at that time Masawa in Butuan had some primacy
over Limasawa since Masawa had a safe and rich harbor while Limasawa did not have
one at that time.

But as time and events passed, the name Masawa became equated with Limasawa. How
this came about is an interesting piece of tortuous historical study that certainly would
require deep and comprehensive investigation and analysis. Let us hope that our
historians can come up with a credible consensus as to which is which with respect to
this issue.
The visit of Pope Francis will inevitably resurrect a controversial and unresolved issue on
the introduction of Christianity to the Philippines – just where was the first Holy Mass
celebrated? On his arrival, the Pope noted that the Church in the Philippines was
preparing to celebrate the fifth centenary of the “first proclamation of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ on these shores.”
The introduction of Christianity on Philippine shores is generally linked to the
celebration of the first Holy Mass, and Butuan City and Limasawa, Southern Leyte, both
claim to be the venue of this historical religious rite. A dear friend, Rolly Narciso, is
among those feverishly pushing for the official recognition of Masau in Butuan City as
the true site. It’s hope that this controversy in the country’s history will have been
resolved by March 31, 2015 when the Philippines celebrates its 500th year of
Christianization.
The National Historical Institute (NHI) has already reached a conclusion after a two-year
study. In 1996, it reaffirmed the popular belief propelled by Republic Act 2733 that the
first Holy Mass was celebrated in Limasawa Island on March 31, 1521.The NHI cited the
memoirs of Antonio Pigafetta, who chronicled the expedition of Ferdinand Magellan, as
“the only credible primary source that yields the best evidence of the celebration of the
first Christian Mass on Philippine soil.” This issue, however, remains debatable despite
the pronouncement from the NHI.