Readings in Philippine History

(GEED 20013)

Narrative Report
Site of the First Mass

Reporters:
Garcia, Patricia Gene Marcos, Shallaine
Hernandez, Aliah Maya, Stephanie
Igot, Chabelita Oates, Shanell
Ilagan, Ella Parado, Hermie Ann
Lopez, Daphne Peraro, Krystel
Manahan, Danica Alyssa Perez, Caren

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 Introduction:
There is a controversy regarding the site of the first mass ever celebrated on Philippine
soil. Pigafetta tells us it was held on Easter Sunday, the 31st of March 31, 1521 on an island
called “Mazaua” or Limasawa, Southern Leyte but there are conflicting controversies that
challenges the true place wherein the site of the first mass was held. In this presentation, the
reporters will tackle the important figures present during this historical event, what really
happened at that time, and clarify the site of the first mass in our country.
Who: these are the people who were involved in the first mass.
 Rajah Siaui – he is the brother of Rajah Kolambu. He is also the ruler of
the Mazaua in which the first mass was held. Mazaua was the name of the
island before it was called Limasawa.
 Rajah Kolambu – he is a ruler in Butuan. He is the rajah in the island of
Limasawa in which the name of the island was given an assumption by
Ferdinand Magellan wherein he assumed that their rajah has five wives
(lima asawa).
 Antonio Pigafetta – he is the chronicler who also wrote about the first
voyage around the world.
 Friar Pedro Valderrama – he is the one who officiated the mass
 Ferdinand Magellan and his men – they were the Portuguese explorers
who paved the way for the beginning of Christianity in the country.
When: March 31, 1521 (Easter Sunday)
Where: Limasawa, Southern Leyte
Limasawa or “Mazaua” is a 6th class Island municipality in Southern
Leyte. It is considered as the smallest municipality in the said province. The
island is also known as Sarangani Island.
What: Landing on Philippine Shores
1. Blood Compact Ferdinand Magellan and his men set foot on the ground of
Limasawa and befriended Rajah Siaui, who was the island’s sovereign ruler. They sealed
their friendship through Blood Compact. Blood Compact or “Sanduguan” was an ancient
ritual in the Philippines intended to seal a friendship or treaty, or to validate an
agreement. The contracting parties would cut their wrists and pour their blood into a cup
filled with liquid, such as wine, and drink the mixture.
2. First Mass Magellan ordered a mass to be celebrated which was officiated by
Father Pedro Valderrama. The Holy First Mass marked the birth of Roman Catholicism in
the Philippines
3. Planting of the Cross In the afternoon, Magellan instructed his comrades to
plant a wooden cross on the top of the hill overlooking the sea. The cross symbolizes that
a testimonial tradition occurred at the time and to prove that Magellan and his expedition
landed at the island. Magellan then took ownership of the islands where he had landed in
the name of King Charles V which he had named earlier on March 16 Archipelago of
Saint Lazarus because it was the day of the saint when the Armada reached the
archipelago.

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 Historical Controversies
Masao
 1872: A monument to commemorate the site of the first mass on the Philippined was
erected in Butuan.
 1943: The people in Butuan asked the Philippine Historical Committee to rehabilitate the
monument or place a marker on the site.
 Zaide identified Masao in Butuan as the location of the first mass. The basis of Zaide’s
claim is the diary of Antonio Pigafetta, chronicles of Magellan voyage.
Limasawa
 Jaime de Veyra stated the first mass was celebrated in Limasawa not in Butuan.
 Historian Pablo Pastells stating by the footnote to Francisco Colin’s Labor Evangelica that
Magellan did not go to Butuan but from Limasawa to Cebu.
 Francisco Albo does not mention the first mass but he writes that they created a cross on a
mountain.
 James Robertson agreed with Pastells.

Evidences
The following are evidences which prove that the places, Masao and Limasawa, are the
islands where the first mass could possibly be held. They may have similarities with the
evidences they got. However, it was proven that the first mass was really held in Limasawa.

Masao Limasawa
1. The name of the place 1. The evidence of Albo’s Log Book
2. The route from Homonhon 2. The Evidence of Pigafetta
3. The latitude position a. Piagfetta’s testimony
4. The geographical features regarding the route
a. The bonfire b. The evidence of Pigafetta’s
b. The balanghai map
c. House c. The two native kings
d. Abundance of gold d. The seven days at “Mazaua”
e. A developed settlement e. An argument from omission
3. Summary of the evidences of Albo
and Pigafetta
4. Confirmatory evidence from the
Legazpi expedition

Where did the first catholic mass take place in the Philippines?
Antonio Pigafetta and Francisco Albo, eyewitnesses of Magellan, stated that the first
mass took place on an island called Mazaua. They both asserted that from Homonhon they went
towards the island of Leyte and turned into southwest direction to reach this island. Based on
these geographical locations provided by Albo and Pigafetta the island of Limasawa in Southern
Leyte is the counterpart. According to Pigafetta and Albo, while in the island they met two
chieftains: chieftain of Mazaua and Butuan who was said to be visiting the island. Geographical
directions and topographical descriptions of Mazaua best describe the island of Limasawa than
Butuan. Pigafetta and Albo's accounts are considered as first-hand accounts. Pigafetta's work is
the most reliable and detailed source of information regarding Magellan's voyage.

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 However, lately according to BCHFI, it has gathered 28 new pieces of scientific evidence
and comparisons between the two islands — Mazzaua and Limasawa — to substantiate Butuan’s
claim, including the recovery of 10 Balahanghai boats which were accidentally dug up near
Masao River in 1976. A shrine was built for the ancient boats which were used by natives in
Butuan for sea travel even before the Spaniards came.

References:
Bernad, M. (2002). Butuan or Limasawa: The Site of the First Mass in the Philippines: A
Reexamination of the Evidence. Budhi A Journal Of Ideas And Culture. Office of the Associate
Dean for Research and Creative Work. Vol 5 No 3 6 1. Retrieved 22 July 2019 from
https://journals.ateneo.edu/ojs/index.php/budhi/article/view/582/579

(2016). The History of Limasawa Island. EVLearners. Philippine Historical

Committee/Limasawa Historian. Retrieved 22 July 2019 from http://evlearners.com/history-
limasawa-island/

Guia, J. (2015). Limasawa Island: A Place of the First Mass in the Philippines. Vigattin Tourism.
Retrieved 22 July 2019 from https://www.vigattintourism.com/tourism/articles/Limasawa-Island-A-
Place-of-the-First-Mass-in-the-Philippines?
fbclid=IwAR0YDyw0AO27X360iCcWK1eDQzMzSmgO68U1QGyX1ePfMbNB_AWmVYkTG5s

Face, T. (2014). History of Christianity in the Philippines: The First Mass. Prezi. Retrieved 22
July 2019 from https://prezi.com/5x4wrzb_rzor/history-of-christianity-in-the-philippines-the-first-
mass/?fbclid=IwAR0ZSnqt9JGo3FArmgWH8MLjHRq52mye1lfHEJn-CMdqQ_23YSMz-RW3xoo

Decilio, R. (2018). Site of-first-mass-in-the-philippines history-1-4. Slide Share. Dr. Yanga's

College Inc. LinkedIn Corporation. Retrieved 22 July 2019 from
https://www.slideshare.net/chad4510/site-offirstmassinthephilippines-history14?
fbclid=IwAR1nrlpjyEkDlWIj3Z3ZoBRxuT20Nsv8opbGuDrJ_OOXbiW6n3zCajHXbe0

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