THE SITE OF THE

FIRST MASS ON
PHILIPPINE SOIL
OVERVIEW:
 The site where Mass was first
celebrated on Philippine soil has been a
subject of controversy for several
decades.
 The two places put forward are the
island of Limasawa to the south of
Leyte, and mouth of the Agusan River
near Butuan in northeastern Mindanao
OVERVIEW:
 During the 17th, 18th and 19th
centuries, a strong and almost
unanimous tradition existed to the
effect that the first Mass on the
Philippines soil was celebrated at or
near Butuan.
SHIFT IN OPINION
 The shift in opinion from Butuan to
Limasawa was directly due to the rediscovery
of the testimony of both Pigafetta and Albo.
 It was the more careful study of Pigafetta’s
text that led scholars to question the validity
of the Butuan tradition.
Father Pablo Pastells S.J.
 James Robertson
 Trinidad H. Pardode Tavera
THE ULTIMATE TRUTH?
 Mazaua is universally believed to be
Limasawa, an isle in Leyte in Latitude
9°56’ N and longitude 125°5’ E.

 Every literature on the

circumnavigation makes the ritualistic
footnote that Mazaua is present-day
Limasawa
THE BELIEF LIMASAWA IS
MAZAUA IS TOTAL.
 Two Philippines laws enshrine it
 Republic Act 2733
 Republic Act 7822

 The national historical agency has thrice affirmed its

validity
- Philippine Historical Commission in 1953
- National Historical Institute in 1980
THE BELIEF LIMASAWA IS
MAZAUA IS TOTAL.

In its latest affirmation, the National
Historical Institute claims it had
“conclusively established “ the final
truth about Mazaua being Limasawa
EYEWITNESSES
A. Antonio Pigafetta
B. Francisco Albo
C. The roteiro of the Genoese Pilot
D. Ginés de Mafra
- written by the only seaman to return to Mazaua
published in Spain only in 1920
- it is the second to the last primary account to surface
EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNTS:
PIGAFETTAS ACCOUNT
1. On Saturday, 16 March 1521, they sighted the big island of
“Zamal” some 300 leagues from the Ladrones Islands.
2. The following day (Sunday, March 17) they landed at an
uninhabited island near Zamal, where they rested and set up
two tents for the sick.
3. It was on that same day (Sunday, March 17) that Magellan
called on the entire archipelago the Islands of San Lazaro.
4. They remained at Homonhon an entire week, from Sunday,
March 17, to the following Monday, March 25, which was
the Monday in Holy Week and “Our Lady’s Day.
EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNTS:
PIGAFETTAS ACCOUNT
5. On Holy Thursday, March 28, in the morning, they anchored
near small island where they had seen a fire the night before.
6. On Easter Sunday, March 31, Mass was celebrated on shore in
the morning. In the afternoon a large cross was erected on
top of the highest “mountain” in the area.
7. Present at the Mass and at the planting of the cross were two
native “chieftains, whom Pigafetta calls “kings.”
EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNTS:
PIGAFETTAS ACCOUNT
8. It was apparently from the mountain-top where the cross was
planted that Magellan was shown various islands.
9. Magellan resolved to go to “Zubu” and upon descending from
the mountain he asked for pilots to guide him thither.
10. After the three day postponement (during which Magellan’s
men helped with harvest), the fleet left Mazaua, sailing
northwest “passing among five islands: Ceylon, Bohol,
Canighan, Baybai, and Gatighan.”
EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNTS:
ALBO’S ACCOUNT
1. On 16 March 1521 they saw land towards the northwest, but
owing to many shallow places they did not approach it.
2. Leaving those islands they went westward and anchored off
a small uninhabited island, clear of shoals, where they
obtained water and firewood.
3. From there they sailed westward and followed the coast of a
large island “Seilani” in a direction west southwest till they
come to a small island named Mazava, inhabited by very
good people.
EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNTS:
ALBO’S ACCOUNT
4. From there they went northwestwards , sailing along the coast
of “Seilani” (Leyte”, and sighting “another island” called
Baybai till they came to some smaller islands
5. From there they sailed westwards till they came to the channel
between an island called “Matan” and another called
“Subu.”
CONCLUSIONS FROM BOTH
TESTIMONIES
Positive Conclusions:
1. The first mass on the Philippine soil was offered on Easter
Sunday, 31 March 1521, on the island of Mazaua, which
lies at a latitude of 9 and two-thirds degrees North
2. The island of Mazaua is identical with what is called in
modern maps the island of Limasawa. The latitude given
imprecisely as “9 and two-thirds degrees North”
corresponds substantially to the actual latitude of
Limasawa.
3. From Limasawa (or Mazaua) the fleet sailed north and
west to Cebu.
CONCLUSIONS FROM BOTH
TESTIMONIES
Negative Conclusions:
4. Magellan’s fleet did not touch at Butuan (or any part of
Mindanao) on its way from Homonhon to Cebu.
5. The first Mass on the Philippine soil was not offered at Butuan
nor at any other point in Mindanao.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Thereby the claim of Limasawa as the site of the first Mass
on Philippine soil should be recognized and upheld
2. On the other hand, the claim of Butuan to have been visited
by both the Magellan and the Legaspi expeditions should
also be recognized and honoured, as well as the fact that
among the people whom Magellan had met at Limasawa was
a rajah from Butuan. Accordingly, the monument at Butuan
should be rebuilt, and an appropriate plaque set up with a
carefully worded in participation that does honour both
Butuan and to history