WHERE DID THE FIRST MASS HAPPEN?

THE FINAL REPORT OF THE MOJARES PANEL ON THE BUTUAN-LIMASAWA

CONTROVERSY ON THE LOCATION OF THE 1521 FIRST EASTER SUNDAY MASS IN

THE PHILIPPINES

A REACTION PAPER

Submitted to:

Dr. Rey Luis Motesclaros, Ph. D.

Department of History, College of Arts and Social Sciences

Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology

Submitted by:

Fabiano M. Barcenal, Jr.

BS MetE - I
Summary:

In 1998, the National Historical Institute (NHI) declared that Limasawa Island was the

place in which the First Catholic Mass happened in the Philippines. However, there were some

claims that Butuan was also the place of the First Catholic Mass and it happened somewhere in

Masao Island in Butuan.

The first Catholic Mass happened on March 31, 1521. This year, 2021, the Roman

Catholic church will be celebrating its Quincentennial (500 years) in the Philippines. The first

mass was presided by Fr. Pedro Valderama, a friar, who was together with Magellan during their

navigation.

THE FIRST MASS:

BUTUAN’S CLAIM

The Butuan claims rest upon a tradition that was almost unanimous and unbroken for

three centuries, namely the 17th, 18th and 19th. In these centuries, Butuan claims that the site of

the first mass happened in their island that is why in 1872, a monument of the first easter was

erected in Butuan. They built a monument that will represent as the evidence that the site of the

first eastern mass was celebrated in Butuan.

A writing of Fr. Francisco Colin, "Labor Evangelica" (1663). Here is Colin's account of

Magellan's arrivala and the First Mass:

On Easter Day, in the territory of Butuan, the first mass ever offered in these parts was

celebrated and cross-planted. Magellan then took formula possession of the island in the

name of the Emperor and of the Crown Castille.

y Jolo" (1667).

In the present day, there are also researchers and historians also supported this argument,

like Gabriel Atega. He said that, "First Easter Mass celebration was held at the island of Baug,

Magalianes, Agusan del Norte".

This was also supported by Dr. Potenciano Malvar:

"When we were going to base on what Pigafetta said that the nine and two-thirds norths,

it would be leading down to Butuan."

LIMASAWA’S CLAIM

There are two sources that would serve as evidences as to where, when and how did this

Catholic Mass transpired in the Philippines:

1. Francisco Albo, a pilot in one of Magellan's ship and that was the Trinidad. Francisco

Albo was one of the 18 survivors who accompanied Sebastian Elcano i n going back to

Spain.

2. Antonio Pigafeta, from Vicenza, Italy (1480 - 1531). An Italian chronicler, a Venetian

scholar, an Italian nobleman, a cartographer, and geographer who was sent particularly

by the King Charles I of Spain together with Magellan to document their expedition to

the Spice Islands.

Let's take a look at Francisco Albo's account and it was found in one of the citations of

Miguel A. Bernard in his book, “Butuan or Limasawa? The Site of the First Mass in the

Philippines: A Reexamination of Evidence” published in year 1981.

Source: “Diario 6 derotero del viage de Magallanes desde el cabo se S. Agustin en el

Brazil hasta el regreso a Espana de la nao Victoria, escrito por Frandsco Albo,”

Document no. xxii in Colleción de viages y descubrimientos que hicieron por mar los

Españoles desde lfines del siglo XV, Ed. Martin Fernandez de Navarrete (reprinted

Buenos Aires 1945, 5 Vols.) IV, 191-225. As cited in Miguel A. Bernard “Butuan or

Limasawa? The Site of the First Mass in the Philippines: A Reexamination of Evidence”

1981, Kinaadman: A Journal of Southern Philippines, Vol. III, 1- 35.

1. On the 16th of March (1521) as they sailed in a westerly course from Ladrones, they saw

land towards the northwest; but owing to many shallow places they did not approach it.

They found later that its name was Yunagan.

2. They went instead that same day southwards to another small island named Suluan, and

there they anchored. There they saw some canoes but these fled at the Spaniards’

approach. This island was at 9 and two-thirds degrees North Latitude.

3. Departing from those two islands, they sailed westward to an uninhabited island of

“Gada” where they took in a supply of wood and water. The sea around that island was

free from shallows. (Albo does not give the latitude of this island, but from Pigafetta’s

testimony, this seems to be the “Acquada” or Homonhon, at 10 degrees North latitude.)

4. From that island they sailed westwards towards a large island names Seilani that was

inhabited and was known to have gold. (Seilani- or, as Pigafetta calls it, “Ceylon”- was

the island of Leyte.)

small island called “Mazava.” That island is also at a latitude of 9 and two-thirds degrees

North.

6. The people of that island Mazava were very good. There the Spaniards planted a cross

upon a mountain-top, and from there they were shown three islands to the west and

southwest, where they were told there was much gold. “They showed us how the gold

was gathered, which came in small pieces like peas and lentils.”

7. From Mazava they sailed northwards Seilani. They followed the coast of Seilani in a

north westerly direction, ascending up to 10 degrees of latitude where they saw three

small islands.

8. From there they sailed westwards some ten leagues, and there they saw three islets, where

they dropped anchor for the night. In the morning they sailed southwest some 12 leagues,

down to a latitude of 10 and one-third degree. There they entered a channel between two

islands, one of which was called “Matan” and the other “Subu.”

9. They sailed down that channel and then turned westward and anchored at the town (la

villa) of Subu where they stayed many days and obtained provisions and entered into

peace-pact with local king.

10. The town of Subu was on an east-west direction with the islands of Suluan and Mazava.

But between Mazava and Subu, there were so many shallows that the boats could not go

westward directly but has to go (as they did) in a round-about way.

We have to note that Albo did not mention about the first mass. He mentioned about the

planting of the cross on the top of the hill which could be seen three islands to the west and

southwest, which also fits the southern end of Limasawa. He did not also mention Limasawa
neither mentioned about Masao in Butuan. What does this mean? However, based on the analysis

of the the latitude and the location of the description, Albo's account would fit to the location of

the Limasawa Island and that was the southern tip of Leyte. That is why this would actually tell

us that it was there in Limasawa, the southern tip of Leyte.

Let's take a look at Pigafetta's side of the first mass.

Primary Source: Pigafetta’s Testimony on the Route of Magellan’s Expedition Source:

Emma Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands, Vols. 33 and 34, as

cited in Miguel A. Bernad, “Butuan or Limasawa? The Site of the First Mass in the

Philippines: A Reexamination of Evidence” 1981, Kinaadman: A Journal of Southern

Philippines, Vol. III, 1- 35.

1. Saturday, 16 March 1521- Magellan’s espedition sighted a “high land” named “Zamal”

which was some 300 leagues westward of Ladrones (now the Marianas) Islands.

2. Sunday, March 17- “The following day” after sighting Zamal Island, they landed on

“another island which was uninhabited” and which lay “to the right” of the

abovementioned island of “Zamal.” (To the “right” here would mean on their starboard

going south or southwest.) There they set up two tents for the sick members of the crew

and had a sow killed for them. The name of this island was “Humunu” (Homonhon). This

island was located at 10 degrees North latitude.

3. On that same day (Sunday, March 17), Magellan named the entire archipelago the

“islands of Saint Lazarus,” the reason being that it was Sunday in the Lenten season when
 the Gospel assigned for the Mass and the liturgical Office was the eleventh chapter of St.

John, which tells of the rising of Lazarus from the dead.

4. Monday, March 18- In the afternoon of their second day on that island, they saw a boat

coming towards them with nine men in it. An exchange gift was affected. Magellan asked

for food supplies, and the men went away, promising to bring rice and other supplies in

“four days.”

5. There were two springs of water on that island of Homonhon. Also, they saw there some

indications that there was gold in these islands. Consequently, Magellan renamed the

island and called it the “Watering Place of Good Omen” (Acquada la di bouni senialli).

6. Friday, March 22- At noon the natives returned. This time they were in two boats, and

they brought food supplies.

7. Magellan’s expedition stayed eight days at Homonhon: from Sunday, March 17, to the

Monday of the following week, March 25.

8. Monday, March 25 – In the afternoon, the expedition weighed anchor and left the island

of Homonhon. In the ecclesiastical calendar, this day (March 25) was the feast-day of the

Incarnation, also called the feast of the Annunciation and therefore the “Our Lady’s

Day.” On this day, as they were about to weigh anchor, an accident happened to

Pigafetta: he fell into the water but was rescued. He attributed his narrow escape from

death as grace obtained through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on her feast-

day.

9. The route taken by the expedition after leaving Homonhon was “toward the west

southwest, between four islands: namely, Cenalo, Hiunanghan, Ibusson, and Albarien.”

Very probably “Cenalo” is a misspelling in the Italian manuscript for what Pigafetta in
 his map calls “Ceilon” and Albo calls “Seilani”: namely the island of Leyte.

“Hiunanghan” (a misspelling of Hinunangan) seemed to Pigafetta to be separated island,

but is actually on the mainland of Leyte (i.e., “Ceylon”). On the other hand, Hibuson

(Pigafettas Ibusson) is an island east of Leyte’s southern tip.

Thus, it is easy to see what Pigafetta meant by sailing “toward the west

southwest” past those islnads. They left Homonhon sailing westward towards

Leyte coast southeward, passing between the island of Hibuson on their portside

and Hiunangan Bay on their starboard, and then continued southward, then

turning westward to “Mazaua.”

10. Thursday, March 28, in the morning of Holy Thursday, March 28 they anchored off an

island where the previous night they had seen a light or a bonfire. The island “lies in a

latitude of nine and two-thirds towards the Arctic Pole (i.e., North) and in longitude of

one hundred and sixty-two degrees from the line of demarcation. It is twenty-five leagues

from the Acquada, and is called Mazaua.”

11. They remained seven days on Mazaua Island.

12. Thursday, April 4- They left Mazaua, bound for Cebu. They were guided thither by the

king of Mazaua who sailed in his own boat. Their route took them past five “islands”

namely: “Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baibai, and Gatighan.”

13. At Gatighan, they sail westward to the three islands of Camotes Group, namely, Poro,

Pasihan and Ponson. Here the Spanish ships stopped to allow the king of Mazaua to catch

up with them, since the Spanish ships were much faster than the native balanghai- a thing

that excited the admiration of the king of Mazaua.

14. From the Camotes Islands they sailed southwards towards “Zubu.”
 15. Sunday, April 7, At noon they entered the harcor of “Zubu” (Cebu). It had taken them

three days to negotiate the journey from Mazaua northwards to the Camotes Islands and

then southwards to Cebu.

It must be pointed out that both Albo and Pigafetta’s testimonies coincide and

corroborate each other. Pigafetta gave more details on what they did during their

weeklong stay at Mazaua.

Reaction:

Is it really in Limasawa, Leyte? Or in Masao, Butuan?

There is always room for conflicts and controversies in our studies of the Philippine

History. Why are there spaces for conflicts and controversies primarily because, maybe,

historians could be subjective in their interpretations that their interpretations might be biased in

their personal interpretation of the artifacts of course as we have understood that artifacts

couldn't speak for themselves.

There are also multi-perspectives in History, a lot of perspectives when we study history

will arise and that is why there will always be room for conflicts and spaces for controversies in

the studies of history. Some historians would call this as "One past but many histories".

This topic is not just for mechanical transference of facts and historical

writing but it is also to resolve certain misunderstanding. This topic as well is an interpretative

issue which necessitates a better philosophical understanding of history.

of Commissioners signed a Resolution no. 2, adopting or affirming that the site of the first mass

happened in Limasawa. Based on the argument that those pro-Butuan or those people those

historians who proved that they are the first to happenin to unlock the sufficient evidence that

indeed it happened in Butuan and so there was no amendment of the proclamation of the

National Historical Institute until historians would prove that there is enough evidence that

indeed, the first catholic mass happened in Masao Island in Butuan.

As a Catholic, as a Christian, it does not matter anymore. But if there are evidences that is

good for historical discussion, then it would be great. But as of now, what matters is that because

of this first mass; because of this particular event in history then we had Christianity. We had

Catholicism. We had this faith as a Christian and because of this event, we started or the

Filipinos started to know Jesus Christ and because of this event, Filipinos started to hear the

message of Christianity, the message of Jesus Christ, the message of the gospel

and this is more significant than the event itself. The significance is the impact. This is now the

Christianity that we have lived in our lives from that moment and until in our time today.