The Truth Behind The Site of The First Mass in The Philippines
The Truth Behind The Site of The First Mass in The Philippines
The Truth Behind The Site of The First Mass in The Philippines
FRANCISCO ALBO
He joined the Magellan expedition pilot
He was one of the 18 survivors who returned
Albo began keeping his own diary or log-book on the voyage
o The first Catholic Mass in the Philippines was held March 31, 1521 (Eastern Sunday)
o Father Pedro de Valderrama
o A popularly known as the birthplace of the Church in the Philippines
o Holy First Mass marked the birth of Roman Catholic in the Philippines
March 17 1521 – they landed on another island which was uninhabited named “Humumu” now
is Homonhon. On the same day they named the entire archipelago as the “Island of Saint
Lazarus”, and they stayed at Homonhon for eight (8) days.
March 25 1521 – They left the island of Homonhon and an accident happened to Pigafetta; he
fell into the water but was rescued. After the Homonhon their route is toward the “west
southwest” between the four island named (Cenalo, Hiunanghan, Ibusson and Albarien)
March 28 1521 – Holy Thursday, they anchored off an island where that island “lies in a latitude
of nine and two thirds toward the North” and it is 25 leagues from Acquada and is called
“Mazaua” and they remained seven (7) days in Mazaua.
April 4 1521 – They left Mazaua with the guide by the King Of Mazaua. Their route took them
in five (5) island (Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baibai and Gatighan).
It is the most pertinent, because it shows the island of Mazaua, in relation to the “islands”
of “Ceilon” and “ Baiban” and to those of Bohol, Gatighan and the three islands of
Camotes Group.
Thursday, 28 March – in the morning they anchored near an island where they had seen light
the night before. A small boat came with eight natives to whom Magellan threw some trinkets as
presents. In the afternoon of that day, the Spanish ship weighed anchor and came closer to shore,
anchoring near the native kings village. Thursday, 28 March, was holy week.
Friday,29 March – “It is Holy Friday”, Magellan sent his slave interpreter ashore in a small
boat to ask the king if he could provide the expedition with food supplies, and to say that they
had come as friend and not enimies.
Saturday, 30 March – Pigafetta and his companion had sent the previous evening feasting and
drinking with the native king and his son. Pigafetta deplored the fact that, although it was good
Friday, they had to eat meat. The following morning Pigafetta and his companion took leave of
their hosts and returned to he ship.
Sunday, 31 March – Early morning t Magellan sent the priest ashore with some men to prepare
for the mass. On the afternoon, while the summit of the highest hill, Magellan asked the two
kings which ports he should go to in order to obtain more abundant supplies of food that were
available in that island. But later that evening the king of Mazaua changed his mind and said
that he would himself conduct Magellan to Zubu but that he would first have to bring the
harvest in.
Monday, 1 April – Magellan sent his men ashore to help with the harvest, but no work was done
that day because the two kings were sleeping off their drinking bout of the night before.
Tuesday, 2 April and Wednesday, 3 April - work on the harvest during the “ next two days”.
MAXIMILLIAN OF TRANSYLVNIA
He also known as Transylvanus. His letter De Moluccis Insulis was the first published
account of Magellan Expedition. It was print at Cologne in January 1523, only two
years after Magellan's disvovery of the Philippine Islands.
Maximillian got his data from the survivors who had returned on the "Victoria". His
account is therefore important, but it is a second hand account. He says
" Our men having taken in water in Acaca, sailed towards Selani; here a storm took
them, so that they could not bring the ships to that island, but were driven to another
island called "Massaua", where live a king of three island, after that they arrived at
Subuth.
Maximillian locates the First Mass on Easter Sunday 1521 at Cebu, which he spells
Subuth.
Reference :
GROUP 1