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THERE IS A CODE THAT PERTAINS TO A SPECIFIC ARTICLE

R1 – THE FIRST MASS

R2 - CAVITE MUTINY
R3 – MAGELLAN WHO SAILED THE WORLD

(R1)
'First Mass' in Limasawa: Fact or opinion?
Buddy Gomez -- Cyberbuddy
Posted at Aug 24 2019 06:58 AM

That “First Mass” celebrated on Philippine soil was neither in Agusan nor in Southern Leyte!
Is Mass on Easter Sunday ever celebrated without first observing Palm Sunday, a week
before?
I am establishing a chronology in order to resolve an argument over geography! Homonhon
came before Limasawa. Let’s go.
We ended last week’s first part with the National Historical Institute’s (NHI) conclusion stating
that “the first-ever Christian mass on Philippine soil on March 31, 1521 was celebrated in the
island of Limasawa.” It is a conclusion the NHI reached after a “rigorous evaluative analysis
and appraisal of primary sources” none other than “the most complete and reliable account
of the Magellan expedition” the chronicles of Antonio Pigafetta. Without being disrespectful
much less smart alecky, I am afraid the National Historical Institute panel may never have
read Pigafetta in its entirety or whatever they may have read, they dismally misinterpreted! I
have combed through Pigafetta in its couple of English translations. There is absolutely no
doubt that mass was celebrated in Limasawa on March 31, 1521, Easter Sunday because
Pigafetta did say so. But nowhere in the entire Pigafetta manuscript did he ever state or even
hint that it was “the first ever!” In fact, the National Historical Institute repeated a much earlier
Congressional error. You see, in June 19, 1960, Republic Act 2733 lapsed into law, “without
Executive approval.” President Macapagal did not sign it. That legislation declared Limasawa
a National Shrine because it was there that “the First Mass in the Philippines was held.” Here
is the verbatim quote (English translation from Blair & Robertson) of what Pigafetta wrote:
“Early on the morning of Sunday, the last of March and Easter day, the captain general sent
the priest with some men to prepare the place where mass was to be said.” Indeed, it was
the first mention of mass being celebrated since arriving in the islands they had just named
“the archipelago of San Lazaro.” Inescapably and irrefutably, however, Pigafetta never
claimed that that Limasawa Easter Mass was the “first ever, ” as we were taught in our
elementary school Philippine History. As a matter of observation, a few noted historians are
now no longer referring to the Limasawa mass as the “first.” Earlier, there has been a shift --
referring to the Limasawa event as the “first recorded mass.” Unavoidably, the stark
implication, without officially admitting it, was that there was a first “unrecorded mass.” Quite
recently, the 500th Anniversary of that March 31 event (to be celebrated in 2021) was referred
to more factually as simply the “Easter Sunday Mass” at Limasawa. Claims of being the “first”
seem to be vanishing! How the original error (opinion, not fact!) came to be and who might
have caused and perpetuated it for so long, do not seem to be of any import at all anymore.
Having unveiled and aired the error, correction by the concerned authorities is simply in order.
It would, however, be an academic challenge to pursue the subject as, say a masteral thesis,
on a historical “whodunnit!” The voyage of Magellan, from San Lucar de Barrameda to “the
archipelago of San Lazaro” spanned a period of one year, six months and a couple of weeks.
It would be preposterous to conclude that no other masses were said, before Limasawa, even
claiming such to be “the first,” simply because of its unmention or perhaps because Pigafetta
imply failed to record a religious rite, which after all, occurs with regularity every Sunday? The
uneventful remains unworthy of recordation, right? During the time span of Magellan’s voyage
up to their arrival in Zubu (Cebu), I have found only five instances when Pigafetta recorded
such religious rites being observed. Truly incredulous that no other masses were said
throughout the voyage simply because Pigafetta did not mention them! With the Magellan
crew, by the way, were three priests.
While along the coast of Verzin (Brazil): “mass was said twice on shore, during which those
people (natives) remained on their knees.” In the Patagonian port of San Julian: “April 1 (1520)
Palm Sunday, Magallanes summoned all his captains, officers and pilots to go ashore to hear
mass…..” The fourth instance was when they were already in Limasawa. The fifth was when
they had reached Zubu. But Magellan anchored and stayed in Humunu (Homonhon) for a full
eight days, Sunday to Sunday, departing on the 9th day, March 25 which was a Monday in
1521. After months of floating over the Pacific seas in hopeful desolation, having at last finally
landed, and on a Sunday, too! would not a Te Deum in the very least have been called for?
Pigafetta was silent. He was also silent about their second Sunday in Homonhon, which was
in fact Palm Sunday! I am mindful and should you be. While in the port of San Julian, Pigafetta
recorded mass on Palm Sunday (which fell on April 1, 1520 - a year earlier), but he fails to
mention mass on Easter Sunday. Pigafetta mentioned Easter Sunday mass in Limasawa but
was silent about Palm Sunday on their last full day in Homonhon. Is Easter Mass ever
celebrated without observing Palm Sunday? Or, is Palm Sunday observed without being
followed by mass on Easter Sunday?
Here is the chronology. Again, lifted verbatim from Pigafetta’s memoirs: “At dawn on
Saturday, March 16, 1521, (feast of St. Lazarus, my insertion) we came upon a highland at a
distance…..an island named Zamal (Samar)…..the following day (March 17, Sunday) the
captain general desired to land on another island (Humunu) ….uninhabited…..in order to be
more secure and to get water and have some rest. He had two tents set up on shore for the
sick.” “On Monday, March 18, we saw a boat coming towards us with nine men in it.” (This
marks our first human contact with Europeans)…..”giving signs of joy because of our arrival.”
“At noon on Friday, March 22, those men came as they had promised.” “And we lay eight
days in that place, where the captain every day visited the sick men who he had put ashore
on the island to recover.” The instances recorded by Pigafetta of masses being said had two
things in common. They were all observed on shore; and with natives being present. It is quite
evident that because of failure in historiographic interpretation, Homonhon (a barangay of the
Municipality of Guiuan in Eastern Samar) has been excluded and neglected as the true venue
of the celebration of the very first Sunday mass in the Philippines, whether it was March 17,
1521 or on Palm Sunday, March 24, 1521. Homonhon is in dire need of a champion that will
rectify its abandonment as the rightful, indispensable element in the 500th anniversary
celebration of the seminal event that began to define us to the world. I believe that task
belongs firstly and collectively to the provincial government of Eastern Samar and the
Municipality of Guiuan, alongside the Catholic Church represented by the Diocese of
Borongan, under whose sacerdotal responsibility Homonhon must occupy the greatest of
historical honors. They sit on their heritage, they lose it. It would be a travesty of history, if
they fail to claim their rightful place in Philippine History.

(R2)
THE TWO FACES OF THE 1872 CAVITE MUTINY
By Chris Antonette Piedad-Pugay
The 12th of June of every year since 1898 is a very important event for all the Filipinos. In
this particular day, the entire Filipino nation as well as Filipino communities all over the world
gathers to celebrate the Philippines’ Independence Day. 1898 came to be a very significant
year for all of us— it is as equally important as 1896—the year when the Philippine Revolution
broke out owing to the Filipinos’ desire to be free from the abuses of the Spanish colonial
regime. But we should be reminded that another year is as historic as the two—1872. Two
major events happened in 1872, first was the 1872 Cavite Mutiny and the other was the
martyrdom of the three martyr priests in the persons of Fathers Mariano Gomes, Jose Burgos
and Jacinto Zamora (GOMBURZA). However, not all of us knew that there were different
accounts in reference to the said event. All Filipinos must know the different sides of the
story—since this event led to another tragic yet meaningful part of our history—the execution
of GOMBURZA which in effect a major factor in the awakening of nationalism among the
Filipinos.
1872 Cavite Mutiny: Spanish Perspective
Jose Montero y Vidal, a prolific Spanish historian documented the event and highlighted it as
an attempt of the Indios to overthrow the Spanish government in the Philippines. Meanwhile,
Gov. Gen. Rafael Izquierdo’s official report magnified the event and made use of it to implicate
the native clergy, which was then active in the call for secularization. The two accounts
complimented and corroborated with one other, only that the general’s report was more
spiteful. Initially, both Montero and Izquierdo scored out that the abolition of privileges enjoyed
by the workers of Cavite arsenal such as non-payment of tributes and exemption from force
labor were the main reasons of the “revolution” as how they called it, however, other causes
were enumerated by them including the Spanish Revolution which overthrew the secular
throne, dirty propagandas proliferated by unrestrained press, democratic, liberal and
republican books and pamphlets reaching the Philippines, and most importantly, the presence
of the native clergy who out of animosity against the Spanish friars, “conspired and supported”
the rebels and enemies of Spain. In particular, Izquierdo blamed the unruly Spanish Press
for “stockpiling” malicious propagandas grasped by the Filipinos. He reported to the King of
Spain that the “rebels” wanted to overthrow the Spanish government to install a new “hari” in
the likes of Fathers Burgos and Zamora. The general even added that the native clergy
enticed other participants by giving them charismatic assurance that their fight will not fail
because God is with them coupled with handsome promises of rewards such as employment,
wealth, and ranks in the army. Izquierdo, in his report lambasted the Indios as gullible and
possessed an innate propensity for stealing. The two Spaniards deemed that the event of
1872 was planned earlier and was thought of it as a big conspiracy among educated leaders,
mestizos, abogadillos or native lawyers, residents of Manila and Cavite and the native
clergy. They insinuated that the conspirators of Manila and Cavite planned to liquidate high-
ranking Spanish officers to be followed by the massacre of the friars. The alleged pre-
concerted signal among the conspirators of Manila and Cavite was the firing of rockets from
the walls of Intramuros. According to the accounts of the two, on 20 January 1872, the district
of Sampaloc celebrated the feast of the Virgin of Loreto, unfortunately participants to the feast
celebrated the occasion with the usual fireworks displays. Allegedly, those in Cavite mistook
the fireworks as the sign for the attack, and just like what was agreed upon, the 200-men
contingent headed by Sergeant Lamadrid launched an attack targeting Spanish officers at
sight and seized the arsenal. When the news reached the iron-fisted Gov. Izquierdo, he
readily ordered the reinforcement of the Spanish forces in Cavite to quell the revolt. The
“revolution” was easily crushed when the expected reinforcement from Manila did not come
ashore. Major instigators including Sergeant Lamadrid were killed in the skirmish, while the
GOMBURZA were tried by a court-martial and were sentenced to die by
strangulation. Patriots like Joaquin Pardo de Tavera, Antonio Ma. Regidor, Jose and Pio
Basa and other abogadillos were suspended by the Audencia (High Court) from the practice
of law, arrested and were sentenced with life imprisonment at the Marianas
Island. Furthermore, Gov. Izquierdo dissolved the native regiments of artillery and ordered
the creation of artillery force to be composed exclusively of the Peninsulares. On 17 February
1872 in an attempt of the Spanish government and Frailocracia to instill fear among the
Filipinos so that they may never commit such daring act again, the GOMBURZA were
executed. This event was tragic but served as one of the moving forces that shaped Filipino
nationalism.
A Response to Injustice: The Filipino Version of the Incident
Dr. Trinidad Hermenigildo Pardo de Tavera, a Filipino scholar and researcher, wrote the
Filipino version of the bloody incident in Cavite. In his point of view, the incident was a mere
mutiny by the native Filipino soldiers and laborers of the Cavite arsenal who turned out to be
dissatisfied with the abolition of their privileges. Indirectly, Tavera blamed Gov. Izquierdo’s
cold-blooded policies such as the abolition of privileges of the workers and native army
members of the arsenal and the prohibition of the founding of school of arts and trades for
the Filipinos, which the general believed as a cover-up for the organization of a political club.
On 20 January 1872, about 200 men comprised of soldiers, laborers of the arsenal, and
residents of Cavite headed by Sergeant Lamadrid rose in arms and assassinated the
commanding officer and Spanish officers in sight. The insurgents were expecting support
from the bulk of the army unfortunately, that didn’t happen. The news about the mutiny
reached authorities in Manila and Gen. Izquierdo immediately ordered the reinforcement of
Spanish troops in Cavite. After two days, the mutiny was officially declared subdued. Tavera
believed that the Spanish friars and Izquierdo used the Cavite Mutiny as a powerful lever by
magnifying it as a full-blown conspiracy involving not only the native army but also included
residents of Cavite and Manila, and more importantly the native clergy to overthrow the
Spanish government in the Philippines. It is noteworthy that during the time, the Central
Government in Madrid announced its intention to deprive the friars of all the powers of
intervention in matters of civil government and the direction and management of educational
institutions. This turnout of events were believed by Tavera, prompted the friars to do
something drastic in their dire desire to maintain power in the Philippines. Meanwhile, in the
intention of installing reforms, the Central Government of Spain welcomed an educational
decree authored by Segismundo Moret promoted the fusion of sectarian schools run by the
friars into a school called Philippine Institute. The decree proposed to improve the standard
of education in the Philippines by requiring teaching positions in such schools to be filled by
competitive examinations. This improvement was warmly received by most Filipinos in spite
of the native clergy’s zest for secularization. The friars, fearing that their influence in the
Philippines would be a thing of the past, took advantage of the incident and presented it to
the Spanish Government as a vast conspiracy organized throughout the archipelago with the
object of destroying Spanish sovereignty. Tavera sadly confirmed that the Madrid government
came to believe that the scheme was true without any attempt to investigate the real facts or
extent of the alleged “revolution” reported by Izquierdo and the friars. Convicted educated
men who participated in the mutiny were sentenced life imprisonment while members of the
native clergy headed by the GOMBURZA were tried and executed by garrote. This episode
leads to the awakening of nationalism and eventually to the outbreak of Philippine Revolution
of 1896. The French writer Edmund Plauchut’s account complimented Tavera’s account by
confirming that the event happened due to discontentment of the arsenal workers and soldiers
in Cavite fort. The Frenchman, however, dwelt more on the execution of the three martyr
priests which he actually witnessed.
Unraveling the Truth
Considering the four accounts of the 1872 Mutiny, there were some basic facts that remained
to be unvarying: First, there was dissatisfaction among the workers of the arsenal as well as
the members of the native army after their privileges were drawn back by Gen. Izquierdo;
Second, Gen. Izquierdo introduced rigid and strict policies that made the Filipinos move and
turn away from Spanish government out of disgust; Third, the Central Government failed to
conduct an investigation on what truly transpired but relied on reports of Izquierdo and the
friars and the opinion of the public; Fourth, the happy days of the friars were already numbered
in 1872 when the Central Government in Spain decided to deprive them of the power to
intervene in government affairs as well as in the direction and management of schools
prompting them to commit frantic moves to extend their stay and power; Fifth, the Filipino
clergy members actively participated in the secularization movement in order to allow Filipino
priests to take hold of the parishes in the country making them prey to the rage of the friars;
Sixth, Filipinos during the time were active participants, and responded to what they deemed
as injustices; and Lastly, the execution of GOMBURZA was a blunder on the part of the
Spanish government, for the action severed the ill-feelings of the Filipinos and the event
inspired Filipino patriots to call for reforms and eventually independence. There may be
different versions of the event, but one thing is certain, the 1872 Cavite Mutiny paved way for
a momentous 1898. The road to independence was rough and tough to toddle, many patriots
named and unnamed shed their bloods to attain reforms and achieve independence. 12 June
1898 may be a glorious event for us, but we should not forget that before we came across to
victory, our forefathers suffered enough. As we enjoy our freedom, may we be more
historically aware of our past to have a better future ahead of us. And just like what Elias said
in Noli me Tangere, may we “not forget those who fell during the night.”

(R3)
The Man Who Sailed the World
Ferdinand Magellan’s global journey gave him fame, but took his life

By Haley Crum
SMITHSONIANMAG.COM
MAY 31, 2007
Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-man-who-sailed-the-world-155994800/

1554
Ferdinand Magellan said he would finish the battle himself. After all, it was he who had ignored
the warnings of his allied Philippine ruler, turned down the help of 1,000 neighboring natives
and brought 60 of his crew members to face the islanders of Mactan with little preparation.
After this retreat order, only a few of Magellan's crew members kept fighting by his side; the
rest of them fled as the ever-boastful captain fell victim to the spears of Mactan's angry
inhabitants. This dramatic death fits Magellan's remarkable life—a life in which he traveled
thousands of miles by boat and sailed seas previously unknown to Europeans. But something
happened to Magellan on his trip around the world. His behavior shifted dramatically from the
beginning to the end of the quest, according to a journal kept by Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian
navigator whom Magellan hired to keep detailed documents of the voyage. "When preparing,
[Magellan] was apparently able to attract a lot of people to him and was very loyal to his
Portuguese buddies," says historian Helen Nadar of the University of Arizona. "During the
voyage, he became very different. He started treating his officers in a cruel way. He was very
angry because some of the people mutinied." Most of what is known about Magellan's life
and voyage comes from Pigafetta's journal, along with some Portuguese government
documents. More certain is the impact Ferdinand Magellan had on both the world of
exploration and, through that, the world at large. Born of noble blood in Portugal in 1480,
Magellan worked in the Queen's household as a young boy, where he learned of the new
discoveries happening around the world: Bartholomew Diaz rounding the Cape of Good
Hope, Vasco da Gama journeying to India and Christopher Columbus discovering America.
As he grew older, Magellan volunteered to sail under prestigious captains on long trips to
foreign soil.

Around this time, the global spice trading industry was booming. Contrary to popular belief,
Europeans highly regarded spices not because of their ability to mask bad meat, but to liven
up their meals. "They did it for the taste," says Nadar. "Their meat was fresher then ours is
because they slaughtered their meat daily." Jay Levenson, curator of "Encompassing the
Globe," a new exhibit about Portugal at Smithsonian's Sackler Gallery and Museum of African
Art, says spices also revealed social status. "They were so hard to get, they were a prestige
item," he says. "A lot of people didn't even know where the Spice Islands were." Portugal and
Spain were not only competing for dominance in the spice industry, but also for influence in
colonies around the world. King Manoel of Portugal was becoming increasingly frustrated with
Spain's growing power in the East, especially in the Moluccas, commonly known as the Spice
Islands, and was furious when Magellan pledged his allegiance to Spain and offered its king,
Charles V, his plan to find an alternate route to India. This route would enable ships to pass
from the Atlantic to the already discovered South Sea through South America. Magellan had
already sailed in the name of Portugal several times, but King Manoel had refused to
compensate him when pirates looted his ship. Later, Magellan had fought in North Africa in
the name of his homeland, but was still not paid. Once Magellan persuaded King Charles to
support his plan, Magellan took an oath of allegiance to Spain, breaking his promise to
Portugal. "He couldn't go back to Portugal because he would be executed," says Nadar. "This
was regarded as complete treason, perhaps more so because of the huge rivalry between
Spain and Portugal at the time."

On August 10, 1519, Charles sent Magellan on his quest with five ships, and placed 265 men
under his command. Most of these crewmembers were criminals, because many experienced
sailors refused to support Magellan—perhaps because of his Portuguese background, argue
some historians. The journey proved difficult. The natives populating the southern tip of South
America were very hostile to the Spaniards; previously, they had captured and eaten another,
less-known Spanish explorer. When Magellan and his crew finally found a natural passage
between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (now known as the Strait of Magellan), they thought
it was only a large bay, much like the ones they had already encountered. To be sure it wasn't
a strait, Magellan sent in two ships with strict orders to return within five days. During this
time, however, a large storm passed over the fleet. As Magellan prepared to leave on the fifth
day, the two ships returned and said the body of water was indeed a strait. "Other Spanish
voyages had tried to go through [the strait] and got lost," says Nadar. "Getting to the Pacific
by ship, without having to go over land, was the biggest challenge of that period, and he's the
one that solved it." Thirty-three days and 344 miles later, Magellan and his crew reached what
was then known as the New Sea, which Magellan named the Pacific for its peaceful waters.
Like most Europeans at the time, however, Magellan thought Asia was much closer to South
America than it actually is. The crew had expected to find many islands along the way to get
food, water and other necessities, but did not. To make matters worse, Magellan steered the
fleet too far north, possibly to avoid meeting any Portuguese ships, extending the voyage.
The crew lived without fresh food for more than three months. Hard rain and high wind
complicated their travels, and the men were plagued with disease despite efforts to keep the
boats sanitary. Over the course of the crossing, Magellan lost 19 crewmembers and one boat.
By the time the crew reached the Philippines, which they first thought to be the Spice Islands,
Magellan had become intense and irrational. He didn't find any spices, instead deciding "to
become the exclusive European merchant and official for one of the islands in the
Philippines," says Nadar. Historical accounts show he joined one island ruler in trying to
conquer another Philippine island. The most credible version of what happened next says
Magellan insisted on only bringing 60 half-armed men into what is known today as "The Battle
of Mactan" and refused any outside help, to show the natives his invincibility. The Spaniards
were quickly defeated and Magellan was speared to death. The remaining crewmembers
continued back to Spain, though only 18 men and one boat returned safely. The strait,
originally named Estrecho de Todos los Santos (Strait of All Saints) by Magellan, was
renamed the Strait of Magellan by the Spanish king in the fallen explorer's honor. Today,
Magellan is still recognized as the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe, although he
himself never completed the journey. His legacy lives on today in both Portuguese and
Spanish cultures. "He was very much a part of the crucial generation of Portuguese that
opened up eastern Asia," Levenson says. "He was an important figure in the history of
Portuguese history, and then because of all the treatment he got, he became an important
figure in Spanish history. It's quite interesting."