KATHLENE M.

CAGAS

BSBA-HRDM 1

NARRATIVE REPORT: THE SITE OF THE FIRST MASS IN THE PHILIPPINES

The first known Catholic Mass in the Philippines was held on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521.

It was led by Father Pedro de Valderrama who journeyed with Ferdinand Magellan on his expedition

along the shores of what the journal of Antonio Pigafetta referred to as "Mazaua”. The journal of

Pigafetta is considered as a primary source of the events that happened during that era. Nevertheless,

the term “Mazaua” caused confusion which created a controversy on whether it means “Masao” or

“Limasawa”. Many experts and the government believe that the first Mass took place in Butuan, off

the coast of Southern Leyte; nevertheless, until the 19th century, the popular belief was that the first

Mass took place in Limasawa, also off the coast of Southern Leyte. Some claim the first Mass took

place at Masao, Butuan, rather than Leyte.

In 1872, a monument was erected in Butuan to commemorate the first Mass in the

Philippines. In 1953, Butuan asked the Philippine Historical Committee to restore the monument or

install a memorial at the location. Despite the protests, the monument was re-elected, but the marble

slab purporting to be the site of the first Mass was removed. Masao in Butuan was suggested by Zaide

as the place of the first Mass. Antonio Pigafetta's diary, which documents Magellan's trip, is the basis

for Zaide's allegation.

Magellan's eyewitnesses Antonio Pigafetta and Francisco Albo claimed that the first mass was

held on the island of Mazaua. They both said that they traveled from Homonhon to the island of Leyte,

turning southwest to reach this island. The island of Limasawa in Southern Leyte is the counterpart to

these geographical locations offered by Albo and Pigafetta. While in the island, Pigafetta and Albo met

two chieftains: the chieftain of Mazaua and Butuan, who was supposed to be visiting the island. The

island of Limasawa is better described by Mazaua's geographical directions and topographical

descriptions than Butuan. The accounts of Pigafetta and Albo are regarded first-hand accounts.
Pigafetta's work is the most trustworthy and comprehensive source of information on Magellan's

journey.

The first Mass, according to Jaime de Veyra, was held in Limawasa, not Butuan. Magellan did

not proceed to Butuan, but rather from Limasawa to Cebu, according to historian Pablo Pastells'

footnote to Francisco Colin's Labor Evangelica. The first Mass is not mentioned by Francisco Albo (pilot

of Magellan's flagship), but he does write that they erected a crucifix on a mountain overlooking three

islands to the west and southwest. James Robertson concurred with Pastells that "Mazua" was

Limasawa in a footnote. According to Pigafetta's narrative, the harbor was not in Butuan. Nonetheless,

there is a place called Mazua on the island of Mazua (Masawa). All of the Pigafetta's maps, which

showed Mazau off the southern edge of the larger island of Leyte, were inspected by Father Bernard.

An examination of contemporary maps reveals that this corresponds to Limasawa, not Masao or

Butuan.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) panel accepted the

recommendation and unanimously agreed that pro-Butuan proponents' evidence and arguments are

insufficient and convincing to warrant the repeal or reversal of the National Historical Institute's

(NHCP) verdict on the case. The fact that a Spanish expedition led by Ruy López de Villalobos landed

on Mindanao only 22 years later, in 1543, adds to the evidence.