SITE OF THE FIRST MASS
March 31, 1521
- The first recorded Christian mass held on Easter Sunday at
a little Island-port named Mazava.
Antonio Pigafetta (1523) and Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas
(1601)
- The two identical accounts report this event, by
eyewitness
Masawa
- A word found only in Butuanon and its scion, Taysog, out
of 181 Philippine languages.
- It means brilliant light and crystal clear.
Filipino Historians
- They contested the idea that Limasawa was the site of the
first catholic mass in the country.
Sonia Zaide
- She identified Masao (also Mazawa) in Butuan as the
location of the first Christian mass.
Congresswoman Ching Plaza of Agusan del Norte Butuan City
(1995)
- Contesting the Limasawa hypothesis and asserting the site
of the First mass was Butuan.
Note:
 The past centuries, innumerable numbers of Filipinos
including the top experts in Education, history, religion,
politics and other subjects are still debating the exact
location of the “First Mass on Easter”, according to the
number 1 pro-Button author, the “first” was not recorded
during the observance of Easter Sunday on March 31, 1521
(Salazar, 2015).
 Refute that the First Mass on easter was not a Biblical
Festival not practiced in the book of Acts.
FOUR SITES OF THE MASS
1. LIMASAWA ISLAND, SOUTHERN LEYTE
 The most famous is Limasawa Island, an island town in
Southern Leyte, which the Philippine Government
recognized as the actual site if the mass.
 The powerful Roman Catholic Church also recognized
Limasawa Island as the site where Magellan and his crew
landed and held the first mass.
 Furthermore, the embassy of Spain recognized Limasawa
as the site of Magellan’s landfull such that they also sent
the Galleon Andalucia to visit Maasin City for 5 days and
Limasawa for about 3 hours.
 The embassy of Portugal in Metro Manila recognized
Limasawa as the “Mazzua” which Pigafetta wrote about as
the island where Magellan and his troops abserved the
first mass on Easter or introduced Christianity to the island
inhabitants.
2. The Butuanons and their supporters advocate that
Magellan and his men landed in Mazauna for the reason
that it has the anchorage, rice fields, gold, antique
“Balanghai” and other artifacts.
 Magellan’s Harbor in Butuan – The real harbor for the
cargo and passenger ships travelling to and departing from
Butuan City is actually in Nasipit.
 Since the pro-Mazaua supporters strongly claimed that
Magellan and his fellow sailors held the “First Mass” or
observed Easter Sunday in their island of plenty.
 Salazar (2015) – refers to the writings of de Jesus wrote a
lengthy article entitled “Mazawa: Magellan’s Lost Harbor”
 The Fisrt Mass on Easter is meaningless and worthless!
Most Filipino have all the time in the world to read
newspaper, tabloids, the political, sports and
entertainment publications and the comics but not few
minutes to read and study the Holy Bible.
 Before Magellan’s explorers landed in March 15, 1521, the
roman Catholic Portuguese sailors more likely had
conducted the First Mass in Southern Philippines.
 The Portuguese had known where Magellan’s fleet was
bound before it even sailed; warships would surely be
waiting to stop it from reaching the Moluccas.
 The Portuguese authorities arrested and jailed the entire
54 crew members of Trinidad, after the ship was repaired,
they could transship the spices to another ship bound for
Spain.
3. HOMONHON ISLAND, EASTERN SAMAR
 Some people here also claimed that Magellan and his
fellow sailors must have some kind of religious festivity
shortly after they landed on the Island.
 According to the groups supporting the “First Mass” in
Homonhon, Magellan and his sailors had a mass in the
Island to thank God for their safe trip from Guam and the
Vast Pacific Ocean.
4. ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE IN NORTHERN MINDANAO
CLAIMED THAT MAGELLAN’S EXPEDITION ACTUALLY HAD
THE FIRST MASS IN MAHABA ISLAND INSURIGAO DEL
NORTE.
 Avoided and sailed further North, actually South, and
anchored near an Island named Mazzava, now mark on
maps as Mahaba Island.
 “Magellan” – Latitude location which was why they read
to one-thid of a degree, which they could not have done
on a moving ship, there was no way during that time to
determine.
 Mazzava – it is almost touching this bigger Island and low-
tide it could easily be mistaken to be connected.
 The location pf the mass was contentious. Originally, it was
thought to be in the Island of Limasawa.
 In 1996, directed the National Historical Institute to
recommend on a historical finding.
 SITE OF THE FIRST MASS

 The Masepilid is shaped like a sting ray as described by

Pigafetta.