“ONE PAST BUT

MANY HISTORIES”:
Controversies and
Conflicting Views in
Philippine History
 Group 1:
(1st subgroup)

“One Past But Many Histories”:

Controversies and Conflicting Views in Philippine History

Kriza Jean Cabotaje

Rhea Mae Cañete
Maricel Ragundin
Jason Elia Ramos
Jhena Mae Valdez
 Introduction:
Primary sources play a crucial role in formulating arguments in favor or
against a particular issue in history. Considering the existence of
controversies and conflicting views pertaining to some events in
Philippine History, you will be guided in understanding and appreciating
the richness of our past through inferring from the lens of eyewitnesses.

This session is designed to present to you particular events in Philippine

history through accounts of eyewitnesses which led to controversies and
conflicting views.You will also be guided on how to formulate arguments
that are based on objective and enlightened analysis.
 “One Past But Many Histories”:
Controversies and Conflicting Views in
Philippine History
Primary sources give facts about events in history. Considering the
existence of controversies and conflicting views pertaining to some
events in Philippine History, it is very important to be guided in
understanding and appreciating Philippine History through getting
insights from those present at the time when the event occurred so
that you will be able to formulate arguments in favor or against a
particular issue using primary sources.
 Controversies and Conflicting Views in
Philippine History

One controversy in the history of the Philippines is the site of the First
Mass. Conflicting views were presented and the search of evidences
was done and these were examined. To realize the goal of accurately
establishing the exact location of the first mass in the Philippines,
evidences presented were re-examined. Here is an example of a
source dealing with the re-examination of evidences about the Site of
the First Mass.
 The Site of the First Mass on
Philippine Soil:
A Reexamination of the Evidence
Miguel a. Bernad S.J.

This paper has been written at the

kind (and repeated request of the Chairman
of the National Historical Institute, Dr.
Esteban de Ocampo, that I write a position
paper on the subject. As the subject is
controversial, and there are eminent
scholars on both sides of the controversy,
this paper is submitted salvo meliori judicio. A painting of Carlos V. Francisco, Site of the First
Mass in the Philippines
Island of Limasawa, south of Leyte Mouth of Agusan River near
Butuan in northeastern Mindanao
 In thus reexamining the evidence, the present writer has
come to the following general conclusions:

1. During the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a strong and

almost unanimous tradition existed to the effect that the first
Mass on Philippine soil was celebrated at or near Butuan.

2. On the strength of that tradition, and also embodying it, a

monument was erected in 1872 near Butuan, commemorating
the landing of Magellan and the celebration there of the first
Mass.
3. A break in this tradition began to appear in or about 1900, when a
few scholars began to question the validity of the Butuan tradition.

4. A contrary tradition gradually gained ground, placing the site of

the first Mass on the island of Limasawa. This new tradition received
official support from the National Historical Committee (which had
been established in 1933).

5. The tradition in favor of Limasawa and against Butuan was based

mainly on a closer study of the two eye-witness accounts of the
Magellan expedition, viz. Pigafetta's narrative, and the log-book of
the pilot, Francisco Albo.
 OUTLINE OF THIS DISCUSSION
I. An examination of the three-century tradition;
II. The monument at Butuan and its historical implication;
III. The shift in opinion;
IV. An examination of the evidence of the two eye-witness
accounts:
A. Pigafetta
B. Albo
V. Conclusions from both testimonies;
VI. A possible explanation for the three-century tradition in favor
of Butuan;
VII. Recommendations.
The Three-Century
Tradition
(1600-1900)
 Authors:
From the 17th century:
Francisco Colin S.J.. (1663)
Francisco Combes S.J. (1667).
Giovanni Gemelli Careri (1699)

From the 18th Century:

Juan Francisco de San Antonio 0.F.M. (1738)
Juan de la Concepcion O.S.A. (1788)
Joaquin Martinez de Zuñiga O.S.A. (MS 1790-1800)
 From the 19th century:
Tomas Comyn (1820) J.B. Mallat (1846)
Buzeta and Bravo (1850)
Agustin Santayana (1862)
J. Montero y Vidal (1886)
W.E. Retana (1893)
Jose Nieto Aguilar (1894)
Jose de Alcazar (1897)

From the early 20th century:

Jose Algue S.J. et al. (1900)
Marin y Morales. (1901)
Jose Burniol S.J. (1920?)
 From the 19th century:
Tomas Comyn (1820) J.B. Mallat (1846)
Buzeta and Bravo (1850)
Agustin Santayana (1862)
J. Montero y Vidal (1886)
W.E. Retana (1893)
Jose Nieto Aguilar (1894)
Jose de Alcazar (1897)

From the early 20th century:

Jose Algue S.J. et al. (1900)
Marin y Morales. (1901)
Jose Burniol S.J. (1920?)
 Father Colin's Labor Evangelica was first published
in Madrid in 1663, and was reissued in a second edition,
annotated by Father Pablo Pastells, in 1900-1903.
Although the first edition appeared in the middle of the
17th century, Colin really represente a much earlier
tradition, since much of his material was based (as he
himself acknowledged in the title-page) upon the
Father Francisco Colin S.J.
unpublished manuscript of Father Pedro Chirino, who
had come to the Philippines in 1581 and whose Report
on the Philippine Islands had appeared in Rome in 1604.
Labor Evangelica de la
Here is how Colin reports the coming of Magellan and
Compañia de Jesus, en los
Islas Filipinas
the celebration of the first Mass:
 At the end of three months and 12 days, during which they traversed
4,000 leagues, having crossed the Equator a second time, they climbed up to 15
degrees North latitude where they came upon two islands which they named las
Velas (the Sails). At 12 degrees North they came upon the Ladrones Islands. A
few days later they saw the land of Ibabao (Samar) in this Archipelago. But the
first island they touched at was Humunu, a small uninhabited island near
Guiuan Point.... To that and other islets they gave the name of Buenas Señas
(Good Omens), but to the entire Archipelago they gave the name San Lazaro,
being the Saturday preceding Saint Lazarus Sunday in Lent in the year 1521.
On Easter Day, in the territory of Butuan, the first Mass 'ever offered in
these parts was celebrated and a cross was planted. Magellan then took formal
possession of the Islands in the name of the Emperor and of the Crown of
Castille
 Augustinian fray Juan de la Concepcion, in the first of his 14-
volume History of the Philippines:
The General (Magellan) left the islands which he called las Velas latinas or
the Archipelago of San Lazaro--- a name which they still retain, although they have
also added the name of Marianas Islands. It is said that this was the Celebes of
antiquity, although I do not think this opinion is solidly founded. They sailed 300
leagues westward, discovered many islands with abundant supplies. Magellan had
with him a native Indian who understood their language, which was a great help.
They first saw Cape San Agustin at the southern tip of the large island of Mindanao.
They sailed (northward) along the coast of the province of Caraga, entered the strait
of Siargao which is formed by the Banajao Point and the island of Leyte, and they
landed at the island of Limasawa which is at the entrance of the 'strait.... With the
good reception given them by the natives of Limaşawa, they rested and recovered
from past sufferings.There, Magellan heard of the River of Butuan, whose datu or
chieftain was more powerful. He decided to go to the mouth of that river, being led
thither by the hopes aroused by its fame. The chieftain (of Butuan) lived up to those
hopes. He sent a boat with ten men to inquire what kind of ships, of men, etc. (were
those of Magellan). Magellan replied through the interpreter that they were vassals
of the great and powerful King of Castille; that all they sought was peace and free
trade; that they desired to buy food supplies at a fair price. The chieftain replied that
he did not have enough to supply so large an expedition, but that he would bring
what he could. They brought on board 4 pigs, 3 goats, and a supply of rice. It was
Easter Sunday. The General ordered the construction on land of a shelter made of
branches, Then he ordered all his men to disembark to hear Mass, which was
celebrated with great devotion by all, thanking God for His blessings. And this was
the first Mass ever offered in these Island. He then ordered a large cross to be set up
on a hill.
 De la Concepcion was mixed up on several points. The name
"San Lazaro" was given by Magellan te what was later renamed the
Philippine Islands, not to the Marianas. Moreover, it was to the islands
near the coast of Samar, not to Cape San Agustin in Mindanao, that
Magellan's expedition first arrived. De la Concepcion was obviously
mixing up Magellan's with one of the later expeditions: that of Loaysa
(1526) or that of …

Despite de la Concepcion's obvious errors, the point isthat he ---

like others of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries --- took it as an
accepted fact that the first Mass was celeb- rated at the mouth of the
Agusan River, near Butuan.
 That tradition was so well accepted that at the end of the 19th
century, so erudite a. man as Wenceslao Retana could state without
hesitation that the first Mass on Philippine soil was offered at 'Butuan:
"En el pueblo de Butuan se celebro la primera Misa que se rezo en Filipinas.“

With the same assurance, Father Jose Algue and other learned
Jesuits of the Manila Observatory affirmed the Butuan tradition in at
least three sections of their encyclopedic work published in
Washington in 1901.
 The Butuan
Monument and its
Historical Implication
 The monument was erected in 1872, near the mouth of the
Agusan River, near a village previously called Masao and renamed
Macallanes, the Spanish form of Magellan's name. The monument was
made of red brick and slaked lime, and rose to a height of about eight
meters, Measuring one and one-half square meters at the base and
tapering off to a truncated pyramid. Upon one face was a marble slab
with an inscription which we shall quote presently.

That monument was still standing 33 years later, when members

of the United States Navy (aboard the USS Arayat) made a survey of
the Agusan River from August 21 to November 25, 1905. To
commemorate that survey, they placed a bronze plaque on another
side of the monument.
 The monument was erected in 1872, near the mouth of the
Agusan River, near a village previously called Masao and renamed
Macallanes, the Spanish form of Magellan's name. The monument was
made of red brick and slaked lime, and rose to a height of about eight
meters, Measuring one and one-half square meters at the base and
tapering off to a truncated pyramid. Upon one face was a marble slab
with an inscription which we shall quote presently.
 The inscription on the marble slab upon the Butuan
monument contains an unusual date. It may be translated as
follows:

To the Immortal Magellan, the town of Butuan with its Parish

Priest and the Spaniards resident therein, to commemorate his landing
and the celebration of the First Mass on 8 April 1521. Erected in 1872,
the Governor of the District being Don Jose Ma. Carvallo.
The Shift in Opinion
 John Foreman’s account of the Magellan
expedition:

On the 16th of March 1521 the Ladrones

Islands were reached... After a bloody combat... the fleet
continued its course westward. Coasting along the
North of the Island of Mindanao they arrived at the
mouth of the Butuan River; where they were supplied
with provisions by the chief. It was Easter Week and on
John Foreman
this shore the first Mass was celebrated in the
Philippines.
 Pastells’ comment on the statement of
Colin that Magellan had landed at Butuan and
that the first Mass was celebrated there:

Magellan did not go to Butuan. Rather, from

the island of Limasawa he went directly to Cebu. In
that island (Limasawa) he had dealings with Raja
Siagu, chieftain of Butuan; and this would explain
the Author's (i,e. Colin's) error. See the "Voyage" of
Pigafęgta, and the diary of Albo, both of whom Father Pablo Pastells S.J.

were eye-witnesses.
James Alexander Robertson Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera
An Examination of the
Evidence of the Two
Eye-witness Accounts
 PIGAFETTA'S ACCOUNT

1. On Saturday, 16 March 1521, they sighted the big island of

"Zamal" some 300 leagues from the Ladrones Islands.

2. The following day (Sunday, March 17) they landed at an

uninhabited island near Zamal, where they rested and set up
two tents for the sick. There they were given food by natives
from another island (Zuluan) who told them that the island
in which they were was called "Humunu" (today,
Antonio Pigafetta
Homonhon). Magellan renamed it the Watering-place of
Good Omen (Acquada la di buoni Segnialli). This and other
islands were located at 10 degrees North latitude.
 3. It was on that same day (Sunday, March 17) that Magellan called
the entire archipelago the islands of San Lazaro. The reason was that
the Gospel passage assigned for that Sunday in Lent was the account
of the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11).

4. They remained at Homonhon an entire week, from Sunday, March

17, to the following Monday, March 25, which was the Monday in
Holy Week and “Our Lady’s Day” (i.e. the feast of the Annunciation).
On that day, an accident happened to Pigafetta who narrowly escaped
drowning. And it was on that they left “Humunu” and sailed west
southwest past several islands.
 5. On Holy Thursday, March 28, in the morning, they anchored near
a small island where they had seen a fire the night before. The island
was 25 leagues from Homunu, and lay at a latitude of nine and two-
thirds degrees North. The island’s name was Mazaua, and there they
were well-received by the natives. They remained at that island for
“seven days”: that is, from Thursday, March 28, till the following
Thursday, April 4.

6. On Easter Sunday, March 31, Mass was celebrated on shore in the

morning. In the afternoon, a large cross was erected on top of the
highest “mountain” in the area.
 7. Present at the Mass and at the planting of the cross were two native
chieftains, whom Pigafetta calls “kings”. One was the “king” of Mazaua. The
other was his
relative, a fine-looking individual, who was from “another island” named
“Butuan and Calaghan”. This latter chieftain was visiting Mazaua, apparently
not a infrequent occurrence. (“When those kings wished to see one another,
they both went to hunt in that island where we were.”)

8. It was apparently from the mountain-top where the cross was planted that
Magellan was shown various islands. He inquired which port he should go to
in order to obtain abundant supplies. He was told that there were three
possibilities: namely, Ceylon”; “Calaghan”; and “Zubu”; he was further told that
“Zubu was the largest and the one with the most trade.”
9. Magellan resolved to go to “Zubu” and upon descending from the
mountain, he asked for pilots to guide him thither. The request was at
first granted, but later the chief of Mazaua asked for a postponement
in order to bring in the harvest, promising to guide them up to Zubu
himself.

10. After a three-day postponement (during which Magellan’s men

helped with the harvest), the fleet left Mazaua, sailing northwest
“passing among five islands: Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baybai and
Gatighan.” They spent the night at this latter island, and then they
sailed past three islands, arriving at “Zubu” at noon on Sunday, April
7.
 ALBO'S ACCOUNT

Pigafetta's account is corroborated in substance by

Albo's diary, which, however, adds some details (and omits
others). Francisco Albo was one of the patty officers
("contramaestre") in Magellan's ship "Trinidad" who began
keeping a diary or log-book of the voyage when they were
sailing south in the Atlantic' off the coast of Brazil. Albo
was one of the survivors that returned to Spain with 31
Francisco Albo y Marti
Cano on the "Victoria" being therefore one of those who
first circumnavigated the globe. In summary Albo's account
was substantially as follows:
1. On 16 March 1521 they saw land towards the northwest, but
owing to many shallow places they did not approach it. They went
instead to another island named Suluan, where they saw several
canoes, but these fled at their approach.

2. Leaving those islands they went westward and anchored off a small
uninhabited island, clear of shoals, where they obtained water and
firewood. Albo calls this island "Gada" which may be a mistake for
"Aguada" (the naine which Magellan had given to the island of
"Humunu").
 3. From there they sailed westward and followed the coast of a large
island named "Seilani" in a direction west southwest till they came to a
small island named Mazava, inhabited by very good people. There we
placed a cross at the top of a hill, and there they showed us three islands to
the west southwest. That island is 9 and two-thirds degrees North
latitude."

4. From there they went northwestwards, sailing along the coast of

"Seilani" (Leyte), and sighting another island" called Baybai till they came
to some smaller islands.

5. From there they sailed westwards till they came to the channel between
an island called "Matan" and another called "Subu."
Conclusions from Both
Testimonies
1. From the island of Homunu (Homonhon) or "Aguada” the
fleet sailed down the Leyte coast and landed at a small island of
Mazaua, which lies at 9 and two-thirds degrees North latitude.

2. It was on this island that Mass was celebrated on Easter

Sunday, March 31, and a cross was planted on top of the highest
hill. (Albo does not mention the Mass, but mentions the planting
of the cross.)
3. Albo does not specify how long they remained on Mazaua;
Pigafetta says specifically seven days," starting Holy Thurs- day,
March 28.

4. From Mazaua they sailed northwards and then westwards,

stopping at various islands along the route (to allow the guide to
catch up with the larger ships which were faster). Eventually
they came to the channel between "Matan" and "Zubu".
Pigafetta specifies the date: they entered the harbor of Zubu
(Cebu) on Sunday, April 7.
 POSITIVE CONCLUSIONS:

Conclusion 1. – The first Mass on Philippine soil was offered

on Easter Sunday, 31 March 1521, on the island of Mazaua,
which lies at a latitude of 9 and two-thirds degrees North.
Conclusion 2. – The island of Mazaua is identical with what is
called in modern maps the island of Limasawa. The latitude
given imprecisely as "9 and two-thirds degrees North"
corresponds substantially to the actual latitude of Limasawa.
Conclusion 3. – From Limasawa (or Mazaua) the fleet sailed
sailed north and west to Cebu.
 NEGATIVE CONCLUSIONS:

Conclusion 4. – Magellan's fleet aid not touch at Butuan (or

any part of Mindanao) on its way from Humonhon to Cebu.

Conclusion 5. – The first Mass on Philippine soil was not

offered at Butuan nor at any other point in Mindanao.
Reasons for the
Three-Century
Tradition
(in favor of Butuan)
1. First, as Father Pastells has suggested, it was a fact that Magellan did have
personal dealings with the Raja of "Butuan and Calaghan" (i.e. Butuan and
Caraga.) From Pigafetta we know that this encounter occurred on the island
of Mazaua. But since Pigafetta’s account had been lost sight of many writers,
it was natural for them to assume that the encounter had taken place on the
chieftain’s own ground, namely Butuan.

2. A second explanation is the fact that the remnants of Magellan’s

expedition did in fact go to Mindanao after Magellan’s death. Pigafetta
describes the place in Mindanao where they went to in these words: “The
part of the island belongs to the same land as Butuan and Calaghan, and lies
toward Bohol, and is bounded by Mazaua.” They went up river some two
leagues, and this may very well have been the Agusan River.
3. There is a third possible explanation: namely, confusion of two
expeditions: Magellan’s and Legaspi’s. We know that while Legaspi
was in Cebu, he sent an expedition to Butuan. Between Magellan’s
voyage in 1521 and Legaspi’s in 1565 was a period of only 44 years. It
is possible that these two events were confused in people’s minds
(including the mind of not very careful writers.) People would
remember the fact that “Spaniards” had come to Butuan and that
(possibly) Mass had been offered there. The visitors may have
belonged to Legaspi’s expedition, but later writers might imagine that
they had belonged to Magellan’s.
Recommendations
1. The claim of Limasawa as the site of the first Mass on
Philippine soil should be recognized and upheld.

2. On the other hand, the claim of Butuan to have been visited by

both Magellan and Legazpi expeditions should also be recognized
and honored, as well as the fact that among the people whom
Magellan had met at Limasawa was a rajah from Butuan.
Accordingly, the monument at Butuan should be rebuilt, and an
appropriate plaque sat up with a carefully worded inscription that
does honor both to Butuan and to history.
End of Discussion:
The Site of the First Mass on Philippine Soil