10/25/2022

90'S

SITE OF THE FIRST MASS

Readings in the Philippine History (Midterms)
(Issues and Controversies)

introduction

FIRST SITE MASS

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Background of the author

● Antonio Pigafetta
● Born in the year 1480 at Vicenza, Italy.
● An Italian and Venetian scholar and
explorer.
● He joined the expedition to the Spice
Islands led by explorer Ferdinand Magellan.
● The first recorded Catholic Mass in the
Philippines that was conducted by Father
Pedro de Valderrama along the shores was
stated in the journals of Antonio Pigafetta as
“Mazaua”

Quick story
During the Easter Sunday of March 31, 1521, the
first Catholic Mass in the Philippines was
held in the shore of a town "Islet" named as
Limasawa in the tip of Southern Leyte and
was officiated by Father Pedro De
Valderama, therefore, it was dubbed as "The
Birthplace of Roman Catholicism" in the
country.

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Quick story
The origins of this story started when Ferdinand
Magellan and his crew landed on the
Philippines while in the search for spices.
Meanwhile, the saw a bonfire which turned out
to be Limasawa and this is where they anchored
on March 28, 1521. As they set foot in Limasawa,
Ferdinand Magellan befriended the sovereign
ruler who was Rajah Siaiu and along with his
brother Rajah Kulambu of Butuan.

Quick story
With this, they have sealed their friendship
with a blood compact and celebrated. The
Easter Sunday had come and Magellan
ordered to celebrate a mass near the shore
of the Island. In the afternoon of the same
day, he also instructed his comrades to
plant a large wooden cross on the top of the
hill overlooking the sea.

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Quick story
Antonio Pigafetta, a chronicler of Magellan who recorded
the event said "After the Cross was erected in
position, each of us repeated a Pater Noster and an
Ave Maria, and adored the Cross; and the kings
[Colambu and Siaiu] did the same." From then on, the
proclamation of the national shrine on June 19, 1960,
RA 2733 called the "Limasawa Law" was enacted
without being signed by the President of the
Philippines.

Main argument

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MASAO, BUTUAN CITY

01

02
03

LIMAWASA, SOUTHERN LEYTE

LIMASAWA,

01

02 02
03
03

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ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

Primary source
ANTONIO PIGAFETTA
• Eyewitness and participant of the said
historical event.
• In Pigafetta’s Mazaua, the site of the first
Christian Mass held on Philippine, is an island
lying off the southwestern tip of Leyte while
Masao in Butuan is not an island but a
barangay of Butuan City located in a delta of
the Agusan River along the coast of Northern
Mindanao. The position of Mazaua, as plotted
by Pigafetta, matched that of Limasawa.

ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

Primary source

FRANCISCO ALBO
• Eyewitness and participant
of the said historical event
• He mentioned about
Mazava

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ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

secondary source
Farbre Ramusio translated the works of
Pigafetta into French, but this source was
not considered reliable and this is an
altered version to which the pro-Butuan
based their research. In this latter text the
mix-up can be found which led to the
Butuan tradition around the site of the
first Mass

ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

secondary source
MASAO, BUTUAN CITY
(Agusan River in Butuan City)
- For many years, the people believed it
happened in Masao, Butuan City at
because the placed mentioned in the
book of Pigafetta was closer to
Masao, Butuan City than the
Limasawa in Southern Leyte

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ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

primary source
LIMASAWA, SOUTHERN LEYTE
Year 1960, a law was passed stating that the
first mass happened at the Barangay
Magallanes, eastern side of the island,
this is under the Republic Act No. 2733 or
Limasawa Act but after several
examination of the place it found out that
the mass occurred at Barangay Triana,
western side at Limasawa.

ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

• Dr. Escalante decided to reopen the case and

give everyone the opportunity to present their
previous and latest findings
• In addition, instead of calling it as the “First
Mass” the National Quincentennial Committee
(NQC) has adopted the use of the term “Easter
Sunday Mass” to differentiate it from the mass
in Bolinao, Pangasinan allegedly celebrated by
the Italian-Franciscan friar Odoric of
Pordenone sometime in 1324

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ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

secondary source

• They found the ten (10) pieces of

I, 600 years old Balanghai boats
near the Masao river, these boats
were used by Magellan and his
people when they did travel.

ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

PRIMARY source
LIMASAWA, SOUTHERN LEYTE
• According to the chronicles
Of our primary source the
event happened
surrounded by the sea and
not a river.

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ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

PRIMAry source
LIMASAWA, SOUTHERN
LEYTE
• Cross that was used in the
mass was nowhere to be
found at Butuan City.

ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

secondary source

MASAO, BUTUAN CITY

• The first mass occurred in a top
hill of the island but the Butuan
City insisted that this happened
in a valley in their place.

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ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

secondary source
MASAO, BUTUAN CITY
• PinamancuIan-Bucansi Hill
was the place where the
first mass happened that
was claim by the Butuan.

ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

primary source

LIMASAWA, SOUTHERN LEYTE

• But the Limasawa argued
that it happened at Saub
Point overlooking Saub
Bay.

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ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

primary source

LIMASAWA, SOUTHERN LEYTE

• But according to the records of
Pigafetta, Mazaua is equivalent
to the actual position of
Limasawa
• Mazaua is indeed the island of
Limasawa.

ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

primary source
LIMASAWA, SOUTHERN LEYTE
• Magellan did not go to
Butuan, the two datu of
Butuan and Limasawa
celebrated the first mass in
the island of Limasawa.

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ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

Site of the first mass
On the Limasawa Presentation
• Barangay Triana on the western side of the island,
was the place where the First Easter Sunday Mass
was celebrated
• A nearby hill named Saub Point overlooking Saub
Bay was the place where a cross was planted by
Magellan’s men
• The three islands Pigafetta saw can be seen from
Saub Point and these are believed to be those of
Camiguin, Bohol, and the Surigao area of Caraga.

National Historical Commission of the Philippines

(NHCP) conduct certain activities for the
commemoration of the 500th anniversary of
Ferdinand Magellan in the Philippines where the
celebration of First Mass also held.

Implications to the historical narrative

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Instead of calling the event “First Mass”. The NQC has

adopted the use of the term “Easter Sunday Mass”
(31 March 1521)

Implications to the historical narrative

The NHCP sustained findings that the Limawasa Island

in Southern Leyte is where First Mass held.

Implications to the historical narrative

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Also, the NHCP panel examined the Italian and French

version of Italian chronicler Antonio Pigafetta.

Implications to the historical narrative

Moreover, Fr. Francisco Colin and Francisco Combes

published a book that includes Magellan’s arrival
and first mass..

Implications to the historical narrative

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The journal articles of Trinidad Pardo de Tavera and

Pablo Pastells revisited Pigafetta’s accounts.

Implications to the historical narrative

The first Catholic mass was officiated by Fr. Pedro

Valderrama on March 31, 1521 at Limawasa,
Southern Leyte.

Implications to the historical narrative

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CONCLUSION

The first mass in the Philippines was held on March 31, 1521 which
is an Eastern Sunday. It is one of the Christian festivals because it
is the day of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. According
to the chronicles of the first Mass by Pigafetta, it was mentioned
there “kings went forwad to kiss the cross, remained their knees
and worshipped Him with clasped hands” these act are still per-
formed in the present time. But it is stated there
that they did not offer the sacrifice.
REMEMBER

CONCLUSION

The first Mass has a big contribution for our history. A Mass is the
highest form of praying. It can bring more people to be more con-
nected to God by participating and celebrates a sacrament of
Eucharist. Since then, we kneel and we pray to praise God and give
honor, to thank Him for all the blessings we received, to confess
our sins with honesty, and pray for the needs of others and our-
selves.
REMEMBER

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Underlying values
● The commitment of the people to know here the first mass
really happens.
● Knowing and preserving the things about this event in our
history is very important because it gives honor to our country.
● It also helps in widening our knowledge to our traditions that
explains why, when, and how the first Catholic mass happens.

QUESTIONS??

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