ISSUES IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

1.SITE OF THE FIRST MASS

2.TWO FACES OF CAVITE MUTINY
3.RIZAL’S RETRACTION
4.FIRST CRY OF PUGAD LAWIN
 BUTUAN OR LIMASAWA
March 31, 1521- Easter Sunday, MAZAUA

2 Chieftains present, Raja of Mazaua and Butuan

After the mass, they planted a wooden cross on
a little hill upon its summit
Controversy
LIMASAWA- little island South of Leyte

MASAO- located in Agusan River Northern Mindanao

 THE BUTUAN TRADITION
17-19th Century Celebration of the first mass
MARKER:

“ To the immortal Magellan: The people of Butuan with their

Parish Priest and the Spaniards resident therein to commemorate
his arrival and the celebration of the First Mass on this site on
the 8th of April 1521. Erected in 1872 under the District Governor
Jose Ma. Caravallo.”
 Sources, Works and Contents

Father FRANCISCO COLIN S. J. (1592-1660)- “Labor Evangelica”

published in Madrid in 1663, annotated by Fr. Pablo Pastels
S.J. in 1903.
-Magellan’s expedition saw the island of Ibabao (Samar)
but they first touch Humunu (Homonhon)
-Easter Sunday- the first mass was held in Butuan
-Chief of Dimasaua- relative of Butuan chief and Zebu
(Cebu) gave most signal service
-After the mass, planting of the cross, taking possession of
the island
Father FRANCISCO COMBE S.J. (1620-1665)-”Historia
de Mindanao Y Jolo” published in Madrid 1667,
edited by Wenceslao Retana and Fr. Pablo Pastells
-Magellan’s expedition entered Siargao or
Surigao, landed in Limasawa, went to
Butuan, planted a cross, went back to
Limasawa, claimed the Archipelago.
Doesn’t mention the first mass.
GIOVANNI FRANCESCO GEMELLI CARERI-
”A Voyage Around the World”

- On WhitSunday, the first mass was held

on the land of Butuan, erected a cross
and took possession the island.

WhitSunday- Octave of Easter (one week after

the easter)
 18th Century Evidences

JUAN DELA CONCEPCION- “History of the Philippines”

written in 14 volumes

-Cape San Agustin—Caraga—Siargao—Leyte—Limasawa

(entrance of the strait)

-Magellan decided go to Butuan, chieftain fed them,

that was Easter Sunday and Magellan ordered to
render the first mass
 19th Century Evidences

Joaquin Martinez de Zuniga- “Historia de Filipinas”

-On Easter Sunday of 1521, Magellan was in Butuan and

ordered the sacrifice of the Mass.

John Foreman (Englishman)- It was Easter week on this shore

(Butuan) the first mass was
celebrated in the Philippines.

Dominican Friar (1901), Fray Valentin & Jose Montero Y Vidal,

Ateneo de Manila (1920)- The first mass was held in Butuan.
 FROM BUTUAN TO LIMASAWA

-Pablo Pastells- Cited Figafetta’s account and Albo’s

log:-Magellan did not go to Butuan. He sailed
from Limasawa to Cebu.

-Trinidad Pardo de Tavera and Jayme de Veyra-

Philippine scholars were in favor of Limasawa.
 EVIDENCES
Albo’s (contra maestre or pilot) log book:

-March 16, 1521-from Islas del Ladrones to Yunagan the Suluan

and they anchored 9 2/3 North Latitude.

-Sailed westward to “Gada”(Homonhon) 10 North Latitude

reached Seilani (Leyte) then turned southwest to the
island called “Mazava”.

-Mazava to Seilani northward and sailed westward then

southwest and entered “Matan and Subu”.
-The location of “Mazava” fits the location of
Limasawa, South of Leyte, both 9 2/3 North.

- Albo did not mention the first mass, only the

planting of cross upon mountain top that coukld
be seen three islands to the west and
southwest which fits the southern end of
Limasawa and not Butuan.
 -Pigafetta’s “Primo Viaggio Intomo Al Mondo” First Voyage Around
The World said:

-March 16,1521-(Saturday)- sighted “Zamal” some 300

leagues westward of Ladrones (Marianas) islands.
-March 17,1521-reached “Humunu” (Homonhon). Magellan
named the whole island “Islas del Lazarus”.
-March 18, 1521-they saw a boat towards coming them
with 9 men. Magellan asked for food supplies, they
promised to bring supplies in 4 days.
-Magellan changed the name of Homonhon to “Watering
Place of Good Omen” ( Acquada la di bouni Segniali )
-March 22- 2 boats brought food supplies
-Magellan stayed in Homonhon in 8 days from March 17-25.
-March 25- They left Homonhon to west southwest between 4
islands: Cenalo (Ceilon), Hiunanghan (Leyte), Ibuson and
Albarien (Southern Leyte)
-March 28- sailed to Limasawa and stayed there for 7 days.
-April 4- left Mazaua for Cebu, passed 5 islands namelyCeylon,
Bohol, Canighan, Baibai and Gatighan, reached Cebu in April
7.

Could “Mazaua” have been Butuan? Masao?

Pigafetta’s Map
1. Mazaua-(Mazzana in the Map)-southwest tip of Southern Leyte & East of
Bohol
2. Mazaua- actual position of Limasawa

7 Days in Mazaua:
March 28- Maundy Thursday- anchored Mazaua & exchanged gifts to the
natives whom received trinkets.
March 29-Holy Friday- exchanged gift to the native king
March 30-feasting and drinking with the natives
March 31- Easter Sunday- First mass happened
April 1-3- work on harvest
April 4- Leave Mazaua for Cebu

“Butuan is a riverine settlement situated on the Agusan River”. Agusan River was
never mentioned in any sources.
SUMMARY:

1. Magellan’s expedition entered south of Samar,

anchored in Homonhon and stayed a week

2. Mazaua lies at a latitude of 9 & 2/3 north same with

Limasawa.

3. From Mazaua, they sailed northwest thru Canigao,

Bohol and Leyte, then camotes to Cebu.

4. No itinerary to Butuan.
 TWO FACES OF CAVITE MUTINY

Events to Consider:

1. Cavite Mutiny

2. Martyrdom of GOMBURZA
Spanish Perspectives:

Jose Montero Y Vidal and Rafael De Izquierdo

- Attempt of Indios to overthrow the Spanish

Government

- Secularization

- Spanish revolution to overthrow the Secular throne

Filipino Version:

Dr. Trinidad Hermenigildo Pardo de Tavera

- Because of abolition of Filipino soldiers and laborers of Cavite

of their privileges and prohibition of school of arts and trades.
- Izquierdo introduced rigid and strict policies
- The Central Government failed conduct an investigationto the
malicious report of Izquierdo and the friars
- The friars will be deprived of power to intervene in government
affairs
- Active participation to Secularization
RETRACTION OF DR. JOSE RIZAL

Fr. Manuel A. Gracia- Rizal’s retraction surfaced for public

viewing on May 13, 1935 but the original document was
never shown to the public.
Fr. Pio Pi- In 1907, the retraction of Rizal was copied verbatim,
published in Spain and reprinted in Manila. Fr. Gracia who
found the original document also copied it verbatim.

“In both reproductions, there were conflicting versions of the text. The
date of signing-December 29, 1890 and December 29, 189C where 0
was altered, later 1890 became 1896”.
oman Roque- forger of Rizal’s signature
who also forged the signature of Urbano Lacuna to
capture Emilio Aguinaldo in Palanan, Isabela.

azaro Segovia- mastermind of forgery both Lacuna and Rizal

ntonio K. Abad- neighbor of Roman Roque

- he heard the tale from Roque himself
Rizal in DAPITAN:

Fr. Antonio Obach S.J.- Rizal wrote him a letter,

“ I no longer want further battles with the friars, but live and
work with peace”.
Obach replied “ What you ought to do is to retract all your
errors and you will be at peace”.

Rizal’s conditions for retraction:

1. his freedom
2. return to his family what has been confiscated or give its
equivalent
3. 50k pesos to start a business to support himself
Fr. Vicente Balaguer and Fr. Vilaclara:

-Rizal retracted before he died because he requested to

take sacraments.

- They witnessed the writing of Rizal’s retraction

 FIRST CRY OF THE REVOLUTION:
PUGADLAWIN OR BALINTAWAK

The Decision to Revolt: SOURCES

-Cipriano Pacheco- he was a signatory of Biak na Bato

Republic in 1897 the decision to revolt
in 1896 was August 24.

- Carlos Ronquillo- kaarawan nang pasimulan ang

rebolusyon ay Agosto 24.
-La Liga Filipina Memorial in Tondo: Marker

“ Supremo del Katipunan que dio el ler grito de Guerra

contra la tirania el 24 de Agosto de 1896.”

-Santiago Alvarez- he wrote in his book “Ang Katipunan At

Paghihimagsik”
- the statrt of the revolution was August 24, 1896. This
information came from Roman Bernardo, a
Katipunan leader from Pandacan.
Unang Sigaw: Saan at Kailan Naganap

 Kangkong- (bahay ni Apolonio Samson)

 “Ayonkay Nick Joaquin, Sa pook na ito ipinasiya
ng mga Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galangang
Katipunan na mga Anak ng Bayan ang
Paghihimagsik noong ika 23 ng Agosto 1896”.

- Pasong Tamo- (Melchora Aquino’s house) Barrio Banlat

-According to Pio Valenzuela, the decision to revolt was

happened in this place but he once said it was happened in
Kangkong.
 Bahay
Toro- Ramon Bernardo said:
“Naganap ito sa Pook ng Sampalukan,
Bahay Toro”.

Either pasiya or unang labanan, Pugad Lawin was

not mentioned
 PUGAD LAWIN
 Dr. Pio Valenzuela- In 1920s some senior KKK veterans said
that the Cry had occurred in “Pugad Lawin”.
 Sofronio G. Calderon- (scholar) Pugad Lawin cannot be
found anywhere=“Pagkakamali ang sabihing mayroong
Pugad Lawin sa Caloocan”.
 Briccio Pantas, Cipriano Pacheco, Pio Valenzuela- “Isang
Pagunita” published in Philippine Free Press in 1930,
the First Cry happened in Pugad lawin.
 Genaro delos Reyes and Sinfroso San Pedro-(veterans) they
dispelled Pugad Lawin in 1940.
 Isagani Medina- Pugad Lawin was a sitio of Barrio Bahay
Toro but in his annotations, the place cannot be found
in 19th century records.
 Pio Valenzuela, Briccio Pantas, Cipriano Pacheco, Domingo
Orcullo, Mariano Alvarez- Ang pagpupunit ng sedula ay
nangyari sa sitio Pugad Lawin, Bahay Toro, Caloocan
noong Agosto 23, 1896.
=but all of them did not made any accounts nor
written testimony.
In 2001, Bernard Karganilla, Donato Abaya, Rene Escalante-
They recommend to “National Historical Institute” that
the First Cry took place in Pugad Lawin on August 23,
1896.