5 First Mass Lecture

The First Mass in the
Philippines: Butuan or Limasawa?
Rose Langbid-Roda, MIH

Faculty, Department of History
CASS, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology
From the Work of: Fr. Miguel A. Bernad, S.J.
Butuan Tradition
Ø Accepted for 3 centuries (17th-19th centuries)
Ø Monument was constructed in 1872 near the mouth of Agusan

River located within the municipal boundaries of Butuan before,
now belongs to the municipality of Magallanes.
Department of History
Butuan Tradition
Ø As Jesuit historian, Miguel bernad, SJ wrote:
..that monument is a testimonial to the tradition that remained
vigorous until the end of the 19th century, mainly that
Magellan and his expedition landed at Butuan and celebrated
there the First Mass ever offered in the Philippines.
17th Century
Ø Father Francisco Collin, SJ work Labor Evangelica (1663) was annotated
(1903) by Father Pablo Pastells, SJ.
Ø Father Francisco Combes, SJ work on Historia de Mindanao y
Jolo (1667)
“Magellan landed in Butuan and planted the cross and did not mention
the First Mass. He mentions 2 events occured on the same day (1)
planting of the cross and (2) claiming of the Archipelago on behalf of the
Castillan crown.
Ø Both Collin (Butuan then Limasawa) and Combes (Limasawa the

Butuan) writers mentioned that Magellan visited Butuan and Limasawa.
Ø With the help of Limasawa's chieftain, Magellan went to Cebu and

arrived April 7, 1521
The Shift of Opinion
Ø Rediscovery of two primary sources
Ø (1) Pigafettas account, and (2) Albo's log
Ø When Father Pastells was preparing his own edition of Collin's

Labor Evangelica, he restudied Pigafetta and Albo's account
and realized that the 3 century Butuan tradition had been
erroneous.
Ø In 1800, Carlo Amoretti, the prefect and conservator of Ambrosiana Library in
Milan, Italy published a transcription of Pigafetta's account from a manuscript
found in the library. The Amoretti work would become the standard source of
Magellan's Expedition for almost a century. Translation were later made from
this transcription.
Ø The popular English translation was by Lord Stanley of Alderly entitled THE
FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD BY MAGELLAN (1874) under the
auspices of The Hakluyt Society.
Ø Robertson later said that the Amoretti transcription was in a “woefully

mutilated form”, as Amoretti has edited the manuscript almost beyond
recognition in some places, with the result that Pigafetta's words are twisted
into new meanings.
Ø When Rizal came across with Pigafetta's work in Italian text in
British Museum, he wrote on Feb. 4, 1889 from London
Marcelo H. del Pilar (Plaridel),
Ø James A. Robertson reproduced the Italian text of Pigafetta's

account with an English translation.
Controversy
Ø The controversy over the site began in 1894 after the publication of a
new edition of the Ambrosiana manuscript transcribed by Italian
archivist Andrea Da Mosto, entitled II primo viaggio al globo di Antonio
Pigafetta E Le Sue Regole Sull'arte Del Navigare (1894). But this time,
it was a full transcription that included parts that were missing or
edited by Amoretti.
The Evidences for Limasawa
Ø The Evidence of Albo's Logbook
Ø The Evidence of Pigafetta

Ø Pigafetta's testimony regarding the route
Ø Pigafetta's map
Ø Two native Kings
Ø Seven days at 'Mazaua'
Ø An argument from ommission
Ø Summary of the evidence of Albo and Pigafetta
Ø Confimatory Evidence of Legazpi Expedition
Albo's Logbook
Ø The location of Mazava fits the location of the island of
Limasawa, at the southern tip of Leyte, 9◦54'N. The First
Mass was not mentioned, but only the planting of the cross
upon a mountain-top from which could be seen three islands
to the West and soutwest, which also fits the southern end of
Limasawa.
Pigafetta's Testimony on the Route of Magellan's
Expedition
Ø The route of Magellan was described by Pigafetta and it
must be pointed out that both Albo and Pigafetta's
testimonies coincide and corroborate each other. Pigafetta
gave more details on what they did during their weeklong
stay at Mazaua.
Pigafetta's Maps
Pigafetta's Maps
Two Kings
Ø Two kings at Mazaua during Magellan's visit. One is the King of

Mazaua and the King of Butuan. According to Pigaffeta, he was
the finest looking man and was a visitor at Mazaua and his
territory was Butuan.
Ø The words “island where we were” of Pigafetta was Mazaua

where they stayed for seven days”
7 Days in Mazaua
Ø According to Albo and Pigafetta, that island of Mazaua was situated at a
latitude of 9 and two thirds degrees North and the Magellan expedition
stayed for a week.
7 Days in Mazaua
7 Days in Mazaua
Magellan's Route from the
Pacific Ocean to Cebu
Magellan's Route from the
Pacific Ocean to Cebu
An argument from Ommission
Ø A crucial aspect of Butuan was not mentioned - the

river. Butuan is a riverine settlement, situated on
the Agusan River. The beach of Masao is in the
delta of said river. It is a curious ommision in the
account of the river, which makes part of a distinct
chracteristic of Butuan's geography that seemed to
be too important to be missed.
Summary of the Evidence of Albo and
Pigafetta
The Legazpi Expedition
Ø Legazpi inquired about Mazaua from Camotuan,
natives of Cabalian at the southeastern end of the
island of Leyte. Guided by the natives,the Legazpi
ships rounded the island of Panaon which was
separated from Leyte by a narrow strait and anchorred
off Mazaua.
Ø The inhabitants were hostile as a result of the
Portuguese degradations
Ø From Mazaua they went to Camaguing and from there
they went to Butuan on the island of Mindanao.
The Geography of Mazaua
Ø Magellan was coasting down the eastern coast of Leyte
with Hibusan Island on his left and took him to the
southern tip of what looks like part of Leyte but a separate
island, the island of Panaon. The wind was blowing
westward from the Pacific. Eastwind is strong this time
(Dumagsa). Sailing with the wind, the vessels find
themselves going west or southwest toward the island of
Limasawa.
Ø The island od is shaped like a tadpole running north to
south.
Ø The fields of the island is fertile.
The Importance of Butuan
Ø Important trading port for interisland commerce.

Ø Archaelogical importance of Butuan and the
Agusan River delta
Ø The first place in Mindanao where a Christian
mission was established. It was served first by the
Jesuits and later by the Augustinian Recollects.
Map Showing Limasawa
Map Showing Limasawa
Map Showing Butuan
Map Showing Butuan
Thank you for listening!

5 First Mass Lecture

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5 First Mass Lecture

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The First Mass in the

Philippines: Butuan or Limasawa?

Rose Langbid-Roda, MIH

Ø Monument was constructed in 1872 near the mouth of Agusan

Ø Both Collin (Butuan then Limasawa) and Combes (Limasawa the

Ø With the help of Limasawa's chieftain, Magellan went to Cebu and

Ø (1) Pigafettas account, and (2) Albo's log

Ø When Father Pastells was preparing his own edition of Collin's

Ø Robertson later said that the Amoretti transcription was in a “woefully

Ø James A. Robertson reproduced the Italian text of Pigafetta's

Ø The Evidence of Pigafetta

Ø Confimatory Evidence of Legazpi Expedition

Ø Two kings at Mazaua during Magellan's visit. One is the King of

Ø The words “island where we were” of Pigafetta was Mazaua

Ø A crucial aspect of Butuan was not mentioned - the

Ø Important trading port for interisland commerce.

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