noon 1872, dahil nga ang paniniwala ay ang butuan ang site ng first mass, naglagay ang mga

katoliko
roon ng isang krus o isang marker kung saan naganap naganap ang first mass. sa kasalukuyang lokasyon
neto, eto'y matatagpuan sa bayan ng magallanes na malapit sa butuan city. at eto ang isa sa mga
nagpapalakas ng claim na sinaunang paniniwala at unang alam ng taga pilipinas at mga espanol ginanap
ang first mass sa butuan.

The Site of the First Catholic Mass in the Philippines has been one of the most debated topics involving
historians, locals and the religious faithful. Let us try to discuss each side in order to help us understand
why it took 500 years before a decision was made.

References:

Pigafetta, Antonio. Magellan's First Voyage Around the World (Robertson Edition). Cleveland OH: The
Arthur H. Clark Company, 1906.

Torres, Jose Victor. Batis: Sources in Philippine History. C&E Publishing. Quezon city, 2018.

nhcp.gov.ph

inquirer.net

philstar.com

The first mass was held in March 31, 1521, the celebration of the Eastern Sunday. The presiding priest
for the feast of the Eastern Sunday was Father Pedro de Valderama. The locals/native Filipinos are
present back then for the mass under the leadership of Raja Siago and Raja Kulambu that invited by
Magellan to join the mass.

Magellan ordered his men to place a cross on the top of the mountain overlooking the ocean.
There they prayed and gave respect to the cross and with them were also the locals who attended the
placing of the cross. After that, Rajah Kulambu accompanied Magellan's men back to Zebu or to Zebu.

Limasawa Claim:

The main source or evidence of the Limasawa Claim is one of the trusted primary sources in the
first voyage of Magellan which was written by Antonio Pigafetta. Antonio Pigafetta is one of the
survivors and wrote his journal

According to Pigafetta, he mentioned in his account that they sailed south bound passing the leyte coast
and reach mazawa on march 28, 1521. Mazawa is around 25 leagues (138.9 km) away from the quada or

humonhon Island where they come from. The distance mentioned by pigaffeta fits so well with the
description of mazawa or limasawa with its distance from humonhon islands. They stayed in Mazawa
until April 4, 1521 and then went to Zebu.

Francisco Albo’s Account

He really did not mention anything about the first mass but he indicated that they planted a cross on the
top of the mountain that overlooking the 3 island (you can see an island in the west and southwest). It
will fit nicely there in the description of limasawa where the marker was placed where in you can see 3
islands upon looking the direction mentioned by albo

Masao (Butuan) Claim

The popular belief before the first mass was really held in Butuan.
Because this is what is written in the traditions of the catholic church here in the philippines and this
was held on the island of masao in butuan, agusan del norte. so that's what the friars who were there in
the philippines knew back then. There’s a map that they discovered on 1734 called morillo velarde map
and it is said here that Magellan's men went to Butuan before returning to Limasawa and going to Zebu.
In 1872, because it is believed that the first mass was the site of the first mass, the Catholics placed
there a cross or a marker where the first mass took place. in its current location, it is located in the town
of Magallanes near Butuan City. and here is one of the ones that strengthens the claim that the first
mass was held in Butuan by the Filipinos and Spaniards.

Additionally, it is said that there were excavated balanghays or large boats that were used by the
Filipinos back then that were used to travel or transport the locals for worship services. They really think
that the first mass was really held in butuan because of the presence of balanghay boats that they
unearthed in 1976.

Finally the national historical commission made a decision. So they talked about where the first mass
actually took place, in line with what we call the quincentennial celebration of the introduction of
Catholicism here in the Philippines so that’s 500 years. In 2021, they declare that limasawa is the site of
the first mass and based on the evidences that they are able to collect and they say that one of the
strong points of limasawa is the location of limasawa as the first mass agrees with the modern
navigational instrument that were used to interpret what was said in the accounts of Pigafetta and Albo,
so what happened here was that they dismissed the Butuan claim and made a finality that Limasawa
was the site of the first mass.