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READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY (UNIT 3)

CONTROVERSIES AND CONFLICTING VIEWS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

TOPIC: The Site of the First Mass

Introduction
The year 2021 will mark as the celebration of the 500-year anniversary of the arrival of the Spanish in
the Philippines through the expedition led by the Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan. This year is also
significant to the Filipino Catholic community as this marks the 500th anniversary of the first Catholic Mass
which starts the successful propagation of Christianity, the most dominant religion in the country.
Yet, the historical event, happened five centuries ago has been surrounded with confusion among
scholars on where did the mass happened. For so long, historians in the country had made critical assertions
on where did it occurred through studying various primary resources. Today, you will have the chance to
discover the answer to this long-time debate by passing through significant primary sources.
On March 17, 1521, the troupe of ships led by a Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan had reached
the shores of the country which marks their first landing on the country. This is one of the major highlights of
their expedition, although their original search was of the Moluccas or Spice Island. For Magellan and the
team, this is the chance for them to materialize their goal as western explorers – to find resources, to gain
prestige, and to propagate Christianism – also known as the 3Gs.
As a result, they were able to give a fresh start on leading the cross to the natives of the east. The
Spanish convinced the Filipinos to accept the new religion and its doctrines. The giant cross of Magellan
situated in Cebu and the image of Sto, Nino given to “Juana” were only some of the evidences of their Catholic
Indoctrination in the Philippines.
Amongst all these, the first Mass is considered by many as a paramount symbol of the humble
beginning of Christianity in the country. But the details about the first mass is a heated discussion among
historians and scholars for the past years, including the place where it occurred. Was it in Leyte or in Butuan?
What were considered by the historians to determine the ‘real’ site if the mass? Why is this significant in the
heritage of the country and how can this be relevant to today’s times? Take time to read the primary sources
below.
In order for us to answer the pressing question on the real site of the first mass and other
surrounding issues, the following primary sources will be presented: (1) the accounts of Francisco Albo, pilot
of the Trinidad (one of the 5 ships of Magellan’s Expedition); and the accounts of Antonio Pigafetta, the
chronicler of the expedition. These two accounts are presented below:
Francisco Albo’s Account
Francisco Albo was one of the 18 survivors of the Magellan-Elcano Expedition. He was the
contramaestre or pilot of the ship, Trinidad, which was the flagship of Ferdinand Magellan. He had kept a log
book of their expedition which bad also accounted their travels in the Philippines. His accounts in the country,
was presented by Bernad (2002) as follows:
1. On the 16th of March (1521), as they sailed in a westerly course from the Ladrones, they saw land
towards the northwest; but owing to many shallow places they did not approach it. The found later that its
name was Yungan.

2. They went instead that same day southwards to another small island named Suluan, and there they
anchored. There they saw some canoes but these fled at the Spaniard’s approach. This island was at 9 and two
thirds degrees North Altitude.
3. Departing from those two islands, they sailed westwards to an uninhabited island of “Gada” where
they took in a supply of wood and water. The sea around that island was free from shallows. (Albo does not
give the latitude of this island, but from Pigafetta’s testimony, this seems to be the “Acquada” or Homonhon,
at 10 degrees North latitude.)
4. From that islad, they sailed westwards towards a large island named Seilani, which was inhabited and
was known to have gold. (Seilani - or, as Pigafetta calls it, “Ceylon” – was the island of Leyte)
5. Sailing southwards along the coast of that large island of seilani, they turned southwest to a small
island called “Mazava”. That island is also at a latitude of 9n and two-thirds degrees North.
6. The people of that island of Mazava were very good. There the Spaniards planted a cross upon a
mountain-top, and from there they were shown three islands to the west and southwest, where they were
told there was much gold. “They showed us how the gold was gathered, which came in small pieces like peas
and lentils.”
7. From Mazava, they sailed northwards again towards Seilani. They followed the coast of Seilani in a
northwesterly direction, ascending up to 10 degrees of latitude where they saw three small islands.
8. From there they sailed westwards some the leagues, and there they saw three islets, where they
dropped anchor for the night. In the morning they sailed southwest some 12 leagues, down to a latitude of 10
and one-third degree. There they entered a channel between two islands, one of which was called “Matan”
and the other “Subu”.
9. They sailed down that channel and then turned westward and anchored at the town (la villa) of Subu
where they stayed many days and obtained provisions and entered into a peace-pact with the local king.
10. The town of Subu was on an east-west direction with the islands of Suluan and Mazava. But between
Mazava and Subu, there were so many shallows that the boats could not go westwards directly but had to go
(as they did) in a round-about way.
Antonio Pigafetta’s Accounts:
The account of Antonio Pigafetta is recognized as the most comprehensive and complete narration of the
expedition. In his “The First Voyage around the World”, he was able to narrate every detail of the exploration
including the First Mass. He is also one among the 18 survivors of the expedition.
1. Saturday, 16 March 1521 – Magellan’s Expedition sighted a “high land” named “Zamal” which was
some 300 leagues westwards of the Ladrones (now the Marianas) Islands.
2. Sunday, March 17 – “The following day” after sighting Zamal Island, they landed on “another island
which was uninhabited” and which lay “to the right” of the abovementioned island of “Zamal” (to the “right”
here would mean on their starboard going south or southwest.) There they set up two tents for the sick
members of the crew and had a sow killed for them. The name of this island was “Humunu” (Homonhon). This
island was located at 10 degrees North latitude.
3. On that same day (Sunday, 17 March) Magellan named the entire archipelago the “Island of Saint
Lazarus”, the reason being that it was the Sunday in the Lenten season when the Gospel assigned for the Mass
and the liturgical Office was the eleventh chapter of St John, which tells of the raising of Lazarus from the
dead.
4. Monday, 18 March – in the afternoon of their second day on that island, they saw a boat coming
towards them with nine men in it. An exchange of gifts was effected. Magellan asked for food supplies, and
the men went away, promising to bring rice and other supplies in “four days”.
5. There were two springs of water on that island of Homonhon. Also, they saw there some indications
that were was gold in these islands. Consequently Magellan renamed the island and called it the “Watering
Place of Good Omen” (Acquada la di bouni segnialli).
6. Friday, 22 March – At noon the natives returned. This time they were in two boats, and they brought
food supplies.
7. Magellan’s expedition stayed eight days at Homonhon: from 17 March, to the Monday of the following
week, 25 March.
8. Monday, 25 March – In the Afternoon, the expedition weighted anchor and left the island of
Homonhon. In the ecclesiastical calendar, this day (25 March) was the feast-day of the Incarnation, also called
as the feast of the Annunciation and therefore “Our Lady’s Day”. On this day, as they were about to weight
anchor, an accident happened to Pigafetta: he fell into the water but was rescued. He attributed his narrow
escape from death as a grace obtained through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on her feast-day.
9. The route taken by the expedition after leaving Homonhon was “towards the west southwest, between
four islands: namely, cenaloi, Hiunanghan, Ibusson and Albarien.” Very probably “Cenalo” is a misspelling in
the Italian manuscript for what Pigafetta in his map calls “Ceilon” and Albo calls “Seilani”: namely the islands
of Leyte. “Hiunanghan” (a misspelling for Hinunangan) seemed to Pigafetta to be a separate island, but it is
actually on the mainland of Leyte (i.e. Ceylon). On the other hand, Hibuson (Pigafetta’s Ibusson) is an island
east of Leyte’s southern tip.
10. Thursday, 28 March – in the morning of Holy Thursday, 28 March, they anchored off and island where
the previous night they had seen a light or a bonfire. That island “lies in a latitude of nine and two-thirds
towards the Artic Pole (i.e. North) and in a longitude of one hundred and sixty-two degrees from the line of
demarcation. It is 25 leagues from the Acquada, and is called Mazaua

11. Friday, March 29 – “Next day, Holy Friday”, Magellan sent his slave interpreter ashore in a small boat
to ask the king if he could provide the expedition with food supplies, and to say that they had come as friends
and not as enemies. In reply the king himself came in a boat with six or eight men, and this time went up
Magellan’s ship and the two men embraced. Another exchange of gifts was made. The native king and his
companions returned ashore, bringing with them two members of Magellan’s expedition as guests for the
night. One of the two was Pigafetta.
12. Saturday, March 30 – Pigafetta and his companions had spent the previous evening feasting and
drinking with the native king and his son. Pigafetta deplored the fact that, although it was Good Friday, they
have to eat meat. The following morning (Saturday), Pigafetta and his companion took leave of their host and
returned to the ships.
13. Sunday, March 31 – On the same afternoon, while on the summit of the highest hill, Magellan asked
the two kings which ports he should go to in order to obtain more abundant supplies of food than were
available in that island. They replied that there were three ports to choose from: Ceylon, Zubu and Calagan. Of
the three, Zubu was the port with the most trade. Magellan then said that he wished to go to Zubu and to
depart the following morning. He asked for someone to guide him. The kings replied that the pilots would be
available “any time”. But later that evening the king of Mazaua changed his mind and said that he would
himself conduct Magellan to Zubu but that he would first have to bring the harvest in. He asked Magellan to
send him men to help with the harvest.
14. Monday, April 1 – Magellan sent men ashore to help with the harvest, but no work was done that day
because the two kings were sleeping off their drinking bout the night before.
15. Tuesday, April 2 and Wednesday, April 3 – Work on the harvest during the “next to days,”
16. Thursday, 4 April. – they left Mazaua, bound for Cebu. They were guided thither by the king of Mazaua
who sailed in his own boat. Their route took them past five “islands”: namely, Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baibai
and Gatignan.”
17. At Gatighan, they sailed westwards to the three isalnds of the Camotes Group, namely, Poro, Pasihan
and Ponson. Here the Spanish ships stopped to allow the king of Mazaua to catch up with them, since the
Spanish ships were kuch faster that the native balanghai – a thing that excited the admiratyion of the King of
Mazaua.
18. From the Camotes Islands they sailed [southwestward] towards “Zubu”.
19. Sunday, April 7 – At noon they entered the harbor of “Zubu” (Cebu).
Below is the excerpt of Pigafetta’s accounts, in the Robertson’s Translation:
Early on the morning of Sunday, the last of March, and Easter-day, the captain- general sent the priest with
some men to prepare the place where mass was to be said; together with the interpreter to tell the king that
we were not going to land in order to dine with him, but to say mass. Therefore, the king sent us two swine
that he had had killed. When the hour for mass arrived, we landed with about fifty men, without our body
armor, but carrying our other arms, and dressed in our best clothes. Before we reached the shore with our
boats, six pieces were discharged as a sign of peace. We landed; the two kings embraced the captain-general,
and placed him between them. We went in marching order to the place consecrated, which was not far from
the shore. Before the commencement of mass, the captain sprinkled the entire bodies of the two kings with
musk water. The mass was offered up. The kings went forward to kiss the cross as we did, but they did not
offer the sacrifice. When the body of our Lord was elevated, they remained on their knees and worshiped Him
with clasped hands. The ships fired all their artillery at once when the body of Christ was elevated, the signal
having been given from the shore with muskets. After the conclusion of mass, some of our men took
communion. The captain-general arranged a fencing tournament, at which the kings were greatly pleased.
Then he had a cross carried in and the nails and a crown, to which immediate reverence was made. He told the
kings through the interpreter that they were the standards given to him by the emperor his sovereign, so that
wherever he might go he might set up those his tokens. [He said] that he wished to set it up in that place for
their benefit, for whenever any of our ships came, they would know that we had been there by that cross, and
would do nothing to displease them or harm their property [property: doublet in original MS.]. If any of their
men were captured, they would be set free immediately on that sign being shown. It was necessary to set that
cross on the summit of the highest mountain, so that on seeing it every morning, they might adore it; and if
they did that, neither thunder, lightning, nor storms would harm them in the least.

Activity:
Read the following researches that studied and resolved the controversy of the location of the First Mass.
After, please answer the following:

Documents: Butuan or Limasawa? The Site of the First Mass in the Philippines: A Reexamination of the
Evidence Miguel A. Bernad
https://journals.ateneo.edu/ojs/index.php/budhi/article/view/582/5 79

NHCP’s Latest Ruling on the 1521 Easter Sunday Mass Controversy Dr. Rene R. Escalante National Historical
Commission of the Philippines
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mExTClwb_z7AMjS3Hvpds75WLoK LNnYh/view

1. What were the claims and evidences of the Pro-Butuan proponents who believed that the First Mass
happened in Masao? Explain how did the scholars counter-responded on such claims using the matrix below:

Pro-Butuan Claims Scholars’ Counter Response

2. According to the NHCP Report, why did they rejected the claim that the accounts of Pigafetta was
tampered to intentionally conceal the new-found route?
3. How did the Legazpi expedition helped in the strengthening the claims that the First Mass was in
Limasawa?
4. How did the ‘Butuan Tradition’ as the site of the first mass started?
5. How did the Geograhic features of the places involved in the controversies helped in the ascertaining
the possible site of the first mass?

Part 2:
Make a 500-word expressive essay on the importance of identifying the real site of the first mass in the
Philippines. Observe the following criteria in writing your work:
Factual and Comprehensive Content: (50%)
Organization of themes and arguments: (30%)
Clarity of language (20%)
Total: 100%

References:
Alporha, V. C. (2018). Readings in Philippine History (First ed.). Manila: Rex Book Store.
Bernad, M. A. (2002). Butuan or Limasawa: The Site of the First Mass in the Philippines: A Reexaminationof the
Evidence. Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture, 5, 133-166. Retrieved from
https://journals.ateneo.edu/ojs/index.php/budhi/article/view/582/579
Escalante, R. R. (2020). NHCP’s Latest Ruling on the 1521 Easter Sunday Mass Controversy. National Historical
Commission of the Philippines. Retrieved from
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mExTClwb_z7AMjS3Hvpds75WLoKLNnYh/view
History. (2018). Retrieved from New World Encyclopedia:
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/History