Limasawa Island is the site of the First Catholic Mass in the Philippines

On March 31, 1521, Easter Sunday, the first Catholic mass was held on an Island called
“Mazaua.” Two schools differently and arguably identified or translated the word “Mazaua” which sparks
confusion about the absolute location of the first catholic mass in the Philippines. One claims that the
“Mazaua” island called by Pigafetta is the present-day Limasawa island in southern Leyte while the other
identifies it as “Masao” island or the present-day Butuan City in Agusan Del Norte. Several primary and
secondary sources prove and agree that the first catholic mass location is the present-day “Limasawa
Island.”

It is asserted that the planting of the cross and the catholic mass happened on the same date on the
island of “Mazaua.'' Both Colin’s and Combes’ accounts scrutinizes if the “Mazaua '' is the present
Butuan City. Colin’s claims are vauge and questionable. He didn’t give an explanation on how magellan
arrived in Butuan. Although his claims were vague he still presents the subject of concern which are the
first catholic mass, solemn planting of the cross, and the possession of the island of Crown of Castile at
Butuan.

On Combes’ account, he explained how Ferdinand Magellan landed at Butuan. Only the planting
of the cross in a solemn ceremony is included in his accounts, not the first mass. Comparing Colin’s
account to Combes’ account, the two accounts have differences about the sequences of Magellan’s arrival
on different islands and events that have occurred. Colin(1900) sequenced that Magellan arrived first to
Butuan, then to Limasawa, and from thence to Cebu. On contrary, Combes(1897) sequenced that
Magellan has visited Limasawa first, then he goes to Butuan, returned to Limasawa and then traveled to
Cebu. The two accounts have agreed that Magellan and his troops have settled in Limasawa and with the
help of Limasawa king, Magellan have landed in Cebu on April 7, 1521. Due to lack of supporting pieces
of evidence and vague or misconstrued claims, it can’t be determined that Butuan is the site of the first
catholic mass in the Philippines. Although it can’t be determined the majority still believed that Butuan
was the first catholic mass location

Shortly after, their location opinion shifted to Limasawa when Antonio Pigafetta accounts and
Francisco Albo log were found and studied. Pigafetta is a comrade of Magellan while Albo was the
navigator of Magellan. Therefore these two accounts are considered primary sources. The two sources
clearly narrate that Magellan goes to the island of Limasawa and settles for 7 days before proceeding
directly to Cebu.

Although different names identify the island, In Albo’s diary the island was named “Masava”
while “Mazaua” is stated in Pigafetta’s account. Nevertheless, Both sources have recorded the same
cardinal direction of the island where the first mass takes place. The direction of the island’s southern tip
is at 90 54’ N. Regardless of differences on the names of the island, the cardinal direction recorded has fit
the present-day Limasawa island. However, Albo’s diary only accounts the planting of the cross on the
mountain top, not the first mass.

Pigafetta’s account is the most convincing source to prove that the location of the first mass is at
Limasawa. He records the event with a complete date, He stated that In the morning of March 28, Holy
Thursday, They arrived on the island where the direction lies in a latitude of 9 ⅔ North and the longitude
of 1600 from the demarcation line and it is called “Mazaua.” They settled for 7 days on “Mazaua” island
before the chieftain of “Mazaua” helped them to bound for Cebu. He recorded that on March 31, Easter
Sunday afternoon, Magellan sent his priest together with fifty men to celebrate the mass and venerate the
cross on the island.

The third map (BR33) of Pigafetta displays the island of Mazaua (which was spelled as
“Mazzana”) and the Camote group of islands (which were called Polon, Pozon, and Ticobon). The
Mazzana lies in the southern tip of the island of “Celion”, the present-day Leyte and east to the island of
Bohol. Identifying and analyzing the geographical location and cardinal locations stated in Pigafetta’s
account, it can be determined that the actual position of Mazua is equivalent to the location of present-day
Limasawa.

It is now convincing that the planting of the cross and the first catholic mass in the Philippines
was held at Limasawa.