The site of the first mass

in the Philippines
Historical background of
the event
The first mass in the Philippines took place
in Limasawa, not in Butuan. It is not just
because of the lack of evidence but because
of the inconsistency of the facts as well.
Take for an instance the inconsistenct of
Magellan's route, the date, and also the
spellings of places and persons involved as
presented by the various historians
Introductio
n
The site of the first mass was become big
controversy in the Philippine historians
because of the places that were the first mass
was held. There are four venues that are
claiming that the first mass celebration of
Roman Catholicism was held on but there
are only two that has strong evidence of the
rooted event so it cause unending discussion
of the event.
The issues and controvercies
of the event
In 2008, a second panel led by Dr. Benito Legarda,
Jr, affirmed the decision of the Gancayco panel—
Limasawa, not Butuan. Last year, the National
Quincentennial Committee instructed the NHCP to
form yet another panel with Dr Resil Mojares at the
helm. He is an eminent historian from Cebu, a
worthy recipient of the Order of the National Artist
for Historical Literature. The Mojares panel upheld
the conclusions of its predecessors. In effect, the
State has spoken in favor of Limasawa.
The evidences and
testimonies
• *LIMASAWA*1. The evidence of Albo's Log-Book
• 2. The evidence of Pigafetta ³. Pigafetta's
testimony regarding the route 4. The evidence of
Pigafetta's map 5. The two native kings 6. the
seven days at Mazaua 7. An argument from
omission 8.Summary of the evidence of Albo and
Pigafetta. 9.Confirmatory evidence from the Legazpi
expedition*BUTUAN* 1. The name of the place 2.
The route from Homonhon 3. The latitude position
4. The geographical features 5. The bonfire 6.
The balanghai 7.House 8. Abundance of Gold 9.
A developed settlement
Reference
s
According to Dr. Potenciano R. Malvar, a local
historian, launched his book “Beyond the Pale:
Limasawa Hoax, A Tragedy in Philippine
History” Wednesday (April 7, 2021) that outlines
his studies and research to support the claim
that the first Catholic mass in 1521 was
celebrated in Butuan. (PNA photo by Alexander
Lopez)
According to Jaime LayaPigafetta organized and
expanded his notes into a more detailed manuscript
written possibly in the Venetian dialect that was published
in a French translation that was in turn later published in
Italian translation. These were rare books by the 19th
century and even Jose Rizal seemed to have been unaware
of their existence. American librarian James Robertson
was thorough. He went the extra mile and translated from
scratch what is considered the most complete Pigafetta
manuscript in Milan’s BibliotecaAmbrosiana. His
translation of Pigafetta’s account of the First Mass is in
According to Devin Watkins on Easter
Sunday in 1521, Father Pedro de
Valderrama celebrated the first Catholic
Mass in what is now the Philippines,
specifically on the island of Limasawa in
Southern Leyte.
The first documented Catholic Mass in the
Philippines was held on March 31, 1521,
Easter Sunday. It was conducted according to
Father Pedro de Valderrama of Ferdinand
Magellan's expedition along the shores of
what was referred to in the journal.
References“500 Years since First Mass in the Philippines - Vatican News.” News
from the Vatican - News about the Church - Vatican News, Vatican News, 31 Mar.
2021, https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2021-03/philippines-500th-
anniversary-first-mass-jubilee-celebrations.html.Contributors to Wikimedia projects.
“First Mass in the Philippines - Wikipedia.” - Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation,
Inc., 9 Jan. 2015,
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Mass_in_the_Philippines#:~:text=The
%20legislative%20fiat%20declared%20%22The,of%20the%20island%20of
%20Limasawa.Lopez, Alexander. “Book Backing Claims Butuan as Site of 1st Mass
Launched | Philippine News Agency.” Philippine News Agency, Philippine News
Agency, 8 Apr. 2021, https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1136124.Schreurs, Peter. “THE
FIRST MASS SITE REVISITED.” Philippine Quarterly of Culture and Society, vol.
9, no. 3, University of San Carlos Publications, pp. 192–216, doi:10.2307/29791729.
Accessed 3 Nov. 2021.“Where and When Was the First Mass Held? – Manila
Bulletin.” Manila Bulletin, https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin/, 31 May 2021,
https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/31/where-and-when-was-the-first-mass-held/
Conclusi
on
Until now this issue is still being tackled and
the update is that the National Historical
Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)
sustained findings that the Limasawa island
jn southern Leyte was the site of the 1521
eastern sunday mass, the first catholic mass
in the country.