Module 2

Lesson 2
Analysis of Historical Events

Primary and Secondary Sources

 Learning Outcomes

a. compare the chosen primary and secondary sources in

terms of credibility of the account and reliability of the
author of the said account.

b. challenge arguments of historical inevitability by

formulating examples of historical contingency, of
how different choices could have led to different
consequences.

c. exhibit the value of truth and freedom

Module 2 Site of the First Mass in
Lesson 2 the Philippines
 Introduction
One of the aims of Spanish colonization
⮚ to spread Christianity

planted the wooden cross

- proof of conquest of the territory

converted the natives to Christianity

Held the First Mass
March 31, 1521
Easter Sunday
Butuan or Limasawa?
 Watch a Video
Mga Babasahin sa Kasaysayan ng
Pilipinas: Bakit Ako Naniniwala na sa
Butuan nangyari ang Unang Misa

Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WBEewvQa7E
 Watch a Video
ANG KASAYSAYAN UNANG MISA SA
PILIPINAS | MARCH 31, 1521 | Easter
Sunday

Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQgYPV-mAUY
 Read
The First Catholic Mass
in the Philippines

Candelaria, J. L., Alporha, V., & Kunting, A. (2021).

A Course Module for Readings in Philippine History.
Manila: Rex Book Store (pages 129-132)
 Read
The First Catholic Mass
in the Philippines

Candelaria, J. L., Alporha, V., & Kunting, A. (2021).

A Course Module for Readings in Philippine History.
Manila: Rex Book Store (pages 129-132)
 Why the controversy?

▪ rediscovery of two primary sources

Chronicles of Antonio Pigafetta and

Francisco Albo’s (Magellan’s
companion) logbook.
 Site of the First Mass

Pigafetta Albo

“Mazaua” “Mazava”

Limasawa
 Why Limasawa?

Philippine Committee on Geographic Names

Limasawa (Mazaua, Mazava)

Jayme C. de Veyra
Limasawa was derived from Massaua

Location of Limasawa tallies

with that of Mazzaua
 Areas to look into

▪ interpretation of the accounts of Pigafetta by

scholars/historians

▪ geographical location or route of the

voyage

▪ legislations and celebrations

 Arguments for Limasawa based on
Pigafetta and Albo’s accounts

▪ written in the book of Blair and Robertson “The

Philippine Islands” published 1906 (reproduced the
Italian text of Pigafetta’s chronicles with English
Translation)

▪ Limasawa has been generally accepted since

then to mean Masaua (Bernad, 1983).
 Arguments for Limasawa as to
Geographical Location/Route of the Voyage

Mazaua is separate island from Limasawa.

Magellan- eastern coast of Leyte with Hibuson island on his

left, down to Panaon island which looks like a part of Leyte.

From Panaon, the wind was blowing westward from

the Pacific, considering that this was late March to
April, the east wind is strong. They went west or
southwest toward the island of Limasawa. This was
affirmed in the book of Arcilla in history 1998.
Reason for going to Limasawa

⮚ though the northern portion is hilly but

the southern portion is all level land
with few hills, It has fertile land, natives
were friendly, there was enough food,
water and wood. Here the Mass could
be said with solemnity and the cross
could be planted on the top of the hill
facing south, west or east.
Butuan or any other point of Mindanao
coast was not in the itinerary of
Magellan’s expedition. (The survivors
went there only after Magellan’s death).
 Arguments for Limasawa as to
Legislations and Celebrations

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2733

AN ACT TO DECLARE THE SITE IN MAGALLANES,

LIMASAWA ISLAND IN THE PROVINCE OF LEYTE,
WHERE THE FIRST MASS IN THE PHILIPPINES WAS
HELD AS A NATIONAL SHRINE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE
PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL MONUMENTS AND
LANDMARKS THEREAT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
▪dispute was officially settled in March 1998
by the National Historical Institute panel
composed of several historians, some were
from UP Diliman Department of History.
The National Historical Institute (NHI)
ruled in favor of Limasawa.

Decision reaffirmed in 1998

ARGUMENTS FOR BUTUAN
 Primary evidences

gold, balanhai, porcelain dishes, nipa, wine,

sago, ricefields

Very strong tradition of the first mass (if

the documents are not specific)

The kings of Butuan and Masao are brothers. It

is against human experience if their kingdoms
are far from each other.

Mazaua is Masao, Butuan

 Limasawa vs. Butuan: the first Easter Mass

Based on his research, Mora

concluded that the confusion
with the Butuan tradition
“comes from an incorrect
reading of the chronicles and
the desire of some
missionaries of 16th and
17th centuries to demand Dr. Antonio Sanchez de Mora, an expert on Spanish
medieval history and head of the reference service at
the conversion of the natives the Archivo General de Indias in Seville, Spain
of Mindanao thanks to the
preaching of the Jesuits.”
Reference: https://upd.edu.ph/limasawa-vs-butuan-the-first-
easter-mass/
 There is a long-standing controversy on exactly where the First
Mass took place. In Antonio Pigafetta’s notes, he wrote
“Mazaua” as the name of the island. Some historians assert
that this is the same “Masagua” mentioned in Miguel Lopez
de Legazpi’s expedition to Butuan. After a thorough study and
examination of old maps and documents, a monograph by Fr.
Miguel Bernad in 1981 clarified that the Butuan version is a
mistake and that, indeed, Limasawa is what Pigafetta referred
to as “Mazaua.” This was likewise confirmed by a study
conducted by William Henry Scott in 1982 on the error of
designating Butuan as the place where the First Mass was
held.

Reference: https://southernleyte.gov.ph/limasawa/limasawa-
history/
 READ
1.500 years since first Mass in the Philippines:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news
/2021-03/philippines-500th-anniversary-first-
mass-jubilee-celebrations.html

2.HISTORY OF LIMASAWA:
https://southernleyte.gov.ph/limasawa/limas
awa-history/
End!