ONE PAST BUT MANY

HISTORIES, CONTROVERSY AND

CONFLICTING VIEWS IN PHIL.
HISTORY
 LESSON 1. SITE OF THE FIRST
MASS IN THE PHILIPPINES
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to:

1. know the controversy surrounding the first mass in the Philippines;

2. know the conflicting views about the first mass in the Philippines; and
3. identify and discuss the two accounts of the first mass in the Philippines
proclamation.
 SITE OF THE FIRST
MASS
IN THE PHILIPPINES
ANTONIO PIGAFETTA

• around 1491 when he was born at Vicenza, Republic of Venice or was know now as Italy and died at
the aged of 39-40 around 1531

• He studied astronomy; geography and cartography

• an Italian scholar and explorer from the Republic of Venice

• He travelled with the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew on their First Voyage
around the world

• He was one of the 18 men who returned to Spain in 1522

-The first Catholic Mass in the Philippines was held on March 31, 1521

(Eastern Sunday)

* Father Pedro de Valderrama

* located at the Southern Leyte

* a popularly known as the birthplace of the Church in the Philippines.

*Holy First Mass marked the birth of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines.
CONTROVERSIES
between
Limasawa and
Masao/Butuan
 Masao
1872: A monument to commemorate the site of first mass on the Philippines was erected in Butuan.

*1953: The people in Butuan asked the Philippine Historical Committee to rehabilitate the monument
or place a marker on the site.

On the basis of this objection the monument was re erected but the marble slab stating it was the site of
first mass was removed.

*Zaide identified Masao in Butuan as the location of the first mass. The basis Zaide's claim is the diary
of Antonio Pigafetta, chronicle of Magellan's voyage
 Limasawa
*Jaime de Veyra stated that the first mass was celebrated in Limawasa not in Butuan.

*Historian Pablo Pastells stating by the footnote to Francisco Colin's Labor Evangelica that Magellan did not go to Butuan but
form Limasawa to Cebu.

Francisco Albo (pilot of Magellan's flagship does not mention the first mass but he writes that they erected a cross on a
mountain which overlooked three islands the west and the southwest.

*James Robertson agreed with Pastells in a footnote that "Mazua" was actually Limasawa.

in the authentic account of Pigafetta, the port was not in Butuan but an island named Mazua (Masawa)

*Father Bernard studied all the Pigafetta's maps, which place in Mazau off the southern tip of the larger island of Leyte., a
check with the modern maps will show that this jibes with Limasawa and not Masao or Butuan.
 Evidence for Limasawa
1. The evidence of Albo's Log-Book

2. The Evidence of Pigafetta

a) Pigafetta's testimony regarding the route;

b) The evidence of Pigafetta's map

c) The two native kings

d) The seven days at "Mazaua"

e) An argument from omission

3. Summary of the evidence of Albo and Pigafetta.

4. Confirmatory evidence from the Legazpi expedition.

 Evidence for Masao

1. The name of the place

2. the route from Homonhon

3. the latitude position

4. The geographical features

a) the bonfire
b) the balanghai
c) house
d) abundance of gold
e) a developed settlement
 Lesson 2: The Cavite Mutiny

Remember always the sacred teachings of our heroes who sacrificed their lives for love of country.
-Gregoria de Jesus
• Year 1872- 1892 (Propaganda Movement)

• GOMBURZA

• Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera

• Rafael de Izquerdo Y. Guiterez

Testimony of T. H. Pardo de Tavera

• January 20, 1872

⚬ - San Felipe Fort

⚬ - Uprising of soldiers of Cavite

⚬ - Sargent La Madrid
 Testimony of Izquerdo
• January 20, 1872

⚬ - Suburb of Sampaloc celebrated the Virgin de

Loreto.

⚬ - mistook the firing for a fireworks display

⚬ - Sargent La Madrid
 Cavite Mutiny
• The uprising has been discontinued because of
reinforcement
• Sergeant La Madrid were killed in a skirmish
• The rebels were captured and taken to manila
 After Cavite Mutiny
• An investigation was convened in Manila
• Joaquin Pardo de Tavera as emperor
• Fr. Jose Burgos and Anthony Regidor, and Jose Basa as
Ministers
• February 15, 1872
• GOMBURZA have been plead guilty of treason
• Francisco Zaldua
• Spanish and Friars celebrated their victory over the death
of the priests.
Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera
• Trinidad Hermenegildo Jose Maria Juan
Francisco Pardo de Tavera y Gorricho
• Portuguese and Spanish Descent
• April 13, 1857
• Escolta, Manila
• wrote the Bloody incident in Cavite
• The arrival of General Izqueirdo
• Spanish Revolution
• At various times but especially at the beginning of the
year 1872
• The Spaniards the minute the fleet at Cavite left for the
South and that all would be assassinated, including the
friars.
• At times, the principal leaders met either in the house of
the Filipino Spaniard, D. Joaquin Pardo de Tavera or in
that of the native priest, Jacinto Zamora.
• Bacoor (Cavite)
• Garrison of Manila, January 20, 1872
• In the District of Sampaloc
• D. Fernando Rojas, D. Domingo Mijares
• Governor Izquierdo
• Merchant Vessels Filipino,Manila,Isabella I and Isabela
II
• As a result of the declarations made by some of the
prisoners
• The council war, passed the sentence of death on forty-
one of the rebels.
• January 2, the Captain-General fixed his “Cumplase”
• On the same council, February 5
• February 17, Witness the execution
• Manila of Spanish Troops
• The latter arrived in Manila in July 1872
• Sto. Domingo Church
JOSE MONTERO Y VIDAL AND GOV. GEN RAFAEL DE
IZQUERDO Y GUTERREZ: The Conspiracy and
Insurreccionin Cavite
• Montero was an historian who
interpreted the 1872
• Gov. Gen Rafael was the
Governor General of the
Philippines at the time of the
mutiny.
• They insinuated that the consipirators of manila
cavite planned to liquidate high-ranking Spanish
officers to be followed by the massacre of the
friars.
• Montero had collect the sentence about death of
the three priests.
 LESSON 3:

THE CRY OF THE

PHILIPPINE
REVOLUTION
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this lesson you should be able to;
• Explain the conflicting narratives of the Cry or
Revolution
• Reflect the consequences and importance of historical
documents
• Analyze the contradictoryconducts of narrating
accounts of the cry; and
• Discover the sources that leads to the beggining of the
Revolution in the Philippines
THE CRY OF THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
“There will be many arrest,vexations, and matyrdom of all
sorts; and probably those of the Katipunan who will not
tolerate such oppresion will march to the field before the time
is ripe, even if they are not provided with rifles or canoon.”

- Memoirs of Dr. Pio Valenzuela

THE CRY OF THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
The Philippine as a sovereign nation did not simply sprout
from any tales and legends of easiness nor a glimpse of
joyful beginning.

The country of heroes

the abode of a struggle for freedom, and the land of passion
for justice and democracy.
THE CRY OF THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
• Beginings of the Cry of Revolution are conflicting
memoirs and narrations
• Establishment of the Propaganda movement in Europe
that united the causes of the Filipino Illustrado
• Initiation of La Solidaridad
• The foundation of La Liga Filipina
• Secret institutions of the Katipunan
THE CRY OF THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
• Execution of Dr. Jose
Rizal

• Josephine Braken
joined Katipunerus in
Imus, Cavite and for
the time served as a
nurse (Dela Costa,
1992)
DID YOU KNOW?
• That Gregoria de hesus or Oryang
is the Lakambini of Katipunan
• First Archivist of the Philippines
• Memoirs “Ang mga tala ng aking
buhay”
 CRY OF REVOLUTION IN
(1896)
To clearly state the actualitist of the Cry, it is preeminenent to
readand determine the writings of those witnesses:

Dr. Pio Valenzuela, Andres Bonifacio, Gregoria de Hesus, The

Persons who drafted the Constitution Biak-ni-bato, Gulliermo
Masangkay, and Santiago Alvarez
DR. PIO VALENZUELA: THE MEMOIRS OF THE CRY OF REVOLUTION
• One of the trusted persons of Supremo Andress Bonifacio in the decisive
dealings of the revolution

The secret chamber of the Katipunan was composed of three persons

- Andress Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, and myself. It is most important
accomplishment was the publication of the periodical, Ang Kalayaan
(Freedom), and other documents. The Chamber used to meet in my
house at No.35 (later known as No.408), Lavezares Street. The last
meeting of the Body was held in Balara on the night of August 26,
1896 (Serano, L.1978).
• Dr. Pio Valenzuela assures the readers with his memoirs that he is indeed commited, participated, and served
as eyewitness of the proceeding of Katipunan, particularly in August 1896.

• Balintawak
• Andress Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto. Precopio Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata, Aqueldo
del Rosario, and myself
• First five arrived on August 19,1896 and I arrived on August 20,1896
• 500 members met at House and yard of Apolonio Samson, at Kangkong on
August 22
• Briccio Pantas, Alejandro Santiago, Ramon Bernardo, and Apolonio Samson.
• Storehouse/yard of Juan Ramos, son of Meichora Aquino in Pugad-Lawin - 1000
members met and had lengthy debate on August 23, 1896
• Wether or not the Revolution should happenon August 29, 1896
• Teodoro Plata is against early war
• Enrique Cipriano, Alfonso Pacheco, Tomas Remegio, and Sinforoso san Pedro
• First clash occured on August 25, The second coincided in two places at San juan de Monte and
Pateros on August 29 (Serano, L. 1978
• Barrio Kangkong, Caloocan in the house of Apolonio Samson
• 1917-Katipunan’s veteran association, the Labi ng Katipunan, erected a
memorial site
• Richardson 2021
• Dr. Valenzuela agreed that what transpired on August 23,
1896 was only a decision to begin revolution
• Teodoro Kalaw percieved the event of August 29, 1896
• 1896, Dr. Valenzuela claims that the cry happened in
PugadLawin near Pusong tamo
• 1929 The Philippine Free Press
• First cry didn’t happen in Balintawak but on Pugad lawin.
Briccio Pancheco, Pio Valenzuela (2019)
Photograph of Original Document, in
Cralos Ronquillo, Ilang talata tungkol sa
paghihimagsik nang 1896-1898, edited
by Isagani R. Medina, (Quezon city;
University of the Philippine Press,
19961.32 (Richard 2013)
ANDRES BONIFACIO: ORDERS OF THE
SUPREMO
• Official founder of KKK
• Sacred commitment “Ang mamatay ng dahil sayo”
• Order of Appointment of August 26, 1896
• Supremo mentioned that the cry and the decision to begin
the revolution is on August 24, 1896
• Isagani Medina- “Borador ng pulong ng Kataas-taasang
Sangunian”
• Farm ledger
• Medina
• Final Decision on August 24, 1896
GREGORIA DE HESUS: THE LAKAMBINI
OF THE KATIPUNAN
• Wife of Supremo
• November 5, 1928
• According to her “the finality
of the revolution’s begining
occured on August 25, 1896
THE BIAK-NA-BATO
CONSTITUTION
KATIPUNANS ACTIVITY OF 1896

• August 23 , 1896 - famous meeting was held in Barrio Kang kong Caloocan.
Where the date of the cry took place

• Sunday August 23, 1896 - As early in 10 o’clock in the morning at the Barn
of Kabesang Melchora, at a place called sampulukan , Barrio Bahay Toro,
Kateponeros meet together . About 500 of these arrived,ready and eager to
join othe Supremo Andress Bonifacio and his men.

• Monday August 24,1896 - There were about 1,000 the supremo decided to
hold a meeting inside the big barn. The meeting begun at 10 o’clock in the
morning . 12 o’ clock noon the meeting adjourned .
Leaders of Katipunan and Composed the Board of Directors of the organization

• August 26 1986 the summit of the cry happened, at Balintawak the house of
Apolonio Samson then the cabeza of that barrio of caloocan .

• Among those who attended were, Bonifacio,Emilio Jacinto ,Aguedo del

Rosario, Thomas Remigio, Bricco Pantas, Teodor plata, Pio Velanzuela,
Enrique Pacheco and Fransisco Carreon .

• 9 o’clock in the morning - the discusion of when was the uprising took place
against the spain, the meeting was opened by Andres bonifacio presiding and
emilio Jacinto as secretary.
• In August 24,1896 - the Philippine Revolution began
• Location: Manila

• Emilio Aguinaldo led the Republic of Biak-na-bato during Philippine

Revolution.
• November 1, 1897- the biak na bato was being inaugurated
• The Pact of Biak-na-Bato, signed on December 15, 1897, created a truce
between Spanish colonial Governor-General Fernando Primo de Rivera and the
revolutionary leader Emilio Aguinaldo to end the Philippine Revolution.

• December 24, 1897- Aguinaldo and the revolutionaries departed for hong
kong and established a Junta , which work towards continuing the revolution
and gaining freedom from spanish.
 The Pack of Biak na Bato

The Filipino negotiators for the Pact of Biak-na-Bato. Seated from left to right: Pedro Paterno and Emilio Aguinaldo
with five companions
LESSON 4: THE CONTROVERSY OF DR. JOSE RIZAL'S
RETRACTION: THE DEATH OF A FREEMASON OR A
CATHOLIC SOUL?
LEARNING OBJECTIVES :

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. know the controversy surrounding the retraction of Rizal as a

freemason;
2. read and discuss the statement and documents of Rizal's final hours; and
3. argue on the different perspective on Rizal's retraction in the Philippine
history.
 The Controversy of Dr. Jose Rizal's Retraction
"One only dies once, and if one does not die well, a good opportunity is lost and will
not present itself again."
–Dr. Jose Rizal
November 3, 1896
–The last homecoming of Dr. Jose Rizal in the Philippines and that day was his saddest
return to his beloved homeland. After all, he is convinced he will face the greatest
tribulation of his life.
January 1, 1883
–He was expecting even his martyrdom and experiencing it in his dream while in Madrid,
Spain, which he recorded in his diary on January 1, 1883, two days after his vision.
 The Controversy of Dr. Jose Rizal's Retraction
November 20, 1896

–He was accused and tried for rebellion, sedition, and conspiracy. While the steamer
carrying Dr. Rizal reached Singapore, Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor and Sixto Lopez sent a
telegram to Hugh Fort.

Lt. Taviel de Andrade

–His a lawyer and defense counsel, contended Rizal's innocence in the accusation; The
court decided that Dr. Jose Rizal would be shot at seven o'clock in the morning on
December 30 at the Field of Bagumbayan, now known as Luneta.
The Controversy of Dr. Jose Rizal's Retraction

December 29, 1896

–At exactly six in the morning, Reading of the sentence as well as the preparation and
arrangement of the firing squad was handed to Captain Rafael Dominguez as designated
by Governor-General Camilo Polavieja.

Bernardino Nozaleda
–The former archbishop of Manila, an anti-Filipino, instructed the Jesuit priests who
accompanied Rizal until his last breath to convince Rizal to articulate his retraction from
freemasonry and return to the Catholic faith.
The Controversy of Dr. Jose Rizal's Retraction

In the affidavit of Fr. Vicente Balaguer, he stated that he was there in the cell of Dr.
Rizal persuading him to sign the retraction document:

"Of all that has been narrated, l am positive by personol knowledge. I have
personally intervened ond withessed it myself; and I subscribed and confirmed
it with an oath. And lest, perhops, someone may think thot l could not
remember it with so mony details, after twenty years. I testify thot on the very
day of Rizal's death. I wrote a very detailed account of everything. The
original of this account I have preserved, and from it thave taken all the data of
the present narration.
(Cavanna 1956, 10)"
In the NAP Manuscript A-6, Doc 1 of the Cuerpo de Vigilancia Collection , a report
written by Federico Moreno states the following conditions or scenarios of the final hours
of Rizal:

• 7:50 Yesterday Morning

–Jose Rizal entered death row accompanied by his counsel, Señor Taviel de Andrade, and
the Jesuit priest (Jose) Vilaclara.
• Señor Andrade left death row at 10
–Rizal spoke for a long while with the Jesuit fathers, March and Vilaclara, presented him
with a prepared retraction on his life and deeds that he refused to sign.

• 3 in the Afternoon
–Father March entered the chapel and Rizal handed him what he had written.
 • From 3 to 5:30 in the Afternoon

–Rizal read his prayer book several times, prayed kneeling before the altar and in the
company of Fathers Vilaclara and March.

• At 6 in the Afternoon

–The following persons arrived and entered the chapel; Teodora Alonzo, mother of Rizal,
and his sisters.

• Little after 8 in the Evening

–At the urgings of Señor Andrade, the accused was served a plate of tinola, his last meal
on earth. He resisted until 4 in the morning and resumed again praying before altar.
 • At 5 this Morning of the 30th

–Donning his formal clothes and aided by a soldier of the artillery, the nuptials of Rizal
and the woman who had been his lover were performed at the point of death (in articulo
mortis). After embracing, she left flooded with tears.

• At 7:30

–A European artilleryman handcuffed him and he left for the place of execution
accompanied by various Jesuits, his counsel and Assistant of the Plaza.

God grant Your Excellency.

Manila 30 December 1896.

Chief Inspector Federico Moreno (Harper 1997)

 Those discovered the retraction document of Rizal
Fr. Manual Gracia
–The former archivist of the Archdiocese of Manila. Discovered ths retraction document
of Rizal that has been kept in the eyes of Interested Filipinos.

Fr. Balaguer
–Who mentioned Dr. Rizal's disinterestedness and dissatisfaction in the retraction's first
draft.

*With witnessed by two personalities before his firing squad

• Juan del Fresio– the chief of the picket

• Eloy Moure– the adjutant of the Plaza.

All these acts suggest, and may be consider. Lastly, Moreno also reported that
minutes before Rizal was brought to Luneta, he heard Mass, Confessed to Fr.
March, received Holy Communion, and kissed the image of the Blessed Mother.
All these acts suggest, and may be considered evidence supporting the claim,
that Rizal died a
Catholic.
The accounts mentioned by in his report reflected the conditions laid by the
archbishop of Manila, Nozaleda, and Fr. Pi, the superior of the Philippine
Jesuitmission, about Dr. Rizals' sarticulation of the written retraction.
PERSPCTIVE:

“Surely whether died as a catholic or an apostate adds or detracts nothing from

his greatness as a Filipino... Catholic or Mason, Rizal is still Rizal - the hero
who courted death to prove to those who deny our patriotism that we know how
to die for our duty and our beliefs.” Senator Jose Diokno
 Translation (English)
RETRACTION LETTER OF RIZAL ( 1896 )
I declare myself a catholic and in this Religion in
which I was born and educated I wish to live and die.

I retract with all my heart whatever in my words,

writings, publications and conduct has been contrary
to my character as son of the Catholic Church. I
believe and I confess whatever she teaches and I
submit to whatever she demands. I abominate
Masonry, as the enemy which is of the Church, and
as a Society prohibited by the Church. The Diocesan
Prelate may, as the Superior Ecclesiastical Authority,
make public this spontaneous manifestation of mine
in order to repair the scandal which my acts may
have caused and so that God and people may pardon
me.
RETRACTION JUSTIFICATION:

Jose Rizal justification were grounded on a specific need of his time and the
iternal and external pressure of the jesuits.

1. To protect his town and family for further persecution

2. To formally recognize Josephine as his wife.
3. Persuade the spanish government to enact reforms.
4. To aid the church in eradicating the illness that injured her.
In the lecture of Dr. Eugene A. Hessel in Siliman University, he outlined the main reasons for
contention for the retraction of Rizal. ( Hessel, 1964 )

1. The primary evidence for the retraction’s validity is the Retraction

Document, which was found in 1935.

2. The evidence of “eyewitness” and other “qualified witnesses”.

3. Signed “Acts of Faith, hope, and charity.

RELEVANCE OF THE STUDY:

The retraction of Rizal holds significant importance in assessing his consistency, coherence, and
critics' perceptions of him as a flawless national hero. Some critics rigidly define Rizal solely based
on his writings and reputation, while others dismiss him as a hoax. Recent reinterpretations of
Rizal's works, such as the televised adaptation of Noli me Tangere, titled "Maria Clara at Ibarra,"
have sparked national interest and enthusiasm, particularly among Filipino youth. However, amidst
discussions about Rizal's retraction, there's a risk of losing sight of the underlying message of his
writings—emancipation. While Rizal's retraction is often emphasized, it shouldn't overshadow the
broader purpose of his works, which is to illuminate the struggles of unfreedom and promote
individual and national consciousness. Ultimately, Rizal's complexity lies in his ability to navigate
various values and priorities while striving for integrity and nation-building through his words and
reputation.