Case Study |: Where Did the First Catholic Mass Take Place in the Philippines? [ecccecneeere - aeeeee The popularity of knowing where the “firsts” happened in history has been an easy way to trivialize history, but this case study will not focus on the significance (or lack thereof) of the site of the First Catholic Mass in the Philippines, but rather, use it as a historiographical exercise in the utilization of evidence and interpretation in reading historical events, Butuan has long been believed as the site of the first Mass. In fact, this has been the case for three centuries, culminating in the erection of a monument in 1872 near Agusan River, which commemorates the expedition’s arrival and celebration of Mass on 8 April 1521. The Butuan claim has been based on a rather elementary reading of primary sources from the event. Toward the end of the nineteenth century and the start of the twentieth century, together with the increasing scholarship on the history of the Philippines, a more nuanced reading of the available evidence was made, which brought to light more considerations in going against the more accepted interpretation of the first Mass in the Philippines, made both by Spanish and Filipino scholars. Tt must be noted that there are only two primary sources that historians refer to in identifying the site of the first Mass. One is the log kept by Francisco Albo, a pilot of one of Magellan’s ship, Trinidad. He was one of the 18 survivors who returned with Sebastian Elcano on the ship Victoria after they circumnavigated the world. [Link], and the more complete, was the oe by Antonio Pigafetta, Primo viaggio intorno al mondo eae ae the World). Pigafetta, like Albo, was a member of ne Pedition and an eyewitness of the events, particularly, of the first Chapter 3 | Philippine History: Spaces for Confict and Controversies rrPrimary Source: Albo’s Log nes desde el cabo se Source: “Diario 6 derotero del viage de Magalla S. Agustin en el Brazil hasta el regreso a Espana de la nao Victoria escrito por Frandsco Albo,” Document no. xxii in Collecién de viages y descubrimientos que hicieron por mar los Espafioles desde fines del siglo XV, Ed. Martin Fernandez de Navarrete (reprinted Buenos Aires 1945, 5 Vols.) IV, 191-226. As cited in Miguel A. Bernad “Butuan or Limasawa? The Site of the First Mass in the Philippines: A Reexamination of Evidence” 1981, Kinaadman: A Journal of Southern Philippines, Vol, IH, 1-35. 1. On the 16th of March (1 from Ladrones, they saw to many shallow places they did not approas that its name was Yunagan. same day southwards to another small d there they anchored. There they saw the Spaniards’ approach. This island 521) as they sailed in a westerly course Jand towards the northwest; but owing ch it. They found later 2. They went, instead that island named Suluan, an some canoes but these fled at was at 9 and two-thirds degrees North latitude. 3. Departing from those two islands, they sailed westward 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 island they sailed westwards towards a large island names Seilani that 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 9 and two-thirds degrees North. 8. The people of that island of Mazava were very good. There te Spaniards planted a cross upon a mountain-top, and from al they were shown three islands to the west and southwest, Wb” they were told there was much gold. “They showed us how the el was gathered, which came in small pieces like peas and lentilsFrom Mazava they sailed northwards again towards Seilani, They followed the coast of Sei Jani in a northwesterly direction, ascending up to 10 degrees of latitude where they saw three small islands. 8, From there they sailed westwards some ten leagues, and there they saw three islets, where they dropped anchor for the night. In the morning they sailed southwest some 12 leagues, down toa 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. 7. 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 westward directly but has to go (as they did) in a round-about way. It must be noted that in Albo’s account, the location of Mazava fits the location of the island of Limasawa, at the southern tip of Leyte, 9°54°N. ‘Also, Albo does not mention the first Mass, but only the planting of the cross upon a mountain-top from which could be seen three islands to the west and southwest, which also fits the southern end of Limasawa. Primary Source: Pigafetta’s Testimony on the Route Magellan’s Expedition Source: Emma Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands, Vols. 33 and 34, as cited in Miguel A. Bernad, “Butuan or Limasawa? The Site of the First Mass in the Philippines: A Reexamination of Evidence” 1981, Kinaadman: A Journal of Southern Philippines, Vol. III, 1-35. . 1, Saturday, 16 March 1521 - Magellan’s expedition sighted a “high land” named “Zamal” which was some 300 leagues westward of 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 above-mentioned island of “Zama.” (To the “right” here would mean on their starboard going south _ 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 of Chapter 3 | Philippine History: Spaces for Conflict and Controversi 5152 Rr * a Ss was “Humunu” (Homonhon). This island was located at 10 degreey North latitude. On that same day (Sunday, March 17), Magellan named the entire archipelago the “Islands of Saint Lazarus,” the reason being that it was Sunday in the Lenten season when the Gospel assigned fo, the Mass and the liturgical Office was the eleventh chapter of gt, John, which tells of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Monday, March 18 - 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.” There were two springs of watér on that island of Homonhon. Also they saw there some indications that there was gold in these islands. Consequently Magellan renamed the island and called it the “Watering Place of Good Omen” (Acquada la di bouni segnialli). Friday, March 22 - At noon the natives returned. This time they were in two boats, and they brought food supplies. Magellan's expedition stayed eight days at Homonhon: from Sunday, March 17, to the Monday of the following week, March 25. Monday, March 25 - In the afternoon, the expedition weighed anchor and left the island of Homonhon. In the ecclesiastical calendar, this day (March 25) was the feast-day of the Incarnation, also called the feast of the Annunciation and therefore “Our Lady's Day.” On this day, as they were about to weigh anchor, an accident happened to Pigafetta: he fell into the water but was rescued. He attributed his narrow escape from death as grace obtained through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on her feast-day. The route taken by the expedition after leaving Homonhon was “toward the west southwest, between four islands: namely, Cenalo, 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 island of Leyte. “Hiunanghan’ (a misspelling of Hinunangan) seemed to Pigafetta to be a separate island, but is actually on the mainland of Leyte (ie., “Ceylon”). On the other hand, Hibuson (Pigafetta’s Ibusson) is an island east of Leyte’s southern tip.Thus, it is easy to see what Pigafetta meant by sailing “toward the west southwest” past those islands. They left Homonhon sailing westward towards Leyte, then followed the Leyte coast southward, passing between the island of Hibuson on their portside and Hiunangan Bay on their starboard, and then continued southward, then turning westward to “Mazaua.” 2 Thursday, March 28 - In the morning of Holy Thursday, March 28, they anchored off an 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 Arctic Pole (i.e., North) and in a longitude of one hundred and sixty-two degrees from the line of demarcation. It is twenty-five leagues from the Acquada, and is called Mazaua.” 10. ‘They remained seven days on Mazaua Island. Thursday, April 4 — 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 Gatighan.” At Gatighan, they sailed westward to the three islands 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 much faster than the native balanghai—a thing that excited the admiration of the king of Mazaua. 14. From the Camotes Islands they sailed southwards towards “Zubu.” 15. Sunday, April 7 — At noon they entered the harbor of “Zubu” (Cebu). It had taken them three days to negotiate the journey from Mazaua northwards to the Camotes Islands and then southwards to Cebu. It must be pointed out that, both Albo and Pigafetta’s testimonies ll. 12. 13. sincide and corroborate each other. Pigafetta gave more details on what they did during their weeklong stay at Mazaua. Primary Source: Pigafetta and Seven Days in Mazaua Source: Emma Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands, Vols, 33 and 34, as cited in Miguel A. Bernad, “Butuan or Limasawa? ‘The Site of the First Mass in the Philippines: A J of Southern Reexamination of Evidence” 1981, Kinaadman: A Journal hilippines, Vol. III, 1-35.morning they anchored near anislan night before a small boat (boloto phere ey i eee eva Magellan threw some trinket ay came with cia rare eddled away, but two hours later two larger presents, The nalivel',, in one of which the native King sat under ee anna arnt Magellan's invitation some of the natives an awning of mat ship, but the native king remained seated in went up the Span tof gifts was effected. In the afternoon that his boat. as aries weighed anchor and came closer to shore Se ee sod the native king’s village. ‘This Thursday, March 28, ane tureday in Holy Week, i.e, Holy Thursday. Friday, March 29 ~ "Next day. Holy Friday,” Magellan sent his Feidey, preter aaboro in suiall boat to ask the king if he We arovide the expedition with food supplies, and to say that ob nemies. In reply the king Thursday, March 28—In the friends and not as e ee boat with six or eight men, and this time went ‘up Magellan's ship arid 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. Saturday, March 30 — Pigafetta and his companion 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 had to eat meat. The following morning (Saturday) Pigafetta and his companion took leave of their hosts and returned to the ships. Sunday, March 31 - “Early in the morning of Sunday, the last of March and Easter day,” Magellan sent the priest ashore with some men to prepare for the Mass. Later in the morning Magellan landed with some fifty men and Mass was celebrated, after which a cross was venerated. Magellan and the Spaniards returned to the ship for the noon-day meal, but in the afternoon they returned ashore to plant the cross on the summit of the highest hill. In attendanet both at the Mass and at the planting of the cross were the king! Mazaud and the king of Butuan. pve March 31 ~On that same afternoon, while on the summit ae highest hill, Magellan asked the two kings which ports * Should go to in order to obtain more abundant supplies of food tha? icanre were word y i the! available in that pa Tne cea A oe. Of the three, Jon, Zubu, ji ports to choose fon tnost trade. Magellan then said that the port wi lowing morning. He ‘qubu was t fol depart the fol he wished to gt Zab a ther. The kings replied that the asked for someone to gui time.” But later that evening the pilots would be available “any t self king of Mazaua changed his mind ‘and said that he would hims ing the conduct Magellan to Zubu but that he would first have fe bring re harvest in, He asked Magellan to send him men to help wi harvest. 6. 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. 7. Tuesday, April 2 and Wednesday, April 3 - Work on the harvest during the “next to days,” ie., Tuesday and Wednesday, the 2nd and 3rd of April. 8. Thursday, April 4 - They leave Mazaua, bound for Cebu. were Using the primary sources available, Jesuit priest Miguel A. Bernad in his work Butuan or Limasawa: The Site of the First Mass in the Philippines: A Reexamination of Evidence (1981) lays down the argument that in the Pigafetta account, a crucial aspect of Butuan was not mentioned—the river. Butuan is a riverine settlement, situated on the Agusan River. The beach of Masao is in the delta of said river. It is a curious omission in the account of the river, which makes part ofa distinct characteristic of Butuan’s geography that seemed to be too important to be missed. ‘The Age of Exploration is a period of competition among European rulers to conquer and colonize lands outside their original domains. Initially, the goal was to find alternative routes by sea to get to Asia, the main source of spices and other commodities. Existing routes to Asia were mainly by land and cost very expensive. A sea route to Asia means that Europeans could access the spice trade directly, greatly reducing costs for traders. Spain’s major foray into the exploration was through Christopher Columbus, who proposed to sail westward to find a shortcut to Asia. He was able to reach the Americas, which was then cut-off from the rest of the known world. Spain colonized parts of North America, Mexico, and South America in the sixteenth century, They were also able to reach the Philippines and (Chapter 3| Philippine History: Spaces for Conflict and Controversies 55claim it for the Spanish crown. Later on, other European ruler, ; 8 Wo, compete with the activities of exploring and conquering lands. ul It must also be pointed out that later on, after Magellan’s dea; survivors of his expedition went to Mindanao, and seemingly went to By » the In this instance, Pigafetta vividly describes a trip in a river, But Note this account already happened after Magellan’s death. that