Masao, Butuan, not Limasawa

Introduction

The first Easter Mass in the Philippines was held in March 31, 1521 on Mazaua, officiated by Friar
Pedro Valderrama. The mass was along the shores of "Mazaua," as described by Antonio Pigafetta in his
writings. The journal of Antonio Pigafetta has been interpreted in a variety of ways. Friars relying on
available writings and on tradition, reported the First Mass as being held in Butuan, Agusan del Norte,
specifically on an island called Masao. The latter part, historical thinking began to shift in the early 1900s,
many historians and the government believe that this site is Limasawa, off the coast of Southern Leyte.
However, the prevailing belief was that the first mass was held in Butuan. This belief is maintained by
some, who assert that the first mass was instead held at Masao, Butuan.

Though there was already a declaration where the first mass was held in the Philippines, this issue
still remained a big question mark to our history. Historians still keep on studying and searching for the
facts, to answer the question where did the first mass was really held?

Sides and/or Evidences of the Controversy

Local executive and church official as well as historians refilling of petition to National Historical
Institute (NHI) asserting the Butuan City, particularly Mazaua Island (barangay pinamangculan) was the
official of the first mass on Easter Sunday in 1521.

The Philippine Government has endorsed the

Balanghai Shrine to United Nation Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Historian Gregorio Zaide claimed that “It is high time

for contemporary historians and the Philippine government
to correct their mistake and accept that the first Christian
mass was celebrated in Masao, Butuan, Agusan del Norte
and not in Limasawa, Leyte, on Easter Sunday, March 31,
1921”

The brothers Rajah Siaiu and Rajah Colambu, who ruled

Mazaua and Butuan, respectively, befriended Magellan and told him
about Cebu. The two kings then boarded their balangays to guide the
Spanish galleons to Cebu, where Magellan would meet Rajah
Humabon.

According to BCHFI there are 28 gathered new pieces of

scientific evidence and comparison between the Two island (mazaua
and limasawa) 10 recovery of Balanghai boat in 1976 near Masao
river.
The balangay, as the first wooden watercraft discovered in Southeast Asia, reveals the early
Filipinos' maritime ability and boat-building skills during pre-colonial times. The balangay, also known as
the Butuan boat, was first mentioned in the Chronicles of Pigafetta, when they first arrived on our islands
(Paredes, 2018).

The largest sailing vessel of its kind yet discovered is

being unearthed in Butuan City in Mindanao. The find also
underscores theories that the Philippines, and Butuan in
particular, was a major center for cultural, religious, and
commercial relations in Southeast Asia (Dimacali, 2013).

Limasawa has no balanghai tradition.

According to Antonio Pigafetta’s Account, the distance of Cebu to

Mazaua was 35 leagues or 140 miles. The distance from Cebu to Limasawa
is only 80 miles.

Vicente de Jesus said historians do not consider the accounts of Ginés de Mafra, which supports
the Butuan claim. Ginés de Mafra was a member of the expeditions of Ferdinand Magellan. Laurence
Bergeen gave recognition to de Mafra’s document in his book. Which unlocks the mystery of the island of
Mazaua. The shape of the isle is almost circular; 3-4 leagues translates to an area up to 3,930 hectares. In
contrast, Limasawa is only 698 hectares.

It was stated that, they anchored west of the isle, “This island called Mazaua has a good harbor
on its western side and is inhabited”. Mazaua is officially declared as Limasawa, where in fact it’s an isle
without anchorage, and port is located east of the island. De Mafra’s most clarifying testimony is that
Mazaua was 15 leagues, below Butuan. Based on De Mafra’s information, a team of archaeologist went
to work to validate the theory of Mazaua. The geo-political entities composed of Pinamanculan and
Bancasi inside Butuan in Nothern Mindanao was in fact an island. The team found ceramic metal-
bracelets, corroded iron, and brass pestle.

The Stand

1. Positive Stand
Decades after the debate on where the first Catholic mass in the archipelago took place
has remained unresolved, local historians said they have new data and pieces of evidence to prove
that the honor belongs to the city. They said they are hoping that the Catholic Bishops Conference
of the Philippines (CBCP) would finally declare that the first mass was held in Mazaua, a place in
Butuan now called Masao, not in Limasawa Island in Leyte as stated in history books. There are
lots of evidence presented that the first Mass was held in Masao, Butuan and not in Limasawa
Leyte, evidences which are stronger, believable, and accurate. Evidences such as, the log that is
kept by Francisco Albo and the account of Antonio Pigafetta, First Voyage Around the World, next
would be the expedition traveled 20 to 25 leagues from Homonhon, the first landing point, and
the distance of their travel, the distance from Mazaua to Cebu. This three are not the only found
evidences. This evidences can clearly help in stating that the first mass was really help in Masao
Butuan. According to Republic Act No. 2733, the law and the government, the first mass is really
held in Butuan. Even though there is also a law declaring Limasawa as the place where the first
Mass held but there's a possibility that they only want to detour us to the truth that Butuan is the
real place where it is held.

2. Negative Stand
The first holy mass in the Philippines was celebrated not in Visayas but in Mindanao. This
has been a long-standing issue on every historian and then due to its longevity, perhaps they just
considered that Limasawa, Southern Leyte was the place where the first Christian Mass
celebrated. However way back in 1980’s where the archeologist of the National Museum
discovered the remains of Butuan plank boats thus the First Mass controversy was rekindled.
According to National History Institute (NHI), the panels unanimously agreed that the pro-
Butuan’s evidence and arguments they presented are not sufficient and thus they denied their
stand. In result, the Philippine Congress enacted a bill (R.A. NO. 2733) declaring Limasawa as the
place where Magellan celebrated the first recorded mass in the Philippines on Easter Sunday
March 31, 1521. However, President Carlos P. Garcia did not sign the law due to the uncertainty
of the fact that the “Mazaua” in the Pigafetta Codex is really Limasawa. It is also according to Fr.
Amalla in his book “An Island they call Mazaua”, it is geographically impossible for Magellan to
land at Limasawa. Due to the shallow shorelines Limasawa, it is unsuitable for docking which can
be concluded that the first Christian Mass happened in Butuan rather in Leyte.

3. Final Stand
As a final stand, the first mass that happened on March 31, 1521 is held on Masao,
Butuan. Historians and archeologist and others have found clear evidences and credible artifacts
in Butuan, which the Limasawa Island did not contain. Therefore, as a conclusion, the gathered
data and evidences can prove that the first mass dated and happened on Easter Sunday March
31, 1521 at Masao, Butuan is clearly the site where the first mass was held. The first mass in the
Philippines remains a quest in finding the truth about this issue. That’s why the future researchers
should conduct a further research and find additional information to strengthen this claim, and also
for this issue to hopefully come to an end.

References

https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/08/07/business/maritime-business/the-balangay-its-historical-
significance-and-relevance/596245

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/science/321334/massive-balangay-mother-boat-
unearthed-in-butuan/story/

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/183205/balangay

https://www.scribd.com/presentation/465252158/Evidences-of-the-First-Mass-in-the-Philippines-in-
Masao-Butuan

https://johndelapaz.wordpress.com/2018/10/02/the-first-mass-in-the-philippines-was-held-in-butuan-
not-in-limasawa/?fbclid=IwAR0AcFav0t8wHyPWUQanqmY0E71onbP-xtwLSxinqH8gQCMl_msMfbzAWIw

https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2012/04/butuan-historians-ask-cbcp-to-resolve-first-mass-
controversy-in-citys-favor/

https://mb.com.ph/2021/02/25/first-holy-mass-controversy
https://www.coursehero.com/file/51282363/readings-historydocx/
https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/01/07/campus-press/new-book-asserts-mazaua-island-in-
butuan-true-site-of-first-holy-mass-in-the-philippines/823943
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1325039/limasawa-not-butuan-affirmed-as-site-of-first-mass-in-ph
https://prezi.com/p/ngwo4nyosbsj/the-first-mass-was-in-masao-butuan/