Site of The First Mass

Butuan or Limasawa?

The site of the first mass in the Philippines: A

Reexamination of the Evidence
by Miguel A. Bernad
BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR

 The paper is NOT a primary source but rather a secondary one that includes and is based
on the primary sources/evidence.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 The pre-Hispanic belief system of the Filipinos consisted of a pantheon of gods, spirits,
and creatures—Bathala, who created the earth and man.
 Christianity was introduced in the Philippines during the expedition to circumnavigate
the globe that Ferdinand Magellan led.
 One of the expedition survivor's accounts, the 1st mass was held on Easter Sunday,
March 31, 1521, on an island called "mazaua."
 On the first mass, the Rajah of Mazaua and the Rajah of Butuan were present.
 After the mass, the party went up a little hill and planted a wooden cross upon its summit.
CONTEXT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF THE TEXT
The Butuan Tradition
 The Butuan claim rests upon a tradition that was almost unanimous and unbroken
for three centuries, namely the 17th, the 18th, and the 19th century. Two Jesuit
historians accepted this tradition without question - Fr. Francisco Colins & Fr.
Francisco Combes.
Fr. Francisco Colins & Fr. Francisco Combes' Account
 The site of the 1st mass was in Butuan, Agusan del Norte (17th to 19th century)
 The two priests worked as missionaries and wrote their accounts based on
secondary information.
 Their account has a strong influence over succeeding historians who quoted their
narratives.
To be remembered in Colins' account
1. It is insufficient - Some information in Pigafetta's account [primary source] was

not included in Colin's account.
2. It is valuable as it represented the 1st mass celebration to have taken place in

Butuan on easter Sunday of 1521, with the solemn cross planting and the formal
taking or possessing of the islands in the name of the Crown of Castle.
To be remembered in Combes' account
1. Magellan landed at Butuan and planted the cross in a solemn ceremony
2. There was no mention of the first mass, but the other two events in Pigafetta's
were mentioned: planting of the cross & formal claiming of the archipelago
Evidences in Favor of Limasawa
1. The Evidence of Albo's Log-book

 Francisco Albo – contramaestre of Trinidad. After circumnavigating the
world, he was one of the 18 survivors who returned with Sebastian Elcano
to Victoria.
 Mazaua lies at a latitude of 9 and two-thirds degrees north, and it fits the
location of the small island of Limasawa, south of Leyte. Said island's
southern tip is at 9° 54' N.
 Only the planting of the cross upon a mountain top which could be seen
three islands to the west & southwest, was mentioned.
2. The Evidence of Pigafetta
 Antonio Pigafetta, one of the expedition's survivors, wrote the complete
account of Magellan's expedition entitled Primo Viaggio Intorno Al
Mondo (First Voyage around the World).
 Pigafetta's Testimony Regarding the Route, together with the evidence from
Pigafetta's map, it is said that it is impossible that Magellan and his crew
did not arrive in the Mindanao part wherein Butuan is located at.
 The pro-Limasawa's argued that the word "Mazaua" came from the word
Limasawa wherein they omitted the "Li" and became masawa.
 Butuan – is a riverine settlement. There's no mention of the river in
Pigafetta's account of their seven-day stay at "Mazaua." Therefore, Mazaua
was an island surrounded by sea, not a river delta.
3. Summary of the Evidence of Albo and Pigafetta
 Magellan's expedition's itinerary shows they did not go to Butuan or any other
point on the Mindinao Coast.
 The expedition survivors went to Mindanao later but after Magellan's death.
4. The Legazpi Expedition
 Legazpi Expedition – sailed to Philippine waters in 1565, forty-four years after
Magellan.
 Mazaua was confirmed to be an island near Leyte & Panaon, while Butuan was on
the Island of Mindanao.
The geography of "Mazaua" confirms the description of Pigafetta
 The island is shaped like a Tadpole, running north to south.

 The Northern portion is almost all hills, with slopes dropping steeply to the sea, leaving
only a narrow coastal strip.
 The southern island is almost all level land with a few hills. It has a good harbor, and the
island's fields are fertile.
 Here, the mass could have been conducted with solemnity, and on one of the hills, the
cross could have been planted, which everyone could see from the plain.
Why, then, the Butuan Tradition?
The realm of conjecture against the three-century tradition.
 First, it must be remembered that the tradition is based on second based

information
 Second, as suggested by Pastells, Magellan and his men got to know the rajah of
Butuan at Masaua. Rajah of Butuan was at Masaua only on a visit.
 Third, after Magellan's death, Magellan's expedition visited several places in
Mindanao, probably including Butuan.
RELEVANCE OF THE TEXT
Debunk claims that cause confusion
 Due to considerable misrepresentation of the particular stated site, that issue has been
debated over three centuries. Further exploration and definition of the topic also
significantly contribute to clearing up any confusion and educating Filipinos.
Christian Community
 The Philippines is one of the countries where Christianity is the most dominant religion.
This text helps Christians to have a more apparent horizon about the roots of Christianity
in our country.
SUMMARY
 The expedition's route reveals that Magellan did not visit Butuan or any other location
along the Mindanao Coast.
 Limasawa: Convinces travelers that here is the place genuinely described by Pigafetta
 According to one of the voyage survivors, the first mass was celebrated on the island
known as "mazaua" on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521.
 The given number of reasons that could be adduced to account for the tradition states that
the first mass was not celebrated at Butuan.

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Butuan or Limasawa?

The site of the first mass in the Philippines: A

BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR

CONTEXT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF THE TEXT

The Butuan Tradition

Fr. Francisco Colins & Fr. Francisco Combes' Account

To be remembered in Colins' account

1. It is insufficient - Some information in Pigafetta's account [primary source] was

2. It is valuable as it represented the 1st mass celebration to have taken place in

To be remembered in Combes' account

1. Magellan landed at Butuan and planted the cross in a solemn ceremony

Evidences in Favor of Limasawa

1. The Evidence of Albo's Log-book

The geography of "Mazaua" confirms the description of Pigafetta

 The island is shaped like a Tadpole, running north to south.

The realm of conjecture against the three-century tradition.

 First, it must be remembered that the tradition is based on second based

RELEVANCE OF THE TEXT

Debunk claims that cause confusion

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