Republic of the Philippines

SORSOGON STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Business and Management
Sorsogon City Campus
Sorsogon City
________ ________ ___________________________________

Name: Antoinette F. Espeña

Yr/ Course: BS Entrepreneurship 1A
Subject: Readings in the Philippine History

________ ________ _____________________________

Activity 4: Site of the First Mass

Read the Pigafetta , Albo , Legazpi and Magellan’s accounts regarding the First Mass
in the Philippines.

1. Compare and contrast the literature about the issue.

The accounts from the key figures involved on the First Mass in the Philippines
including Antonio Pigafetta, Francisco Albo, Miguel López de Legazpi, and Ferdinand
Magellan differ in their provided details, leading to the ongoing debate and conflicting
arguments favoring Limasawa or Masao as the site.
In Pigafetta’s Account, Pigafetta, an Italian chronicler who accompanied Magellan in
his voyage, provides the most detailed description of the First Mass. He mentions the event
taking place on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521, on an island called “Mazaua”. He describes
the presence of two native chieftains, the Rajah of Mazaua and the Rajah of Butuan, at the
Mass and the subsequent planting of a cross on a hill overlooking the island. This account
forms the cornerstone of the Limasawa argument.
In Albo’s Account, Albo, the navigator of the Trinidad ship, kept a logbook of the
expedition. While his account doesn’t explicitly mention the First Mass, it does describe the
planting of a cross on a mountain overlooking three islands. This detail has been used to
support the Limasawa claim, as the island’s geographical location allows for a view of three
other islands.
In Legazpi’s Account, Legazpi, the Spanish conquistador who arrived in the
Philippines in 1565, provides a less direct account of the First Mass. He mentions a tradition
that the Mass was held in Butuan, but his account lacks specific details and relies on oral
history rather than firsthand observation.
And in Magellan’s Account, Magellan himself did not leave a detailed account of the
First Mass. His account of the expedition is primarily focused on his interactions with the
native populations and his explorations of the archipelago.
In summary, while Francisco Albo 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. In the authentic account of Pigafetta, the port was not in Butuan but an island
named Mazaua. Antonio Pigafetta’s account is more firm than Albo because Pigafetta’s
account is more complete and supported by evidences including the date of event and also
the location. In Albo’s account he didn’t 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
unlike Pigafetta he mention in his account that the first Mass is held in Mazaua on Easter
Sunday, March 31.

2. List the conflicting areas of arguments favoring Limasawa or Masao.

EVIDENCES ACCOUNTS LIMASAWA MASAO
Pigafetta’s Pigafetta’s account Limasawa Island, Masao, a beach in
description of mentions a small located in Southern Butuan, is not an
“Mazaua” island with a hill Leyte, fits this island and lacks the
overlooking three description. geographical
other islands. features described
by Pigafetta.
The name of the Pigafetta’s Journal It favors with It also favors with
Island starts with Limasawa because Masao because it
letter M (Mazaua) the name starts with also states the same
this letter, the with Limasawa’s
Mazaua. Argument.
Albo’s account of Albo’s Logbook The location of the Masao’s location
planting a cross on cross in Limasawa doesn’t offer a view
a mountain aligns with Albo’s of three islands,
overlooking three description. contradicting
islands. Albo’s account.
Oral tradition and Legazpi’s account Limasawa’s claim is Masao’s claim relies
historical mentions a tradition supported by heavily on oral
documents that the First Mass was historical documents tradition and lacks
held in Butuan. and research, substantial
including the 1998 historical
decision by the documentation.
National Historical
Institute (NHI).
Geographical Pigafetta’s account Limasawa’s location Masao’s location is
location and suggests that aligns with not on Magellan’s
Magellan’s route Magellan’s route took Magellan’s documented route,
him to “Mazaua” after documented route, raising questions
arriving in the making it a plausible about its plausibility
Philippines. site for the First as the site of the
Mass. First Mass.

3. Illustrate the geographical location of the suspected sites and route of

Magellan upon arrival in the Archipelago.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Ferdinand_Magellan/&ved=2ahUKEwijhLWB3oyJAxX5ulYBHWSWJykQr4kDegQI
FhAA&usg=AOvVaw3ARe9NC29pc-3m4NZn1GyK

4. Discuss your stand about the controversy based from the evidences and
justifications.
My stand about the controversy based from the evidences and justifications in
Mazaua as the site of the first mass, I do believe that Mazaua is Limasawa. I stand in the
argument and evidences that the first mass happened in Limasawa. As Pigafetta’s journal
provide a detailed description of the First Mass on “Mazaua,” a small island with a hill
overlooking three other islands that strongly aligns with the geographical features of
Limasawa Island. Also, Albo’s account further supports the claim of Limasawa, as the
geographical features he describes match with the Limasawa’s location. While the Butuan
tradition mentioned by Legazpi adds a confusion on the said claim, it lacks in having a direct
evidence and historical documentation that supports the Limasawa claim. And the NHI’s
1998 decision, based on a thorough review of the available evidence, further strengthens the
Limasawa argument. The geographical location of Limasawa Island, falling on Magellan’s
documented route, also adds to its validity as the site of the First Mass. Overall, I believe that
the first mass in the Philippines happened in Limasawa Island.