THE FIRST MASS SITE
IN
THE PHILIPPINES
Group 7
LIMASAWA also known as Sarangani
Island, “Mazaua” is actually the original
name of this tadpole-shaped island lying
at a latitude of 9 2/3
degrees towards the
Arctic Pole (North) and 160 degrees
longitude from the Demarcation Line, as
inscribed in Antonio Pigaffeta’s “Primo
Viaggio Intorno al Mondo,” which bears
account of Ferdinand Magellan’s voyage
around the world.
It is said that before the Spaniards landed
on the island, the natives did not really
have a name for the island. When asked,
and because they did not understand
Spanish, one of the natives mistakenly
thought he was asked “How many wives
does the Rajah have?” he immediately
replied “lima’y asawa” or five wives.
From then on, the island was called
Limasawa.
Limasawa is historically
important and is known
worldwide as the birthplace of
Christianity in the Philippines.
According to
historical records,
Ferdinand Magellan
went to Limasawa
after first landing
and resting on the
island of Homonhon
in March 1521.
From the journals of the
Italian chronicler,
Antonio Pigafetta,
Magellan first sent ashore
Father Pedro de
Valderrama with some
men to prepare for a mass
and to inform Rajah
Kolambu, through an
interpreter, that he and
his men would land to
attend the mass.
Rajah Kolambu agreed by sending some
gifts. Rajah Kolambu and his brother
Rajah Si-Agu embraced Magellan and
they walked together to the makeshift
altar together with the sailors.
Father Pedro de Valderrama
celebrated
Easter Sunday mass on
March 31, 1521.
Throughout the mass,
the Rajahs remained on their
knees with clasped hands.
After the mass, Magellan
ordered the
erection of a large
cross on top
of a hill facing the sea..
Based on Pigafetta’s accounts, two important events took
place in Limasawa. First, Magellan’s blood compact with
the island’s ruler, Rajah Kolambu, which is the first blood
compact between a Filipino and a Spaniard.
Second, the Easter Sunday mass that was held on the island
of Limasawa was the “First Mass in the Philippines,”
according to historians.
However, there is a long-
standing controversy on
exactly where the First
Mass took place. In
Antonio Pigafetta’s
notes, he wrote
“Mazaua” as the name of
the island. Some
historians assert that this
is the same “Masagua”
mentioned in Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi’s
expedition to Butuan.
After a thorough study
and examination of old
maps and documents, a
monograph by
Fr. Miguel Bernad in
1981 clarified that the
Butuan version is a
mistake and that, indeed,
Limasawa is what
Pigafetta referred to as
“Mazaua.”
This was likewise
confirmed by a study
conducted by William
Henry Scott in 1982 on
the error of designating
Butuan as the place
where the First Mass was
held.
However, the National
Historical Commission of the
Philippines has recognized
Limasawa as the official site
of the first mass, and it is
commemorated with a
historical marker.
MAGELLAN’S
CROSS
THANK YOU!!!
