Case Study 1: Where Did the First Catholic

Mass Take Place in the Philippines?

Introduction

• 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.
• One is the log kept by • The other, and the more
Francisco Albo, a pilot complete, was the account
of one of Magellan's by Antonio Pigafetta,
ship, Trinidad. He was Primo viaggio intorno al
mondo (First Voyage
one of the 18 survivors Around the World).
who returned with Pigafetta, like Albo, was a
Sebastian Elcano on member of the Magellan
the ship Victoria after expedition and an
they circumnavigated eyewitness of the events,
the world. particularly, of the first
Mass.
Primary Source: Albo's Log Source

• "Diario 6 derotero del viage de Magallanes desde el cabo

se S. Agustín en el Brazil hasta el regreso a Espana de la
nao Victoria, escrito por Frandsco Albo," Document no.
xxii in Colleción de viages y descubrimientos que hicieron
por mar los Españoles desde fines del siglo XV, Ed. Martin
Fernandez de Navarrete (reprinted Buenos Aires 1945, 5
Vols.) IV, 191-225. 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.
• On the 16th of March (1521) as they sailed in a westerly course from Ladrones, they saw
land towards the northwest; but owing to many shallow places they did not approach it.
They found later that its name was Yunagan.
• They went instead that same day southwards to another small island named Suluan, and
there they anchored. There they saw some canoes but these fled at the Spaniards'
approach. This island was at 9 and two-thirds degrees North latitude.
• 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.)

• 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.)
• 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.
• The people of that island of Mazava were very good. There the Spaniards planted a
cross upon a mountain-top, and from there they were shown three islands to the
west and southwest, where they were told there was much gold. "They showed us
how the gold was gathered, which came in small pieces like peas and lentils.“
• From Mazava they sailed northwards again towards Seilani. They followed the coast
of Seilani in a northwesterly direction, ascending up to 10 degrees of latitude where
they saw three small islands.
• 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 to a 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."
• 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.
• 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 of 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.
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 "Zamal." (To
the "right" here would mean on their starboard going south or 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 as
"Humunu" (Homonhon). This island was located at 10 degrees. North latitude.
• 3. 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 for the Mass and the
liturgical Office was the eleventh chapter of St. John, which tells of the raising
of Lazarus from the dead.

• 4. 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."

• 5. There were two springs of water 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).
• 6. Friday, March 22 - At noon the natives returned. This time they were in two
boats, and they brought food supplies.

• 7. Magellan's expedition stayed eight days at Homonhon: from Sunday, March

17, to the Monday of the following week, March 25.

• 8. 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 (i.e., "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 const 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.“

• 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."

• 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.

• From the Camotes Islands they sailed southwards towards "Zubu."

• 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 coincide 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
Reexamination of Evidence" 1981, Kinaadman: A
Journal of Southern Philippines, Vol. III, 1-35.
• Thursday, March 28- In the morning they anchored near an island where they
had seen a light the night before a small boat (boloto) came with eight natives,
to whom Magellan threw some trinkets as presents.
• The natives paddled away, but two hours later two larger boats (balanghai)
came, in one of which the native king sat under an awning of mats. At
Magellan's invitation some of the natives went up the Spanish ship, but the
native king remained seated in his boat.
• An exchange of gifts was effected. In the afternoon that day, the Spanish
ships weighed anchor and came closer to shore, anchoring near the native
king's village. This Thursday, March 28, was Thursday in Holy Week, i.e., Holy
Thursday.
• Friday, March 29- "Next day. Holy Friday," Magellan sent his slave interpreter
ashore in a small boat to ask the king if he could provide the expedition with
food supplies, and to say that they had come as friends and not as enemies.
• In reply the king himself came a boat with six or eight men, and this time went
up Magellan's ship and 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 attendance both at the Mass and at the planting of the cross
were the king of Mazaua and the king of Butuan.
• Sunday, March 31 - On that same afternoon, while on the summit of the
highest hill, Magellan asked the two kings which ports he should go to in order
to obtain more abundant supplies of food than were available in that island.
• They replied that there were three ports to choose from: Ceylon, Zubu, and
Calagan. Of the three, Zubu was the port with the most trade. Magellan then
said that he wished to go to Zubu and to depart the following morning. He
asked for someone to guide him thither.
• The kings replied that the pilots would be available "any time." But later that
evening the king of Mazaua changed his mind and said that he would himself
conduct Magellan to Zubu but that he would first have to bring the harvest in.
He asked Magellan to send him men to help with the harvest.
• 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.
• Tuesday, April 2 and Wednesday, April 3 - Work on the harvest during the
"next to days," i.e., Tuesday and Wednesday, the 2nd and 3rd of April.
• Thursday, April 4 - They leave Mazaua, bound for Cebu.
• 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 of a distinct characteristic of Butuan's geography that
seemed to be too important to be missed.

• It must also be pointed out that later on, after Magellan's death, the survivors
of his expedition went to Mindanao, and seemingly went to Butuan, In this
instance, Pigafetta vividly describes a trip in a river. But note that this account
already happened after Magellan's death.
Limasawa, not Butuan, affirmed as site
of first Mass in PH | Inquirer News
Limasawa vs. Butuan: the first Easter Mass - University of the Philippines Diliman (upd.edu.ph)
Butuan not giving up on ‘first Philippines
mass’ claim | Philstar.com