DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER

EDUCATION
College of Teacher Education, Arts, and Sciences
VSU-Villaba, Villaba, Leyte, Philippines, 6537
Phone: +639619601521
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.vsu.edu.ph

Site of the First Mass

Learning Outcomes:
 Discuss relevant issues to solve the controversy on the site of the first mass.

The popularity of knowing where “firsts” happened in history has been an

easy way to trivialize history, this case study will not focus on the significance (or
lack therefore) of the sight 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. This has been the
case for three centuries, culminating in the erection of the 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 source of 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,
the 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 of the Philippines, made both by Spanish and Filipino scholars.
It must be noted that there were only two primary sources that historians
refer to in identifying the site of the first Mass. One is the log kept by Francisco
Albo, a pilot of one of Magellan’s, ship Trinidad. He was one of the 18 survivors who
returned with Sebastian Elcano on the ship Victoria after they circumnavigated the
world. The other, and the more complete, was the account by Antonio Pigafetta,
Primo viaggo intorno al mondo (First Voyage Around The World). Pigafetta, like Albo,
was a member of the Magellan expedition and an eyewitness of the events,
particularly, of the first mass.

Primary Source: Albo’s Log

Source: “Diaro o derotero del viage de Magallanes desde el cabo se S. Agustin en el
Brazil hasta el regreso a Espana de la nao Victoria, escrito por Frandsco Albo,
“Document no. xxii in Collecion de viages y descrubrimientos que hicieron por mar
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 DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER
EDUCATION
College of Teacher Education, Arts, and Sciences
VSU-Villaba, Villaba, Leyte, Philippines, 6537
Phone: +639619601521
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.vsu.edu.ph

los Espanoles desde fines del siglo XV, Ed. Martin Fernadez de Navarrete (reprinted
Buenos Aires 1945, 5 Vols.) IV, 191-225. As cited in Miguel A. Bernad “Butaun or
Limasawa? The Site of The Frist 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
Lodrones, they saw lands toward the northwest; but owning too 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 westward toward a large island name Seilani
that was inhabited and was known to have gold. (Seilane – 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 “Mazaua.” That island is also at a latitude of 9
and two-thirds degrees North.
The people of that island of Mazaua were very good. There the Spaniards
planted across 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 Mazaua they sailed northwards again towards Seilani. They followed the
coast of Seilani in a northwesterly direction, ascending to 10 degrees of latitude
where they saw three small islands.
From there they sailed westwards come 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 degrees. There
they entered a channel between two islands, which one was called “Matan” and the
other “Subu”

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conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific
knowledge
No.
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
 DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER
EDUCATION
College of Teacher Education, Arts, and Sciences
VSU-Villaba, Villaba, Leyte, Philippines, 6537
Phone: +639619601521
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.vsu.edu.ph

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 provision and entered
into a peace pact with the local king.
The town Subu was the east-west direction with the islands of Suluan and
Mazaua. But between Mazaua 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 Limasawa, at the southern tip of Leyte, 9o54’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: Pigafettas Testimony on the Route of Magellan’s

Expedition.
Source: Emma Blair and James Alexander Robertson. The Philippine Islands, Vol. 33
and 34, as cited in Miguel A. Bernad. “Butuan or Limasawa”. The Site of 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 Landrones (now the Marianas)
Islands.
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 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 the island was ”Humunu” (Homonhon).
This island was located at 10 degrees North latitude.
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.
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”.
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 DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER
EDUCATION
College of Teacher Education, Arts, and Sciences
VSU-Villaba, Villaba, Leyte, Philippines, 6537
Phone: +639619601521
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.vsu.edu.ph

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
boun segnialli).
Friday, March 23, at noon the natives returned. This time they were in two
boats, and they brought food supplies. Magellan’s expedition stayed eight days at
Homonhon: from Sunday, March 17, to Monday the following week, March 26.
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 Incarnation also called the feast of Annunciation and therefore “Our
Lady’s Day”. On this day as they were about to weighed 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 “towards the
west southwest, between four islands: namely, Cenalo, Hiunanghan, Ibusson, and
Albarien”. Very probably “Cenalo” is Ceilon the island of Leyte “Hiunanghan”
misspelling of Hinunangan, seemed to Pigafetta a separate island but is actually in
the mainland of Leyte. On the other hand, Hibuson (Pigafetta’s Ibusson) is on the
east of Leyte’s southern tip
Thursday, March 28. In the morning of Holy Thursday, they anchored off an
island where the previous night they had seen a light or a bonfire. That island “lies
in latitude of nine and two-thirds towards the Arctic Pole (i.e. North) and in longitude
of one hundred and sixty-two degrees from the line of demarcation. It is twenty-five
leagues from Acquada, and is called Mazaua”. They remained seven days in
Mazaua.
Thursday, April 4 – they left Mazaua, bound for Cebu. They were guided there
by the king of Mazaua who sailed in his boat. Their route took them past five
“Island” 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 Island, they sailed westwards toward “Zubu.”

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 DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER
EDUCATION
College of Teacher Education, Arts, and Sciences
VSU-Villaba, Villaba, Leyte, Philippines, 6537
Phone: +639619601521
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.vsu.edu.ph

Sunday, April 7 – at noon they entered the harbor of “Zubu” (Cebu). It had
taken them three days to negotiate the journey from Mazaua northward to the
Camotes Island 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 Island, 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 a present. The native paddle away, but two
hours later two large 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 and supplies and to say that they have come as friends and not as
enemies. In reply, the king himself came in 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 companions 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 day of March and
Easter day,” Magellan sent the priest ashore with some men to prepare the Mass.

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 DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER
EDUCATION
College of Teacher Education, Arts, and Sciences
VSU-Villaba, Villaba, Leyte, Philippines, 6537
Phone: +639619601521
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.vsu.edu.ph

Later in the morning, Magellan landed with some fifty men and Mass was
celebrated, which after a cross was venerated. Magellan and the Spaniards returned
to the ships 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 the planting of the cross were the king of Mazaua and the king of Butuan.
Sunday, March 31 –On the same afternoon, while on the summit of the hill,
Magellan asked the two kings which port he should go to obtain more abundant
supplies of food that were available on the 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 there. The king
replied that the pilots would be available “any time”. But later that evening the king
of Masaua 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 all day because the two kings were sleeping off their drinking bout
the night before.
It is clear to note that the first mass was in Mazaua a place in Leyte.

Proclamation of the national shrine

Republic Act 2733 known as Limasawa Law was enacted on June 19, 1960,
without Executive approval. A legislative order declared that Magallanes, Limasawa
Island in the Province of Leyte was the site for the First Mass in the Philippines. The
place was declared a national shrine to commemorate the birth of Christianity in the
Philippines. Magallanes is located east of the island of Limasawa. Every March 31,
Limasawa celebrates the historic and religious coming of the Spaniards with a
cultural presentation and anniversary program dubbed as Sinugdan, meaning
"beginning. Yet this has no reference at all to a Catholic mass being held on March
31, 1521.

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