Case Study 1: Where Did the First Catholic Mass Take in the Philippines?

In this case study we will not focus on the significance of the site of the first
catholic mass in the phillipines, but rather, use it as a historiographical exercise in the
utilization of evidence and interpretation in reading historical events.

There are 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. The other one is Antonio Pigafetta who has more complete. Pigafetta was also
a member of Magellan expedition and an eye witness of the events, particularly of the
first mass.

In Albo’s account it must be noted that the location of Mazava fits the location of
the island of Limasawa, at the southern tip of Leyte, 9°54’N. 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.

First mass
On March 31, 1521, an Easter Sunday, Magellan ordered a mass to be
celebrated which was officiated by Father Pedro Valderrama, the Andalusion chaplain
of the fleet, the only priest then. Conducted near the shores of the island, the Holy First
Mass marked the birth of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines. Colambu and Siaiu
were the first natives of the archipelago, which was not yet named "Philippines" until the
expedition of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos in 1543, to attend the mass among other native
inhabitants.[4][6]
Planting of the cross
In the afternoon of the same day, Magellan instructed his comrades to plant a
large wooden cross on the top of the hill overlooking the sea.[7] Magellan's chronicler,
Antonio Pigafetta, who recorded the event said:
"After the cross was erected in position, each of us repeated a Pater Noster and an Ave
Maria, and adored the cross; and the kings [Colambu and Siaiu] did the same."[8]
Magellan then took ownership of the islands where he had landed in the name
of King Charles V which he had named earlier on March 16 Archipelago of Saint
Lazarus because it was the day of the saint when the Armada reached the
archipelago.[4][6]

Proclamation of the national shrine

On June 19, 1960, Republic Act No. 2733, called the Limasawa Law, was
enacted without Executive approval on June 19, 1960.[9] The legislative fiat
declared The site in Magallanes, Limasawa Island in the Province of Leyte, where the
first Mass in the Philippines was held is hereby declared a national shrine to
commemorate the birth of Christianity in the Philippines.[10] Magallanes is east of the
island of Limasawa. In 1984 Imelda Marcos had a multi-million pesos Shrine of the First
Holy Mass built, an edifice made of steel, bricks and polished concrete, and erected on
top of a hill overlooking barangay Magallanes, Limasawa. A super typhoon completely
wiped this out just a few months later. Another shrine was inaugurated in 2005.[11]
Limasawa celebrates the historic and religious coming of the Spaniards every March 31
with a cultural presentation and anniversary program dubbed as Sinugdan, meaning
"beginning.".[12] Yet this has no reference at all to a Catholic mass being held on March
31, 1521.

Historical controversies
Masao
Some Filipino historians have long contested the idea that Limasawa was the site
of the first Catholic mass in the country.[13] Historian Sonia Zaide identified Masao (also
Mazaua) in Butuan as the location of the first Christian mass.[7] The basis of Zaide's
claim is the diary of Antonio Pigafetta, chronicler of Magellan's voyage. In 1995 then
Congresswoman Ching Plaza of Agusan del Norte-Butuan City filed a bill in Congress
contesting the Limasawa hypothesis and asserting the "site of the first mass" was
Butuan.[14] The Philippine Congress referred the matter to the National Historical
Institute for it to study the issue and recommend a historical finding. Then NHI chair Dr.
Samuel K. Tan reaffirmed Limasawa as the site of the first mass.[15]
Bolinao
Odoric of Pordenone, an Italian and Franciscan friar and missionary explorer, is
heartily believed by many Pangasinenses to have celebrated the first mass
in Pangasinan in around 1324 that would have predated the mass held in 1521
by Ferdinand Magellan. A marker in front of Bolinao Church states that the first Mass on
Philippine soil was celebrated in Bolinao Bay in 1324 by a Franciscan missionary,
Blessed Odorico.
However, there is scholarly doubt that Odoric was ever at the
Philippines.[16] Ultimately, the National Historical Institute led by its chair Ambeth
Ocampo recognized the historical records of Limasawa in Southern Leyte as the venue
of the first Mass, held on March 31, 1521.