CASE STUDY 1: Where did the First Catholic Mass Take Place in the Philippines?

Dimaculangan, Ma. Graciella N. BS Psychology-1A

Goyal, Christian Niel Readings in Philippine History

Flores, Rosemarie F.

I. Butuan Claim

Butuan- a place believed to be the site of the first mass for over 3 centuries (17th- 19th century)

April 8,1521- date given of the first mass and the expedition’s arrival

1872 -monument was erected at the mouth of Agusan River

The monument was erected apparently at the instigation of the parish priest of Butuan, who at the time was
a Spanish friar of the a Order of Augustinian Recollects.

Middle of 17th century- Butuan tradition had already been established

Fr. Francisco Colin, S.J.(1592 to 1660) and Francisco Combes S.J (1620 to 1665) - 2 Jesuit Historians
that accepted the Butuan tradition without question who got misled by their facts. They pictured out that
Magellan in Butuan, there they planted the cross. They both made a book about Magellan’s arrival and the first
mass but they gave different accounts on Magellan’s route.

Labor Evangelica- Colin’s book published in Madrid on 1663

Historia de Mindanao y Jolo- Combes’ work was published in Madrid on 1667

II. Shift of opinion about the First Mass

End of 19th century and start of 20th century- different readings of available evidences made by both
Spanish and Filipino scholars brought light to have more accepted interpretation of the First Mass in the
Philippines.

Fr.Pablo Pastell, S.J. - he was one of the scholars and because of more attentive study on primary sources,
he prepared new edition of Fr. Collin’s account that contained a correction about the first mass
 - He said that Magellan did not go to Butuan. Rather, from the island of Limasawa, he proceeded
directly to Cebu.

Two primary sources of the first mass:

 Log kept by Francisco Albo-not detailed

*Francisco Albo was the pilot of Trinidad, one of Magellan’s ship. He was also one of the 18
survivors who returned with Sebastian Elcano on the ship Victoria after they circumnavigated the
world.

 Primo viaggio intorno almondo( First Voyage Around the World) by Antonio Pigafetta- more
complete and supported by evidences.

* Antonio Pigafetta was also a member of Magellan’s expedition and eyewitness of the events,
particularly, the first mass.

III. Primary Sources

A. Albo’s Log

1. March 16,1521- they sailed in a westerly course from Ladrones, they found Yunagan towards the NW
but they did not approched it because of shallow places.

2. They sailed southwards then found Suluan ( a small island) where they anchored their ship and saw
some canoes but these fles at the Spaniards approach.

- Suluan was at 9 and 2/3 degrees latitude of N.

3. From those two islands, they sailed westward to the island of Gada ( uninhabited and surrounded by the
sea free from shallows) where they took supply of wood and water.

- Gada, from Pigafetta’s description, this seems to be the “Acquada” or “Homonhon” at 10 degrees N
latitude.

4. They later on sailed westwards towards Seilani (a large island, inhabited and known to be rich in gold)

- Pigafetta calls it “Ceylon”, an island of Leyte.

 5. Sailing southwards along the coast of the coast of Seilani and turned SW to Mazava (a small island at 9
and 2/3 degrees latitude of N) where the Spaniards planted a cross on the mountain top.

- People of Mazava was very good because they humbly welcomed them. They showed how the gold
was gathered, which came in small pieces like peas and lentils.

- From Mazava, 3 islands to the W and SW can be seen, where they were told there was much gold.

6. From Mazava to Seilani again. They followed the coast of Seilani in a NW direction, ascending up to 10
degrees of latitude where they saw 3 small islands.

7. They sailed westwards some 10 leagues and saw 3 islets, where the dropped anchor for the night.

8. Next morning, they sailed SW some 12 leagues, down to a latitude of 10 and 1/3 degrees. There they
entered a channel between two islands (Matan and Subu)

9. They sailed down the channel and turned westward and anchored at the town ( la villa) of Subu where
they stayed many days.

- They obtained provisions and entered into peace-pact with the local king as they stayed. They were
given rice ,millet and flesh. The people became Christians in their free will.

- Subu was on the EW direction with the islands of Suluan and and Mazava. But between Mazava and
Subu, there were so many shallows that the boats could not go westward directly but has to go in a
round-about way.

Conclusion in Albo’s account: Albo did not mention the fist mass but only the planting of the cross upon a
mountain top. It was the location of Mazava fits the location of Limasawa at the southern tip of Leyte, 9 degrees
54’N.
PIGAFETTA'S TESTIMONY ON THE ROUTE OF MAGELLAN'S EXPEDITION

(Saturday) March 16, 1521 - Magellan's expedition sighted a "high land" named "Zamal"

(Sunday) March 17, 1521- After landing on high land named "Zamal" they landed on "another island
which is uninhabited"

(On the same day) March 17, 1521- Magellan named the entire archipelago the "Island of Saint Lazarus".

(Monday) March 18, 1521- second (2nd) day on that island, in the afternoon they saw a boat coming
towards them. Magellan asks for food supplies and come in four (4) days.

In the island of Homomhon, they saw 2 springs of water which they saw some indications that there was
gold. Magellan renamed the island "Watering Place of Good Omen" (Aquada la di bouni segnialli)

(Friday) March 22, 1521- at noon, two (2) boats arrived and brought food supplies.

(Sunday-Monday) March 17, 1521 to March 25, 1521- Magellan's expedition stayed eight (8) days

(Monday) March 25, 1521- this day was a feast day of the incarnation. They were about to weigh an
anchor but Pigaffeta fell in water.

Route taken by the expedition after leaving Homonhon was toward the west southwest, bet four (4) islands;
namely (Cenalo, Hiunanghan, Ibusson and Albarien).

(Thursday) March 28, 1521- morning of Holy Thursday they anchored off an island where the previous
night they had seen a light or bonfire.

They remained seven (7) days on Mazaua island.

(Thursday) April 4, 1521- they left Mazaua island bound for cebu. At Gatighan, they sailed westward to
the three (3) islands of the Camotes group, namely (Poro, Pasihan, Ponson)

From Camotes islands they sailed southwards towards "Zubu"

(Sunday) April 7, 1521- at noon, they entered the harbor of "Zubu"

 PRIMARY SOURCE: PIGAFETTA AND SEVEN DAYS IN MAZAUA

In the island of Mazaua was situated at latitude nine and two-thirds degrees North.

Mazaua- is the name of a Philippine Island-port where Ferdinand Magellan and his Armada de

Molucca fleet of three naos, anchored from March 28 to April 04, 1521.

FERDINAND MAGELLAN- he was the one who brought Catholicism in Archipelago.

SEVEN DAYS IN MAZAUA

28th of March (Holy Thursday) – they anchored near an island and a small boat came with eight natives
to whom Magellan threw some trinkets.

- In the afternoon of that day, the Spanish ship weighed anchor and came closer to shore near
the native king’s village.

29th of March (Holy Friday) – Magellan sent his interpreter to ask the king about the food supplies, they
came there as a friend not as enemy.

- the king and his eight men went up Magellan’ ship and the men embraced. Another exchange
of gifts was made when returned to bring two members of Magellans expedition as guests.

30th of March (Saturday)- Pigafetta and his companion spent the previous evening feating and drinking
with the native and his son. Pigafetta and his companion leave of their hosts and returned to the
ship.

31st of March (Sunday)- Early in the morning Magellan sent the priests with some men to prepare for the
mass. Later in the morning Magellan landed with fifty men and mass was celebrated.

1st of April – No work was done because the two kings were sleeping off their drinking the night before.

2nd and 3rd of April (Tuesday and Wednesday) – they work on harvest.

4th of April (Thursday)- They left Mazaua

LBUTUAN OR LIMASAWA; The site of the first mass in the Philippines: Pigafetta’s account, a crucial
aspect of Butuan was not mentioned.