Philippine History: First Catholic Mass Debate

• Unit II focuses on controversies and conflicting views in Philippine history
• It aims to examine conflicts using primary sources, recognize historical interpretations, and formulate arguments on historical issues

Problems in Making Philippine History

• Limited sources and conflicting claims lead to unanswered questions and contentious historical issues
• This unit analyzes four historiographical controversies using primary sources, urging critical thinking to grasp ideas and apply source criticism

Section 1: The First Catholic Mass in the Philippines: The Masao-Limasawa Debate

• The aim is to identify conflicting views on the site and discuss the significance of the first Catholic Mass in Philippine history

Historical Context

• Pre-colonial Filipinos practiced paganism before Spanish colonizers introduced Christianity
• The first Catholic mass occurred on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521 by Friar Pedro Valderrama, Ferdinand Magellan, and other Spaniards.
• Accounts of the first mass have conflicting claims, creating confusion

Primary Sources to Ascertain the Location Of The First Mass

• The account of Francisco Albo, a Spaniard and eyewitness, is a primary source of this event
• The account of Antonio Pigafetta, Ferdinand Magellan's official chronicler, is another primary source
• The two possible sites where the first mass might have happened are Limasawa (Southern Leyte) and Masao (Butuan, Agusan del Sur)
• Some also claim that the first mass happened in Pangasinan and Surigao

Monument in Butuan

• In 1872, a monument was erected to recognize Magellan's landing and the first Catholic Mass
• The monument's inscription states the first mass occurred on April 8, 1521. Erected under District Governor Jose Ma. Carvallo.
• The monument is a testimony that Magellan landed at Butuan and offered the first mass there

Contesting Idea

• Historian Sonia Zaide identified Masao (Butuan) as the first Christian mass location, using Pigafetta's diary

The National Historical Institute (NHI) and Congress Declaration

• The "First Mass" in the Philippines took place in Limasawa Island in Southern Leyte through RA 2733 enacted in 1960

Primary Source: Francisco Albo's Log

• March 16, 1521, the ships sighted land towards the northwest (Yunagan)

Sailing

• They sailed southwards to Suluan (9 and two-thirds degrees North latitude)
• They sailed westward to an uninhabited island (“Gada") for wood and water
• They sailed westwards to Seilani (Leyte), which was inhabited and known to have gold
• They sailed southwards along Seilani's coast, turned southwest to Mazava (9 and two-thirds degrees North) where Spaniards planted a cross
• They sailed northwards from Mazava towards Seilani, followed the coast northwest up to 10 degrees latitude, saw three small islands
• They sailed westwards, saw three islets and sailed southwest to a latitude of 10 and one-third degree, entered a channel between Matan and Subu
• They sailed down the channel, turned westward, and anchored at the town of Subu, made a peace pact with local king
• The town of Subu was east-west with Suluan and Mazava but had shallows necessitating a roundabout route

Primary Source: Pigafetta's Testimony on the Route of Magellan's Expedition

• March 16, 1521, Magellan's expedition sighted Zamal 300 leagues westward of Ladrones (the Marianas) Islands
• March 17, they landed on an uninhabited island to the "right" of Zamal, named Humunu (Homonhon) at 10 degrees North latitude
• March 17, Magellan named the archipelago "Islands of Saint Lazarus"
• March 18, they saw a boat with nine men, exchanged gifts, and asked for food
• There were two water springs and gold indications at Homonhon
• March 22, the natives returned with food supplies
• Magellan's expedition stayed eight days at Homonhon (March 17-25)
• March 25, they left Homonhon, sailing "west southwest” between Cenalo, Hiunanghan, Ibusson and Albarien
• Cenalo is Leyte. Hiunanghan is on Leyte's mainland
• Hibuson is an island east of Leyte's southern tip
• They sailed westwards towards Leyte, southwards along the coast, between Hibuson and Hiunangan Bay turned westward
• March 28, they anchored off an island with a bonfire, latitude 9 and two-thirds North, 25 leagues from the Acquada, called Mazaua
• Remained seven days on Mazaua Island
• April 14, they left Mazaua for Cebu, guided by the king of Mazaua, past five islands: Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baibai, and Gatighan
• They sailed westward to the three Camotes Group islands at Gatighan and allowed the king of Mazaua to catch up
• They sailed southwards from the Camotes Islands towards “Zubu.”
• April 7, they entered the harbor of “Zubu” (Cebu) after three days from Mazaua

Primary Source: Pigafetta and Seven Days in Mazaua

• March 28, they anchored near an island, met natives, and exchanged gifts
• March 29, Magellan sent his slave interpreter to ask for food supplies
• The king came with six or eight men to Magellan's ship to embrace and exchange gifts
• March 30, Pigafetta and his companion feasted and drank with the native king
• March 31, Magellan sent the priest ashore with men to prepare for Mass, celebrated Mass, planted a cross, and the kings of Mazaua and Butuan attended
• March 31, Magellan asked the kings about ports for supplies
• They suggested Ceylon, Zubu, and Calagan, with Zubu being the most traded
• April 1, Magellan sent men ashore to help with the harvest, but no work was done
• April 2 and 3, they worked on the harvest

Two Sites of the First Mass: Limasawa Island, Southern Leyte

• The Philippine government and the Roman Catholic Church recognize Limasawa as the site of the first mass
• The Spanish Embassy and the Embassy of Portugal in Metro Manila support Limasawa

Two Sites of the First Mass: Masao or Mazaua in Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte

• The Butuanons advocate that Magellan landed in Mazaua because of factors such as anchorage, rice fields, gold, "balanghai," and artifacts

Magellan's Landing Claim in Butuan

• Butuan's harbor that is real is in Nasipit, 25 kilometers west of Mazaua as Mazaua's offshore is too shallow for ship navigation
• Mazaua is attached to Mindanao, the second largest island
• Pro-Mazaua supporters claim that Magellan and his sailors landed there. Why did the kings of Mazzaua and Butuan pilot Magellan to Cebu for supplies?
• They said Pigafetta wrote about gold from Butuan being gifted by Rajah Kulambu to Magellan
• Supporters claim that the antique balanghai found belonged to Magellan was in Mazaua.

Other Assertions

• Experts on Mazaua (Butuan City) have denied and ignored the 'unwritten history' of the Portuguese colonization of Mindanao
• Portuguese sailors like João de Barros were also exploring Mindanao during this time
• Jesuit priest Miguel A. Bernad notes that Butuan's river being unmentioned in Pigafetta's record is peculiar

Review Questions

• What are the issues concerning the documentation of the First Catholic Mass in the Philippines?
• Which argument, the Limasawa or The Butuan, is more convincing? Justifiy
• What is the significance of the First Catholic Mass in the History of the Philippines as a Bastion of the Catholic Faith in the modern era?