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The First Catholic Mass

The document discusses two case studies of historical controversies in the Philippines: the site of the first Catholic mass and the Cavite mutiny. It specifically examines the debate over whether the first mass was held in Limasawa or Masao/Butuan. While Limasawa is traditionally cited as the site, some historians argue primary sources indicate it actually occurred in Masao/Butuan. Interpretations of history can vary depending on the historian and the sources used, so employing critical analysis is important to evaluate different perspectives.

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Ella Mae
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127 views9 pages

The First Catholic Mass

The document discusses two case studies of historical controversies in the Philippines: the site of the first Catholic mass and the Cavite mutiny. It specifically examines the debate over whether the first mass was held in Limasawa or Masao/Butuan. While Limasawa is traditionally cited as the site, some historians argue primary sources indicate it actually occurred in Masao/Butuan. Interpretations of history can vary depending on the historian and the sources used, so employing critical analysis is important to evaluate different perspectives.

Uploaded by

Ella Mae
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Historical Interpretation

Multiperspectivity

Case studies of historical controversies


1. - The First Catholic Mass
2. - The Cavite Mutiny
The first Catholic Mass in the Philippines
was held on March 31, 1521, Easter
Sunday. It was said by Father Pedro de
Valderrama along the shores of what was
referred to in the journals of Antonio
Pigafetta as "Mazaua".
Masao
Some Filipino historians have long contested the
idea that Limasawa was the site of the first Catholic
mass in the country.
Historian Sonia Zaide identified Masao (also Mazaua)
in Butuan as the location of the first Christian mass.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. 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.
DISCUSSION POINTS
History, while based on facts, is also subjected to the
judgment of the historian.
Interpretations of the past vary according to who read
the primary sources.
Interpretations of history could change, depending on
the sensibilities of the ones reading it.
Multiperspectivity recognizes diversity in society, and its
appreciation will open us into accepting that changes in
historical interpretation is not something bad; rather, it
could open up new ways of looking at the past.
PROCESSING QUESTIONS
1. Why does interpretation vary from one historian to
another?
2. Are there benefits to multiperspectivity?
3. How important is it to employ critical tools in
interpreting historical events?
4. How do we recognize different interpretations, and
which one do we choose as more reliable than the
other?
5. How do we apply critical methods in other texts e.g.
news? How do we avoid fake news?
ANSWER KEY
1. Because their analysis and interpretation depend on a lot of factors
such as background, culture, ability, and other variables
2. Yes. It shows that an event could be read in a variety of ways and
through different lenses. It is only through multiperspectivity that
we realize a more complete picture of the past.
3. Very important, because interpretations must always be based on
sources that are subjected to historical methods of inquiry
4. By looking at the primary source used by a historian, and applying
our own criticism of the source, we may be able to identify the way
it was read. The most reliable reading would indicate that the
source went through thorough criticism.
5. It’s the same way we use criticism in sources. News are texts that
are based on facts. Through criticism, both external and internal, we
may be able to know if the fact being presented to us is fake.
LESSON SUMMARY
Historical interpretation provides for a variety of ways by which we read and
analyze historical events.
There is more than one way to look at the past, and these perspectives vary
according to many factors.
Historical interpretation must always be based on critical historical methods.

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