A Historical Controversy:

The Site of the First Mass

Readings In Philippine
History

Miranda, Kenshin Ivan D.

BSA11A
I. Introduction of the Controversy

The site of the first mass became one of the well-known controversies in
Philippine history for a reason that there are more than one places
claiming that the birth of Roman Catholicism in Philippine islands was held
on their respective locations. For the record, there are four sites debating about
the real venue of the first mass celebration but only two of them have strong
arguments and proofs to the point that they almost had unending discussion
about this matter.

488 years ago, Ferdinand Magellan rediscovered archipelago in March 1521

and made a history. This part of our history started the controversy regarding
where did the first Catholic mass really took place in the Philippines. There are
a lot of arguments and evidences that were released by different sides which
made the people more confused and at the same time deepen their curiosity
about the truth.

This controversy tested the reliability and credibility of the artifacts

collected during the time of Magellan and his fellow explorers. In this
case, people may notice that artifacts sometimes can be manipulated
which may lead to unsolved issues and misinterpretation of our history.

II. Sides and/or Evidences of the Controversy

According to the researches, the four places contesting for the site of the
recorded first mass in the Philippines are Pangasinan, Homonhon, Butuan and
Limasawa. Each of them has different viewpoint and evidences to support their
arguments. However, the Butuan and Limawasa became the two main
arguments in the debate because both of them has more evidences and
stronger stand compared to the side of Pangasinan and Homonhon.

a. Pangasinan

In front of the St. James the Great Parish Church, located in Bolinao,
Pangasinan, is a marker stating that the first mass was celebrated in the
Philippines in 1324.

After landing and taking refuge in Bolinao, Pangasinan during a stormy

weather, Father Odorico, a courageous and religious Franciscan missionary,
celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass in honor of their safe journey and his mission.
He also indoctrinated and baptized many of the Malay immigrants in Bolinao
during that time

b. Homonhon

According to Tomas “Buddy” Gomez III, a one-time press secretary of

President Cory, the First Mass could actually have been held not in
Limasawa or Butuan but in Homonhon. He cited records showing that
Magellan stayed in Homonhon, which is now a part of Samar Island, for eight
days, including March 24 which was Palm Sunday. He also claimed that
Pigafetta never said that the Easter Mass in Limasawa was the ‘first’, neither
did any of the survivors of Magellan’s expedition.

c. Butuan

The evidences of Butuan are as follow:

1. The name of the place

2. The route from Homonhon

3. The latitude position

4. The geographical features

a. The bonfire

b. The balanghai

c. House

d. Abundance of gold

e. A developed settlement

d. Limasawa

1. The evidence of Albo’s Log-Book

2. The Evidence of Pigafetta

a. Pigafetta’s testimony regarding the route;

b. The evidence of Pigafetta’s map

 c. The two native kings

d. The seven days at “Mazaua”

e. An argument from omission

3. Summary of the evidence of Albo and Pigafetta.

4. Confirmatory evidence from the Legazpi expedition.

III. The Stand

a. Positive Stand

The evidences given by the side of Pangasinan as the site of the first mass
might be true since it was stated that the Thanksgiving Mass led by
Father Odorico was celebrated in the year 1324 which was way earlier than
the other 3 places’ date of celebration. It is also possible that Ferdinand
Magellan wasn’t the one who started the First Mass in the Philippines because
there are also some sources saying that there were other foreigners who’ve
been in the country before aside from Magellan.

The evidences from Tomas “Buddy” Gomez III claiming that the site of the
First Mass could actually have been held in Homonhon and not in Butuan nor
Limasawa is believable since he cited records showing that Magellan stayed in
Homonhon for eight days including the Palm Sunday. Also, the fact that
Pigafetta nor any of the survivors of Magellan expedition didn’t mention that
the Easter Mass in Limasawa was the ‘first’ so there’s a possibility that the
First Mass happened in Homonhon but was only unrecorded.

The side of Masao, Butuan has strong evidences that it is the site of the First
Mass compared from the first two. It makes sense that the name of the
place, “Mazaua” which is written from the journal of Pigafetta, refers to the
Masao of Butuan. Thus, it is really possible that it was celebrated there. Butuan
also has a lot of artifacts which prove that Magellan really did arrived to
their place including the piece of the balanghai which they believe came
from the ship of Magellan during his expedition. This shows that there is
really a big possibility that the First Mass did happen at Masao, Butuan
because they are also claiming that Butuan is the first place where Magellan
landed.

The Limawasa, on the other hand, has a lot of strong evidences as

well. According to Pigafetta’s journal, the place where the first Christian Mass
happened in the Philippine soil is an island lying on the Southwestern tip
of Leyte. The position of Mazaua in Pigafetta’s writings matched that of
Limasawa. The measurement of distances between Homonhon and
Limasawa, and between Limasawa and Cebu, as computed by the Limasawa
group, matches or approximates the descriptions made by Pigafetta in his
“The First Voyage around the World” book. The Limasawa indeed has solid
evidences and noticing how all the findings matches what’s on Pigafetta’s
writings makes it more reliable and credible as the place where the First Mass
was celebrated.

b. Negative Stand

Both the side of Pangasinan and Homonhon has a point but there is a lack
of further evidences to support their claims especially to the side of
Homonhon. Stating that Magellan stayed in Homonhon is not a strong
argument to prove that the First Mass really happened there. The Pangasinan
may have a strong argument if we will based on the dates but it is not enough
since there were also no records to show except for the marker found in front
of the St. James the Great Parish Church in Bolinao.

Butuan may have a lot of evidences to show that Magellan really did arrived
first at their place but it is not an enough proof to conclude that the First Mass
really took place there. If we will base from the writings of Albo and Pigafetta
whom are primary sources because they’ve been with Magellan during his
expedition, the place of Butuan doesn’t match the characteristics both of
them described on their journals regarding the “Mazaua”. It is stated on
Pigafetta’s writing that “Mazaua” is an island but looking at the place of Masao,
it cannot be considered as an island, rather, it is a barangay of Butuan City
located in a delta of Agusan River which can be a confirmation that it is
really not the Masao, Butuan, where the First Mass was held.

The Limasawa has really strong arguments and evidences but even if it
matches what was stated on Pigafetta’s journal, it doesn’t mean that they
celebrated the First Mass there because there were no definite statement from
the primary source that it is the first and there is really a possibility that they
celebrated it in other place but was only unrecorded or wasn’t mentioned on
Pigafetta’s writing.

c. Final Stand

There are four places contesting for the real venue of the First Mass but we
know that there is only one place where it really took place and I believe that it
is in the island of Limasawa. Aside from the evidences they have, they have a
record that the mass during Magellan’s expedition happened there. Although, it
wasn’t stated that it is the first, the fact that the place of Limasawa
matches the features of “Mazaua” is an enough proof and a very strong
evidence compared to the three sites’ to conclude or to consider that the First
Mass in the Philippines took place in Limasawa Island in Visayas on March 31,
1521 officiated by Father Pedro de Valderrama. It was also affirmed that in
the same date, Magellan with his troops planted a cross on the same
site. The Limasawa is supported with a number of solid proofs which includes
the Albo’s log book evidences of Pigafetta, and the evidence from Legazpi’s
expedition. In Albo’s account, he did not mention the first mass and where it
took place. However, he mentioned that Magellan planted the cross “upon a
mountain-top from which could be seen three islands to the west and
southwest.” This best fits the description of the geographical area of
Limasawa. These are very strong proofs since these people have been part of
the expedition. Albo and Pigafetta both took part in Magellan’s expedition. The
former was one of the pilots in Magellan’s flagship “Trinidad” and the latter was
a member of the expedition itself. Therefore, it is based on eyewitness
accounts. Additionally, the National Historical Institute has already
implemented a law which is the Republic Act 2733 or the Limawasa Law and
then it was the Gancayco Commission who confirmed that it really happened in
Limawasa due to the findings that they have gathered. These, for me, are
already enough to finally give a conclusion that Limasawa is the real site of the
First Mass here in the Philippines.

References:

Amazing Butuan (2009). Site of the first mass, after 488 years
controversy continues. Retrieved from http://amazingbutuan.blogspot.com/
2009/04/site-of-first-mass-after-488-years.html Danao, E. L. (2015). Where
was the first Mass in the Philippines held?. Retrieved from The Manila Times:
http://www.manilatimes.net/first-mass-philippines-held/157730/ Philippines
to GO (n.d.). Revolvy (n.d.). St. James the great parish church in Bolinao,
Pangasinan. Retrieved from http://www.philippinestogo.com/st-james-the-
great-church-bolinao/ Gomez, Tomas (2019). 'First Mass' in Limasawa: Fact or
opinion?. Retrieved from the ABS-CBN News: https://news.abs-cbn.com/blogs/
opinions/08/24/19/first-mass-in-limasawa-fact-or-opinion