SITE OF FIRST MASS IN THE PHILIPPINES EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA

1. Evidence of albo’s log-book

ANTONIO PIGAFETTA: 2. Evidence of pigafetta
- around 1491 when he was born at Vicenza, Republic of a) pigafetta’s testimony regarding the route;
Venice now known as Italy and died at the age of 39-40 around b) evidence of pigafetta’s map
1531 c) two native kings
- studied astronomy; geography & cartography d) seven days at “mazaua”
- an Italian scholar and explorer from the Republic of Venice e) argument from omission
- He travelled w the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan & 3. summary of the evidence of albo and pigafetta
his crew on their First Voyage around the world 4. confirmatory evidence from the legazpi expedition
- He was 1 of the 18 men who returned to Spain in 1522
EVIDENCE OF MASAO
* The first Catholic Mass in the Philippines was held on March 1. name of the place
31, 1521 (Easter Sunday) 2. route from homonhon
* Father Pedro de Valderrama 3. latitude position
* located at the Southern Leyte 4. geographical features
* popularly known as the birthplace of the Church in the PH. a) bonfire
* Holy 1ST Mass marked the birth of Roman Catholicism in PH. b) balanghai
c) house
CONTROVERSIES between LIMASAWA & MASAO/BUTUAN: d) abundance of gold
e) a developed settlement
MASAO
*1872: A monument to commemorate the site of first mass on
the Philippines was erected in Butuan. THE TWO FACES OF THE 1872 CAVITE MUTINY:
*1953: The people in Butuan asked the PH Historical TWO MAJOR EVENTS in 1872:
Committee to rehabilitate the monument or place a marker on
the site. 1.Cavite Mutiny
*monument was re-erected but the marble slab stating it was -A major factor in the awakening of Nationalism among the
the site of first mass was removed. Filipinos.
*Zaide identified Masao in Butuan as the location of the first -Uprising of military personnel of Fort San Felipe (the spanish
mass. arsenal in Cavite,Philippines) On January 20, 1872.
*Zaide’s claim is the diary of Antonio Pigafetta, chronicle of MUTINY -Comes from the old verb “MUTINE” means revolt.
Magellan’s voyage
2.The Martyrdom of the Three Priest
LIMASAWA GOMBURZA
*Jaime de Veyra stated that the first mass was celebrated in -Collective name of the three Martyred Priest.
Limawasa not in Butuan. -Tagged as the masterminds of the Cavite Mutiny.
*Historian Pablo Pastells stating by the footnote to Francisco GOM -Mariano Gomez
Colin’s Labor Evangelica that Magellan did not go to Butuan but BUR -Jose Burgos
form Limasawa to Cebu. ZA -Jacinto Zamora
*Francisco Albo (pilot of Magellan’s flagship doesn’t mention the
1st mass but he writes that they erected a cross on a Father Mariano Gomez
mountain which overlooked 3 islands, the west and the • An old man Chinese-Filipino, Born in Cavite.
southwest. • He held the most Senior position of the three
*James Robertson agreed with Pastells in a footnote that Archbishop's Vicar in Cavite.
“Mazua” was actually Limasawa. • He was truly Nationalistic band accepted the death
*in the authentic account of Pigafetta, the port was not in penalty calmly as though it were his penance for being
Butuan but an island named Mazua (Masawa) pro-Filipinos.
•
* Father Bernard studied all the Pigafetta’s maps, which place in Father Jose Burgos
Mazaua off the southern tip of the larger island of Leyte, a • Spanish descent, born in the Philippines.
check w the modern maps will show that this jibes w Limasawa • He was a parish priest of the Manila Cathedral and had
and not Masao or Butuan. been known to be close to the liberal Governor General
de la Torre.

Father Jacinto Zamora

• 37 years old was also a spanish, born in the
Philippines.
• He was the parish priest of Marikina and was known to
be unfriendly to and would not countenance any
arrogance or authortative behavior from spaniards
coming from spain.
Cavite Mutiny: Spanish Perspective And other Filipino lawyers were suspended from the practice
JOSE MONTERO Y VIDAL of law, arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment at the
• Spanish Historian Marianas Island.
• His account centered on how the event was an
attempt in overthrow the spanish government in the February 17, 1872:
philippines. * The GOMBURZA were executed by Garrote in public to
• His account on Mutiny was criticized as woefully serve as a threat to Filipinos never to attempt to fight the
biased. Spaniards again.
* This event was tragic but served as one of the moving
GOV. GEN. RAFAEL IZQUIERDO forces that shaped Filipino nationalism.
• Implicated the native clergy, who were active in the
movement toward secularization of parishes. A Response to Injustice: The Filipino version of the Incident
• In a biased report, he highlighted the attempt to * Dr. Trinidad Hermenigildo Pardo de Tavera
overthrow the Spanish government in the philippines * A Filipino Scholar and Researcher.
to install a new “HARI” in the persons of Father * Wrote a Filipino version of the bloody incident in Cavite.
Burgos and Zamora. * The incident was a mere mutiny by the native Filipino
soldiers and laborers of the Cavite arsenal who turned out to
Spanish Accounts be dissatisfied with the abolition of their privileges.
• Undescore the reason for the “REVOLUTION” * The central Government in Madrid announced its intention
Abolition of privileges enjoyed by the workers of to deprive the friars of all the powers of intervention in
Cavite arsenal such as non-payment of tributes and matters of civil government in the direction and management
being employed in force labor. of educational institutions.
• Presence of the native clergy against the spanish * The Central Government of Spain welcomed an
friars “conspired and supportd”the rebels and educational decree authored by SEGISMUNDO MORET
enemies of Spain. promoted the fusion of sectarian schools run by the friars into
a school called Philippine Institute.
In the Spaniards Accounts, 1872 * This improvement was warmly received by most Filipinos
• Was planned earlier and as thought of it as a big in spite of the native clergy`s zest of secularization.
conspiracy among educated leader, mentizos,
abogadillos or native lawyers,residents of Manila and Edmund Plauchut
Cavite and the native clergy. • A French writer
• Complemented Tavera`s account and analyzed the
JANUARY 20, 1872 motivation of the 1872 Cavite Mutiny.
• The district of Sampaloc celebrated the feast of the • The Frenchman, however, dwelt more on the
Virgin of Loreto, came with it were some fireworks execution of the three martyr priests which he
displays. actually witnessed.
• The Caviteǹos this as the signal to commence with
the attack.
• 200 Soldiers was led by SERGEANT LAMADRID JUNE 12, 1898= The Independence Day. May be a glorious
attacked Spanish officers at sight and seized the event for us, but we should not forget that before we came
arsenal. cross to victory, our forefathers suffered enough. As we
• Gov. Izquiredo, upon learning the attack, ordered enjoy our freedom, may we be more historically aware of our
reinforcement of the Spanish force in Cavite to quell past to have a better future ahead of us. And just like what
the revolt. Elias said Noli Me Tangere, may we “not forget those who
fell during the night.”
*The revolution was easily crushed, when Manileǹos who
were expected to aid the Caviteǹos did not arrive.
-In result, LEADERS OF THE PLOT WERE KILLED.
GOMBURZA -were tried by a court martial and were
sentenced to die by strangulation.

Others who were implicated such as;

Own notes ko lapa toh PRIMARY SOUCE NO. 1: ALBO’S LOG
2 key concepts are interpretation and multiperspectivity *March 16 1521: sailed from ladrones, saw land in northwest,
name is yunagan. They did not approach it
HISTORY= study of past, how it impacts the present through its *went southwards to small island names SULUAN
consequences *sailed westward to uninhabited island of ‘GADA”. Took supply
According to Geoffrey Barraclough, HISTORY is/as: of wood and water. Seems to be “acquada” or homonhon
*the attempt to discover, on the basis of fragmentary evidence, *sailed westwards to large island named SEILANI that was
the significant things about the past. inhabited and was known to have gold. (Ceylon-island of leyte)
*the history we read, though based on facts, is strictly speaking. *sailed southwards and southwest to island called “MAZAVA”
not factual at all, but a series of accepted judgments." *ppl in mazava r good, Spaniards planted a CROSS upon a
History is interpretative: Defined not just by facts, but by how mountain top.
those facts are interpreted. Geoffrey Barraclough emphasized *sailed northwards again toward seilaini, found 3 smal islands
that history is made up of "accepted judgments." *entered a channel between 2 islands called “matan” “subu”
*made a peace-pact w the local king of subu\
Example of historical interpretation =location of mazava fits the location of limasawa. Albo doesn’t
THE CODE OF KALANTIAW= mythical legal code in the epic mention the 1st mass but only the planting of the cross.
history maragtas. It was proved as a HOAX in 1986 when
William henry Scott, defended his research on pre-hispanic
sources in ph history. But before this was proven a hoax, it was PRIMARY SOURCE NO. 2: PIGAFETTA’S TESTIMONY ON
a source of pride for the people of Aklan THE ROUTE OF MAGELLAN’S EXPEDITION
*Saturday, 16 March 1521= Magellan's expedition sighted a
Historians utilize facts collected from primary sources of history "high land" named "ZAMAL" which was some 300 leagues
& then draw their own reading so that their intended audience westward of Ladrones (now the Marianas) Islands.
may understand the historical event, a process that in essence, *Sunday, March 17= landed on "another island which was
"makes sense of the past." uninhabited" and which lay "to the right" of the above-mentioned
The premise is that not all primary sources are accessible to a island of "Zamal."
general audience, and w/out the proper training & bg, a non- =THE NAME OF THIS ISLAND WAS “HUMUNU” or homonhon
historian interpreting a primary source may do more harm than =Magellan named the archipelago “ISLANDS OF SAINT
primary source may even cause misunderstandings; LAZARUS” bcs it was Sunday in the Lenten season abt the
sometimes, even resulting in more problems. raising of Lazarus from the dead
*Monday, March 18= saw a boat w/ 9 men. Had a gift echange
INTERPRETATION VARY according to who reads the primary for food supplies.
source, when it was read, and how it was read. *in homonhon. There are 2 springs of water with gold. Magellan
named it “WATERING PLACE OF GOOD OMEN”
Multiperspectivity= way of looking at historical events, *Friday, March 22= natives returned with food supplies
personalities, developments, cultures, and societies from diff *Magellan stayed at homonhon fpr 8 days (march 17-25)
perspectives. there is a multitude of ways by which we can view *March 25= feast day of incarnation, pigafetta fell in the water
the world, and each could be equally valid, and at the same and was rescued
time, equally partial as well. =They left Homonhon sailing westward towards Leyte, then
followed the leyte coast southward, passing between the island
Exploring multiple perspectives in history requires incorporating of Hibuson on their portside & Hiunangan Bay on 53 in their
source materials that reflect different views of an event in starboard, and then continued southward, then turning
history, because singular historical narratives do not provide for westward to "Mazaua."
space to inquire and investigate. March 28= holy Thursday, they anchored off in an island, it’s 25
leagues from Acquada and is called “MAZAUA”
CASE STUDY 1: WHERE DID THE 1ST CATHOLIC MASS *remained 7 days in mazaua
TAKE IN THE PH? *April 4= left mazaua, bound for cebu. They were guided by the
There r only two primary sources to identify which: king of mazaua who sailed in his own boat. Their route took
1. the LOG kept by FRANCISCO ALBO, pilot of magellan’s them past five "islands" namely: "Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan,
ship. One of the survivors Baibai, and Gatighan."
2. ACCOUNT by ANTIONIO PIGAFETTA *At Gatighan, they sailed westward to the three islands of the
*BUTUAN= long been believed as the site of the culminating in Camotes Group, namely, Poro, Pasihan and Ponson. Ships
the erection of a monument in 1872 near Agusan River. which stopped to allow the king of Mazaua to catch up with them,
commemorates the expedition's since the Spanish ships were much faster than the native
balanghai—a thing that excited the admiration of the king of
Mazaua.
*Sunday, April 7= entered ZUBU (Cebu).
PRIMARY SOURCE: PIGAFETTA AND 7 DAYS IN MAZAUA: CASE STUDY 2: WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CAVITE
*Thursday, March 28= a small boat came w 8 natives, Magellan MUTINY?
threw trinkets as presents. Then they paddled away but came 1872= historic yr of 2 events: the Cavite Mutiny and the
back with 2 larger boats w the king in it. They exchanged gifts martyrdom of the three priests: Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos,
*March 29= HOLY FRIDAY, " Magellan sent his slave and Jacinto Zamora, later on immortalized as GOMBURZA.
interpreter ashore in a small boat to ask the king if he could
provide the expedition with food supplies, and to say that they SPANISH ACCOUNTS OF THE CAVITE MUTINY
had come as friends and not as enemies. Two men embraced. Jose Montero y vidal= his acc centered on how the event was
Another exchange of gifts was made an attempt in overthrowing the Spanish gov. but was biased
*March 30= Pigafetta and his companion had spent the Governor genera Rafael izquierdo= implicated the native clergy,
previous evening feasting and drinking with the native king and who were then, active in the movement toward secularization of
his son. Pigafetta deplored the fact that, although it was Good parishes.
Friday, they had to eat meat. The following morning (Saturday)
Pigafetta and his companion took leave of their hosts and PRIMARY SOURCE: EXCERPTS FROM MONTERO'S
returned to the ships. ACCOUNT OF THE CAVITE MUTINY
*March 31= Easter Sunday. Magellan sent the priest ashore • The Spanish revolution that overthrew a secular throne,
with 50 men to celebrate the mass. After which a CROSS was along with unbridled press propaganda against monarchical
venerated. They returned ashore to plant the cross on the principles and disrespect toward the dethroned monarchy,
summit of the highest hill. Both the king of MAZAUA and contributed to unrest.
BUTUAN were at the MASS. • Democratic and republican books, pamphlets, speeches, and
=on the same day, Magellan asked the 2 kings which post he American publicists' outbursts spread revolutionary ideas.
should go in order to obtain more abundant supplies of food. • A "senseless" Governor from the Revolutionary government
They replied w 3 ports to choose: Ceylon, Zubu, Calagana— applied these ideas in the Philippines.
ZUBU was the post w MOST trade. • These factors influenced certain Filipinos to pursue
*April 1= Magellan sent men ashore but no work was done bcs independence, supported by a section of the native clergy
the 2 kings were sleeping. acting out of spite toward friars.
*April 2-3= work on the harvest. • In early 1872, authorities received anonymous warnings of an
*April 4= left mazaua bound for cebu uprising in Cavite once the fleet left, predicting that all
Spaniards and friars would be assassinated.
Jesuit priest Miguel A. Bernad in his work Butuan or • These notices were not taken seriously.
Limasawa: The Site of the First Mass in the Philippines: A • The conspiracy had been secretly organized since La Torre's
Reexamination of Evidence (1981) lays down the argument time.
that in the nd Pigafetta account, a crucial aspect of Butuan was • Principal leaders met secretly at the homes of Joaquin Pardo
not mentioned—the river. Butuan is a riverine settlement, de Tavera and Jacinto Zamora.
situated on the Agusan River. The beach of Masao is in the • Meetings were often attended by the curate of Bacoor,
delta of said river. It is a curious omission in the account of the described as the soul of the movement with great energy and
river, which makes part of a distinct characteristic of Butuan's immense wealth.
geography that seemed to be too important to be missed
PRIMARY SOURCE: EXCERPTS FROM THE OFFICIAL
Spain colonized parts of North America, Mexico, and South REPORT OF GOVERNOR
America in the sixteenth century. They were also able to reach IZQUIERDO ON THE CAVITE MUTINY OF 1872
the Philippines and claim it for the Spanish crown. Later on, Instigators protested:
other European rulers would come with the activities Of ex g • Against non-payment for provincial tobacco crops.
and conquer lands. • Against usury in government-issued documents that forced
crop owners to sell at a loss.
• Against the injustice of making Cavite arsenal workers pay
It must also be pointed out that later on, after Magellan's death, tribute and render personal service starting January 1, despite
the sun-ivors of his expedition went to Mindanao, and seemingly previous exemptions.
went to Butuan. In this instance, Pigafetta vividly describes a Uncertainty about government form:
trip in a river. But note that this account already happened after • It's unclear if they planned a monarchy or republic, as Indios
Magellan's death. had no equivalent term.
• The planned leader was a priest—either Jose Burgos or
Jacinto Zamora.
Rebels' plan and motivation:
• Triggered by the abolition of exemptions from tribute and
forced labor (polos y servicios).
• Involved the native clergy, allegedly out of spite against friars.
• Governor Izquierdo claimed it was a conspiracy to overthrow
the Spanish and install a Filipino "hari."
• Clergy allegedly promised divine favor and material rewards
(jobs, wealth, military ranks).
Alleged conspiracy: PRIMARY SOURCE: EXCERPTS FROM PLAUCHUT'S
• Said to involve educated leaders, mestizos, lawyers, and ACCOUNT OFTHE CAVITE MUTINY
residents of Manila and Cavite. • A committee in Madrid and another in Manila (which included
• Plan: assassinate Spanish officers and friars. friars and six Spanish officials) were formed to investigate
• Signal: Fireworks from Intramuros during the feast of the problems.
Virgin of Loreto in Sampaloc, 20 January 1872. • Both committees reached the same conclusions on
The attack: necessary reforms:
• Mistaking fireworks for the signal, 200 men led by Sergeant Proposed Reforms:
Lamadrid attacked and seized the Cavite arsenal. 1. Changes in tariff rates and collection methods at customs.
• Izquierdo responded with reinforcements. 2. Removal of surcharges on foreign imports.
• Revolt was crushed—expected reinforcements from Manila 3. Reduction of export fees.
did not arrive. 4. Permission for foreigners to:
Aftermath: - Live in the Philippines
• Leaders were killed; Fathers Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora - Buy real estate
were tried and executed. - Practice freedom of worship
• Others like Pardo de Tavera, Regidor, and the Basa brothers - Run commercial transports under the Spanish flag
were arrested, exiled, or banned from law practice. 5. Advisory council for the Minister of Overseas Affairs in
• Izquierdo dissolved native artillery regiments, forming a new Madrid.
one made of Peninsulares only. 6. Educational reforms in primary and secondary levels.
Execution: 7. Institute of Civil Administration in the Philippines to end
• On 17 February 1872, GOMBURZA were executed as a constant rotation of civil officials.
warning to Filipinos never to attempt to fight the Spaniards 8. Study of direct-tax system.
again. 9. Abolition of the tobacco monopoly.

DIFFERING ACCOUNTS OF THE EVENTS OF 1872 • The arrival of General Izquierdo in Manila halted reform
dreams.
PRIMARY SOURCE: EXCERPTS FROM PARDO DE TAVERA'S • His prosecutions were likely tied to conflicts between Filipino
ACCOUNT OF THE CAVITE MUTINY clerics and friars.
• The Cavite uprising was used as a powerful tool by Spanish • Liberal education was suppressed:
residents and friars. = A planned Society of Arts and Trades to open in March 1871
• The Central Government in Madrid had planned to remove was suspended the day before inauguration.
the friars’ powers: • Public service obligations:
=In civil government. = Filipinos had to render road construction work and pay taxes
=In the management of the university. yearly.
• These planned reforms raised Filipino hopes for material and = Workers in artillery, engineering shops, and the Cavite
educational advancement. arsenal were historically exempt.
=Conversely, friars feared losing their power in the colony. = Izquierdo issued a decree removing their privileges without
• No intention of secession existed at that time—Filipinos only warning, placing them under public labor duties.
sought reform, not independence.
• The incident was merely a mutiny by Filipino soldiers and • Friars used the mutiny to reinforce their weakening power.
laborers at the Cavite arsenal. = They portrayed it as part of a larger Filipino conspiracy to
• It was caused by dissatisfaction over Izquierdo’s harsh overthrow the Spanish government.
policies, including: = Unintentionally, the 1872 Cavite Mutiny led to the martyrdom
=Abolishing privileges. of GOMBURZA, which in turn paved the way to the 1898
=Prohibiting the founding of a school of arts and trades, which revolution.
Izquierdo believed was a front for a political movement.
• Pardo de Tavera believed: =GOMBURZA is the collective name Of the three martyred
=The friars and Izquierdo exaggerated the mutiny to protect priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, who
their interests. were tagged as the masterminds of the Cavite Mutiny
=They blew an isolated event out of proportion to counter the =The GOMBURZA were executed by garrote in public, a scene
government's reform plans. purportedly witnessed by a young J Rizal.
• The Central Government passed an educational decree:
=Merged sectarian schools run by friars into the Philippine
Institute.
=Required competitive exams for teaching posts.
=This reform was welcomed by most Filipinos.
• French writer Edmund Plauchut supported Tavera’s view and
further examined the true motivations behind the 1872 Cavite
Mutiny.
CASE STUDY 3: DID RIZAL RETRACT? Prominent Filipino historian Teodoro Agoncillo emphasizes the
=Jose Rizal is identified as a hero of the revolution for his event when Bonifacio tore the cedula or tax receipt before the
writings that center on ending colonialism and liberating Filipino Katipuneros who also did the same.
minds to contribute to creating the Filipino nation.
=Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. His essays vilify not . A monument to the Heroes of 1896 was erected in what is
the Catholic religion, but the friars, the main agents of injustice now the intersection of Epifanio de los Santos (EDSA) Avenue
in the Philippine society. and Andres Bonifacio Drive-North Diversion road, and from
then on until 1962, the Cry of Balintawak was celebrated every
PRIMARY SOURCE: RIZARS RETRACTION: CM. ON 18 26th of August.
MAY 1935
Manila 29 of December of 1896- Jose Rizal DIFFERENT DATES AND PLACES OF THE CRY
=the "original" text was only found in the archdiocesan archives = A guardian civil, Lt. Olegario Diaz, identified the Cry to have
on 18 May 1935, after almost four decades of disappearance. happened in Balintawak on 25 August 1896.
= Teodoro Kalaw, Filipino historian, marks the place to be in
THE BALAGUER TESTIMONY Kangkong, Balintawak, on the last week of August 1896.
=Jesuit friar Fr. Vicente Balaguer. According to his testimony, = Santiago Alvarez, a Katipunero and son of Mariano Alvarez,
Rizal woke up several times, confessed four times, attended a leader of the Magdiwang faction in Cavite, put the Cry in Bahay
Mass, received communion, and prayed the rosary, all of which Toro in Quezon City on 24 August 1896.
seemed out Of character. = Pio Valenzuela, known Katipunero and privy to many events
concerning the Katipunan stated that the Cry happened in
THE TESTIMONY OF CUERPO DE VIGILANCIA Pugad Lawin on 23 August 1896.
=in 2016, through the research of Professor Rene R. Escalante. = Historian Gregorio Zaide identified the Cry to have happened
In his research, documents of the Cuerpo de Vigilancia in Balintawak on 26 August 1896.
included a report on the last hours of Rizal, written by Federico = Teodoro Agoncillo put it at Pugad Lawin on 23 August 1896,
Moreno. The report details the statement of the Cuerpo de according to statements by Pio Valenzuela.
Vigilancia to Moreno = Ramon Villegas claimed that the event took place in Tandang
Sora's barn in Gulod. Barangay Banlat, Quezon City, on 24
PRIMARY SOURCE: EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE August 1896
LAST HOURS OF RIZAL

=Rizal's Connection to the Katipunan is undeniable—in fact, the =many of those present tore their cedula certificates and
precursor of the Katipunan as an organization is the La Liga shouted "Long live the Philippines! Long live the Philippines!"
Filipina, an organization Rizal founded, with Andres Bonifacio
as one of its members. But La Liga Filipina was short-lived as =the cry was in balintawak
the Spaniards exiled Rizal to Dapitan. Former members
decided to band together to establish the Katipunan a few days
after Rizal's exile on 7 July 1892.

CASE STUDY 4: WHERE DID THE CRY OF REBELLION

HAPPEN?

= Journalists of the time referred to the phrase "El Grito de

Rebelion" or "Cry Of Rebellion" to mark the start Of these
revolutionary events, identifying the places where it happened.
=this happened in August 1896, northeast of Manila, where
they lared rebellion against the Spanish colonial government.
=Rizal may not have been officially part of the Katipunan, but
the Katipuneros showed great appreciation of his work toward
the same goals. Out of the 28 members of the leadership of the
Katipunan (known as the Kataas.taasang Sanggunian ng
Katipunan) from 1892 to 1896, 13 were former members of La
Liga Filipina. Katipuneros even used Rizal's name as a
password.