GEC 2

Site of the first

Christian
- MASS -
Readings in Philippine History
 Introduction to Site of the Christian Mass
• The first recorded Christian mass • Some Filipino historians have long
was held on Easter Sunday, March contested the idea that Limasawa
31, 1521 at a little island-port was the site of the first Catholic
named Mazaua. mass in the country.

• The eyewitness Antonio • Historian Sonia Zaide identified

Pigafetta (1523) and Antonio de Masao (also Mazaua) in Butuan as
Herrera y Tordesillas (1601) who the location of the first Christian
report this event. mass.

• "Masawa" is a word found only in • The basis of Zaide's claim is the

Butuanon and its Scion, Tausog, diary of Antonio Pigafetta, chronicler
out of 181 Philippine languages. It of Magellan's voyage.
means brilliant light and crystal
clear.
On March 31, 1521
(Easter Sunday) Spanish
friar Pedro Valderama
●Conducted the first Catholic mass
in Limasawa, Leyte.
 Rajah Kolambu
●Who forged a blood compact of
friendship with Magellan two days
earlier, attended along with Rajah
Siagu.
 Domingo de
Salazar
●Salazar (2015) refute that the
first mass on Easter was not a
biblical Festival not practiced in
the Book of Acts.
The original New Testament
Church
(Church of the Holy Sepulchre)

●Which started on the Day of

Pentecost in 31.Dch. /C.E. as
described in Acts did not observe
the Mass.

●Was located in the Old City of

Jerusalem.
Landing on
Philipphine
Shore
 Ferdinand Magellan's expedition departed from
Sanlúcar de Barrameda in search of spices, reaching
the Philippines on March 28, 1521. They initially
anchored at Mazaua (now Limasawa) after spotting a
bonfire. They explored various islands, including
Suluan and Seilani (Leyte), before sailing into a canal
between Cebu (Subu) and Mactan (Matan), where
they anchored for several days, marking significant
interactions in the region.
Diary of Antonio Pigafetta
(The First Voyage Round the
World/Pigafetta's Account of
Magellan's Voyage)
Diary of Antonio
Pigafetta
(The First Voyage Round
the World/Pigafetta's
Account of Magellan's
Voyage)
Antonio
Pigafetta
• Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian traveler and navigator, was
part of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition and provided a
detailed account of their journey in his work, Primo Viaggio
Intorno Al Mondo. He was one of the eighteen survivors who
returned to Spain aboard the Victoria and witnessed key
events, including the first mass in what would become the
Philippines.
• On March 16, 1521, the expedition sighted "Zamal" and
landed on the uninhabited island of Homonhon on March
17, which Pigafetta described as a place rich in gold. They
remained there for eight days before departing for Mazaua,
which they reached on March 28.

• On April 4, guided by a local king, they left Mazaua for

Cebu, passing various islands along the way, including
Ceylon and Bohol.
• They entered the harbor of Cebu on April 7,
completing a journey that highlighted their
navigation through the Philippine archipelago. .
 Blood
Compact
• Rajah Kolambu, the sovereign ruler of Mazaua, befriended
Magellan and his crew upon their arrival. Along with his
brother, Rajah Siagu of Butuan, they participated in a
blood compact, a customary ritual in Southeast Asia to seal
friendships.

• Inspired by the Malayan term "casi casi," Magellan initiated

this first recorded blood compact between Filipinos and
Spaniards. After the ceremony, both parties exchanged gifts
to celebrate their new alliance.
Replica of the
marker unveiled
in Limasawa on
March 31, 1951
• On March 31, 1521, Easter Sunday, Magellan ordered the
first Mass in the Philippines, officiated by Father Pedro
Valderrama, the fleet's only chaplain. Held near the shores
of Mazaua, this event marked the introduction of Roman
Catholicism to the archipelago.

• Rajah Kolambu and Rajah Siagu were among the first native
attendees, at a time when the region was not yet known as
the "Philippines," a name that would come later in 1543.
 Four Site of
the first Mass
1. Limasawa
Island, Southern
Leyte
 • The Philippine government, the Roman Catholic Church, and the
embassies of Spain and Portugal all recognize Limasawa Island as
the site of the first mass held by Magellan and his crew.

• The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided the world between Spain and
Portugal, placing the Philippines under Portuguese jurisdiction.
However, Magellan claimed the islands for Spain, whose king funded
his expedition.

• In 1750, the Treaty of Madrid allowed Portugal to exchange the

Philippines for control of Brazil's southern frontier. Despite earlier
Portuguese explorations, Spain resumed its conquest of the
Philippines with Miguel Lopez de Legazpi's expedition in 1565.
2. Masao or
Mazaua in Butuan
City, Agusan del
Norte
• Pro-Butuan advocates argue that Magellan and his crew landed in Mazaua,
Butuan, due to the presence of anchorage, rice fields, gold, and artifacts found
there. They claim Magellan's logbook mentions gold from Butuan given to him
by Rajah Kalambu.

• Despite Magellan's route, proponents believe his mission was not only for
spices but also to collect valuable goods, such as gold from Mindanao.

• Salazar (2015) highlighted that Mazaua is important to Filipinos due to the

Easter mass and the planting of a large cross, events symbolizing the island's
religious significance.
• Pro-Butuan supporters also claim that Portuguese sailors may have
held the real "first mass" in southern Philippines before Magellan’s
arrival, though it wasn't recorded in history.

• They believe Butuan was overlooked by Spain, as it appeared on

Portuguese maps as "Butan." The natives of Mazaua, Butuan, may
have confused Portuguese explorers with Magellan's crew.
3. Homonhon
Island, Eastern
Samar
 • Some people from Homonhon Island and Samar believe that
Magellan and his crew may have held a religious ceremony when
they landed there, especially after their difficult experience in
Guam, which they called "Las Islas de los Ladrones" (The Island of
Thieves).

• Atty. Mendiola argues that the first mass in the Philippines took
place on Homonhon Island on March 19, 1521, not at Limasawa or
Mazaua on March 31.

• Historian Agoncillo notes that this expedition was the first time
Europeans learned of the Philippines, proving that the East Indies
could be reached by crossing the Pacific and that the Americas were
a separate landmass from Asia.
4. Mahaba Island,
Placer, Surigao
del Norte
 • A group from northeastern Mindanao claims that the First
Mass of Magellan's expedition occurred there.

• They argue that Magellan's use of an astrolabe, with a

margin of error of one degree, could have led to confusion
about his location.

• They believe Magellan may have mistaken Mahaba Island for

being part of Masepilid Island, as the two are close and
appear connected at low tide.
 • Pigafetta's description of an island shaped like a stingray
matches Masepilid.

• The location of the First Mass has long been debated. Initially
thought to be Limasawa in Leyte, some historians argue a
mistranslation pointed to Butuan instead.

• The issue was brought to Congress in 1996, and after

investigation, the National Historical Institute reaffirmed
Limasawa as the site of the First Mass in 1998.
Planting of the
cross
(The Cross of Magellan)
Building
purportedly
containing the
Magellan's Cross
In the afternoon of the same day, Magellan instructed his comrades to
plant a large wooden cross on the top of the hill overlooking the sea.
Magellan's chronicler, Antonio Pigafetta, who recorded the event said:

"After the cross was erected in position, each of us repeated a Pater

Noster and an Ave Maria, and adored the cross; and the kings [Colambu
and Siaiu] did the same."

Magellan then took ownership of the islands where he had landed in the
name of King Charles V which he had named earlier on March 16
Archipelago of Saint Lazarus because it was the day of the saint when
the Armada reached the archipelago.
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