POSITION PAPER

The Site of the First Mass - A Historical Controversy

STUDENT NAME : NIVAL, TG A.

COURSE & YEAR : BSTM 2-1
STUDENT NO. : 22-00149
DATE : NOV. 9, 2023

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.

ences:
Amazing Butuan (2009). Site
of the first mass, after 488
years controversy continues.
Retrieved from
http://amazingbutuan.blogspot.c
om/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/firs
t-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/08/24/1
9/first-mass-in-limasawa-
fact-or-opinion
Amazing Butuan (2009). Site
of the first mass, after 488
years controversy continues.
Retrieved from
http://amazingbutuan.blogspot.c
om/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/firs
t-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/08/24/1
9/first-mass-in-limasawa-
fact-or-opinion

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