(Limasawa or Butuan) HISTORY First Mass PDF

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BSME – 1AThe First Holy Mass: Limasawa or Masaua, Butuan?The first Holy Mass is widely considered to be the event that marked the beginning of Christianity on Philippine territory. However, for many decades, some Filipinos, including professionals in education, history, religion, and other fields, h...

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BSME – 1A

The First Holy Mass: Limasawa or Masaua, Butuan?

The first Holy Mass is widely considered to be the event that marked the beginning of Christianity on Philippine territory. However, for many decades, some Filipinos, including professionals in education, history, religion, and other fields, have exchange thoughts on the specific place of the 'First Mass' on Easter Sunday, with both Butuan City and Limasawa claiming to be the place of this meaningful religious ceremony. The first Catholic mass in the Philippines was held on March 31, 1521, just three days after Ferdinand Magellan arrived on the Philippines. This is seen as the beginning of Roman Catholicism in the country. The mass's location was a topic of controversy. Initially, it was considered on the island of Limasawa, in the province of Leyte. Still, some historians argue that a mistranslation caused the misconception and that the correct location should be Butuan, where the Golden Tara was also discovered (Cimagala, 2018). Over three centuries, that matter was repeatedly contested due to extensive misstatement of the specific indicated site. Furthermore, delving further and defining the subject has a significant impact on removing all ambiguity and enlightening Filipinos. And we believe that the significant source should be Pigafetta, Albo, and Legazpi, as they were eyewitnesses to the occurrence. As a result of accumulating facts that offered evidence, the first mass was held at Limasawa. The case for Masaua in Butuan rather than Limasawa in Samar-Leyte as the site of our country's first mass seems strong. However, there are unarguable firsthand statements from those who lived at the time: Antonio Pigafetta, the official historian of Magellan's journey; Gines de Mafra, one of Magellan's original members of the crew who returned to Spain and reported on what he found in Masaua; and additional credible evidence. Pigafetta's narrative is titled "First Voyage Around the World." (1519– 1522), was documented by a primary eyewitness of the event. It covers early navigators' lives, representations of the islands and the individuals, their history, and documents of Catholic missions, as well as the country's political, economic, cultural, and religious aspects. It covers two crucial points that contributed to the first mass in the Philippines taking place at Limasawa rather than Butuan. Butuan is a town in Region 12, while Limasawa is an island from off shore of Leyte's southern coast. Butuan, as reported, is a river village near the delta of the Agusan River, which is not mentioned in the witness's story. The description of the island corresponds to Limasawa, an island on the southern edge of Leyte with coordinates of 9 degrees and 54 degrees north. The absence of any reference of the river that describes Masaua Island and geographic data indicates that the first mass occurred in Limasawa (Abatayo, 2019).

Furthermore, historian Father Francisco Colin S.J. (1592-1660) claims that Magellan first arrived in Butuan, then in Limasawa, and last in Cebu. Father Francisco Combes S.J., a Jesuit writer, presents a different point of view. Magellan came to Limasawa twice, according to him. Magellan's expedition, according to his testimony, traveled from Limasawa to Butuan, then back to Limasawa, and finally to Cebu on the 7th of April 1521. Another assertion by Giovanni Franceso Gemeili Careri (1698), a Calabrian, bolstered the argument that the first mass did not occur in Butuan due to the incorrect date presented (Bernad, 1983). These were just a couple of small anomalies in the Butuan tradition that made it so strange (Makabenta, 2019). Historians discovered that the Butuan tradition is invalid due to a lack of supporting evidence; therefore, they created a fine tradition: the Limasawa tradition. Although the Limasawa tradition came just after Butuan, evidence reveals that the Philippines' first mass was conducted on Limasawa Island in Visayas on March 31, 1521. It was also confirmed that Magellan and his men planted a crucifix at the actual position. (Cebu Living, 2006). Unlike the other, the tradition is supported by various substantial documents, including Albo's logbook, evidence from Pigafetta, and Legazpi's expedition. Albo made no mention of the first mass or where it took occurred in his account. However, he stated that Magellan placed the cross "upon a mountain-top from which could be seen three islands to the west and southwest," which best resembled the description of Limasawa's geographical location, which does not apply to Butuan because no islands could be seen in those directions. These are potent pieces of evidence because these people were part of the expedition (Bernad, 1983). Magellan's expedition included Albo and Pigafetta. The former was a pilot on Magellan's flagship "Trinidad," while the latter was an expedition member. As a result, it is mainly on eyewitness testimony. Furthermore, an aerial view of the hills on Pigafetta's map is given in Rolando O. Borrinaga's (2007) article on the Inquirer site. Magellan and his troops constructed the cross that is now known as Magellan's cross. The cross, which represents Rajah Humabon, his wife, and his men's conversion to Roman Catholicism, is now a tourist attraction in Magallanes, Cebu (Mayol & Gabieta, 2020). As a result, the birthplace of Roman Catholicism is Limasawa, not Butuan. Of course, the significance of politics and public opinion in investigating the historical truth of this topic should not be overlooked. Establishing historical reality is never easy because there is so much interpretation and subjective reading of recorded facts and events. That's why the researchers urged future researchers to conduct more outstanding research and gather additional points to support the idea that the first mass was held in Limasawa rather than Butuan.

References

Abatayo, R. (2019, November 13). Limasawa or Butuan? Debates continue on where first Mass was held. https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/270037/limasawa-or-butuandebates-continue-on-where-first-mass-was-held#ixzz6ZoENlKCP Antonio Pigafetta. The First Voyage around the World 1519–1522 : An. Account of Magellan's Expedition. Ed. Theodore J. Cachey, Jr. Bernad S.J. Butuan or Limasawa? The site the First Mass in the Philippines: A Reexamination of the Evidence. National Book Store. 1983. Cebu Living: The good life in the Beautiful Island. http://living.cebunetwork.com/article/magellan-cross-cebu/. May 4, 2006. Cimagala, Roy. (2018, June 7). Where did the first Mass in the Philippines take place? Panay News. https://www.panaynews.net/where-did-the-first-mass-in-thephilippines-take-place/ Makabenta, y. (2019, January 31). The Manila Times. Magellan Never Went to Butuan. https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/01/31/opinion/columnists/topanalysis/Magellan -never-went-to-butuan/504604 Mayol, A.V & Gabieta, J. (2020, August 21). Limasawa, not Butuan, affirmed as site of first Mass in PH. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1325039/limasawanot-butuan-affirmed-as-site-of-first-mass-in-ph Rolando O. Borrinaga. The right place for disputed first Mass in Limasawa. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/2007041460362/The_right_place_for_disputed_first_Mass_in_Limasawa. April 14, 2007.

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