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POSITION PAPER A Historical Controversy: The Site of the First Mass Readings in Philippine History Prepared : Tolentino, Christine Deceree R. November 15, 2020 I. Introduction of the Controversy The site of the first mass became one of the controversies in Philippine history for a reason that there ...

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POSITION PAPER

A Historical Controversy: The Site of the First Mass Readings in Philippine History

Prepared by: Tolentino, Christine Deceree R.

November 15, 2020

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 clai ms 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

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http://www.philippinestogo.com/st-james-the-great-

church-bolinao/ Gomez, Tomas (2019). 'First Mass' in Limasawa: Fact or opinion?. Retrieved from the ABSCBN News: https://news.abs-cbn.com/blogs/opinions/08/24/19/first-mass-in-limasawafact-or-opinion

PenTasTic

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Butuan

or

Limasawa?.

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