Site of the First Mass in the Philippines

Pigafetta's account of the route from the Pacific Ocean to Cebu would naturally pass by Limasawa. His map and detailed descriptions of the island's tadpole shape (running north to south, with steep northern hills and a flat southern part ideal for a mass and cross planting) align perfectly with Limasawa's geography. These detailed, first-hand accounts are considered primary sources, unlike the secondary sources used for Butuan.

Father Francisco Collins and Father Francisco Combes' accounts claimed the mass took place in Butuan, specifically in Masao (now Magallanes, Butuan, Agusan del Norte). These accounts were based on second-hand information and were widely believed for three centuries (17th, 18th, and 19th). Collins mentioned the mass, cross planting, and formal possession of the island. Combes mentioned Magellan landing in Butuan and planting the cross, but omitted the mass itself.

The lecturer introduces the topic of historical controversies in Philippine History, specifically focusing on the site of the first mass and the Cavite Mutiny. The first mass controversy will be examined in detail, discussing whether it happened in Butuan or Limasawa.

The NHCP's panel of experts, after thorough investigation including geographical analysis and historical document review, concluded that arguments against Limasawa (such as insufficient provisions or the presence of spices only in Butuan) were unfounded. They affirmed that Limasawa Island in Southern Leyte remains the correct site of the 1521 Easter Sunday mass, based on overwhelming evidence from primary sources. This decision prepares for the 500th-year celebration of Christianity in the Philippines.

The Philippines is one of two Christian countries in Asia. The controversy revolves around two locations: Butuan and Limasawa. All accounts are primarily based on Antonio Pigafetta's chronicles of Magellan's expedition. Pigafetta states the first mass occurred on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521, on an island called 'Maza', with the presence of the Raja of 'Maza' and the Raja of Butuan. A wooden cross was planted on a hill to signify Christian conversion.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) launched an investigation in 2018 at the request of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), aiming to clarify the site of the first mass for the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021. Experts listened to proponents from both sides.

The NHCP panel examined numerous pro-Butuan accounts, noting that they were written decades after 1521 and relied on non-eyewitness testimonies. Historians like Miguel Bernard and William Henry Scott criticized the Butuan tradition, citing that early interpretations by Ramus were 'garbled and mutilated' summaries of Pigafetta's actual account, and erroneously placed the mass in Butuan.

Pigafetta later composed a more comprehensive version of his voyage, which became available to scholars like Trinidad Pardo de Tavera and Pablo Pastells in the late 19th century. Their studies, along with English translations by Robertson and Skelton of original codices, confirmed 'Maza' as Limasawa and unequivocally pointed to it as the site of the first mass. These updated scholarly opinions were crucial in shifting the historical consensus.

After the 19th century, new information, particularly direct translations of Pigafetta's and Albo's accounts, shifted the belief to Limasawa. Key evidence includes Albo's logbook, which specifies a latitude (9 and 2/3 degrees North) that perfectly matches Limasawa's location south of Leyte. Albo's account also describes seeing three islands to the west and southwest from the cross-planting hill, a geographical feature consistent with Limasawa, but not Butuan which is landlocked in its southern part.