LIMASAWA VS.

BUTUAN: THE SITE OF THE

FIRST MASS IN THE PHILIPPINES THE SHIFT IN OPINION
Fr. Pablo Pastells was the man initially
MASAO (BUTUAN CITY) responsible for the shift. He was a Spanish
Jesuit scholar.
*1872: A monument to commemorate the *He collected an enormous number of
site of the first mass on the Philippines was documents from the Archivo de Indias in
erected in Butuan. It was eventually Seville and from other sources.
corrected by the Jesuit missionaries as *The shift in opinion from Butuan to
erroneous Limasawa was due to a rediscovery and a
more attentive study of two primary
*1953: The people of Butuan asked the sources on the subject: namely, Pigafetta’s
Philippine Historical Committee to account and Albo’s log.
rehabilitate the monument or place a
marker on the site. Some recent defenders of the Butuan
tradition have blamed the shift of opinion
*On the basis of this objection the on two Americans, namely Emma Blair and
monument was re-erected but the marble James Robertson whose voluminous
slab stating it was the site of first Mass was collection of documents on the Philippine
removed. Islands was published in Cleveland from
1903 to 1909.
* Zaide identified Masao in Butuan as the
location of the first Mass. The basis of THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
Zaide’s claim is the diary of Antonio We now come to the evidence in favor of
Pigafetta, Chronicler of Magellan’s Voyage. Limasawa. The evidence may be outlined
as follows:
LIMASAWAS (SAMAR, LEYTE) ● The evidence of Albo’s Logbook
Jaime de Veyra stated that the first Mass ● The evidence of Pigafetta
was celebrated in Limasawa and not in (a) Pigafetta’s testimony regarding the
Butuan. route;
Jesuit historian Pablo Pastells stated in the (b) The evidence of Pigafetta’s map;
footnote to Francisco Colin’s Labor (c) The two native kings’
Evangelica that Magellan did not go to (d) The seven days at “Mazaua”;
Butuan but went from Limasawa to Cebu. (e) An argument of omission
Francisco Albo does not mention the first ● Summary of the evidence of Albo and
Mass but he writes that they erected a Pigafetta
cross on a mountain which overlooked ● Confirmatory evidence from the
three islands to the west and the Legaspi expedition
southwest
In the authentic account of Pigafetta, the 1. The Evidence of Albo’s Logbook
port was not in Butuan but an island ● Francisco Albo joined the Magellan
named Mazua (Masawa) expedition as a pilot
 (“contra-maestre”) in Magellan’s Antonio Pigafetta entitled Primo
flagship “Trinidad”. viaggio intomo al mondo (First
● He was one of the 18 survivors who voyage around the World).
returned with Sebastian Elcano on ● The pertinent section in Pigafetta’s
the “Victoria” after having account is that part in which he
circumnavigated the World. narrates the events from the 16th of
● Albo began keeping his own diary – March 1521 when they first sighted the
merely only a log-book – on the islands of the Philippines, up to the
voyage out. His account of their entry 7th of April when the expedition
into Philippine waters (or, as it was landed at Cebu.
then called, the archipelago of San ● In examining the evidence from
Lazaro). Pigafetta, we shall consider 5 points:
● Such is Albo’s testimony. The island ○ Pigafetta’s Testimony regarding
that he calls Gada seems to be the the Route
acquada of Pigafetta, namely the ○ The evidence of Pigafetta’s Maps
island of Homonhon where they took ○ The two Kings
in supplies of water and wood. The ○ Seven days at Mazaua
large island of Seilani which they ○ An argument from Omission
coasted is the island of Leyte.
Coasting southwards along the
eastern coast of that island, then SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE OF ALBO AND
turning southwest they came upon a PIGAFETTA
small island named, Mazava, which
lies at a latitude of 9 and two-thirds Taking the evidence of Alba’s logbook
degrees North. together with that from Pigafetta’s
● That fits the location of the small account, we may take the following points
island of Limasawa, south of Leyte. as established:
The island’s southern tip is 9⁰54’N. 1. Magellan’s expedition entered
● It is to be noted that Albo does not Philippine waters south of the island
mention the first Mass, but only the of Samar and dropped anchor at
planting of the cross upon a Homonhon where they stayed a
mountain-top from which could be week. Then they sailed westward
seen three islands to the west and towards Leyte and then southwards
southwest. This also fits the southern parallel to the eastern coast of that
end of Limasawa. It does not fit the island and that of the adjoining
coast of Butuan from which no island of Panaon. Rounding the
islands could be seen to the south or southern tip of the latter, they
the southwest, but only towards the anchored off the eastern shore of a
north. small island called Mazaua. There
they stayed a week, during which on
1. The Evidence from Pigafetta Easter Sunday they celebrated Mass
● The most complete account of and planted the cross on the Summit
Magellan expedition is that by of the highest hill.
 2. The island Mazaua lies at a latitude of misunderstood by later historians as
nine and two-thirds degrees north. Its meaning that he had known him at
position (south of Leyte) and its Butuan.
latitude corresponded to the position 3. It must be remembered that the
and latitude of the island of Butuan tradition, while erroneous as to
Limasawa, whose southern tip lies at the site if the first Mass, is not entirely
9 degrees and 54 minutes North. without validity.
3. From Mazaua the expedition sailed * From the tradition that “Magellan visited
northwestwards through the Canigao Butuan,” it is easy for incautious historians
channel between Bohol and Leyte, to conclude that “therefore the first Mass
then northernwards parallel to the must have been celebrated at Butuan”.
eastern coast of this latter island,
then they sailed westward to the The Importance of Butuan
Camotes Group and from there ● From the accounts of Legaspi’s
southwestwards to Cebu. expedition, which visited Butuan
4. At no point in that itinerary did the forty-four years aster Magellan’s
Magellan expedition go to Butuan or death, we know that Butuan was an
any other point on the Mindanao important trading port for interisland
coast. The survivors of the expedition (and possibly for foreign) commerce.
did go to Mindanao later, but only ● Almost all of the archeological
after Magellan’s death. artifacts on display in the New
Museum at Butuan (affiliated with the
THE LEGASPI EXPEDITION National Museum) had been dug up
● As pilots of the Legaspi expedition on that delta.
understood it, Mazaua was an island ● Butuan’s importance is underlined by
near Leyte and Panaon; Butuan was the fact that it was the first place in
on the island of Mindanao. The two Mindanao where a Christian mission
were entirely different places and in was established. It was served, first by
no wise identical. the Jesuits and later by the
Augustinian Recollects.
● Thus, the importance of Butuan in the
Why then the Butuan Tradition? history of the Philippines is in no way
1. It must be remembered that the dependent upon its claim to have
tradition is based on second-hand been the site of the first Mass in the
information. One author repeats what Philippines. To reject that claim is no
previous authors have written and is way belittle Butuan’s importance.
turn copied by subsequent authors. Butuan in its own right deserves an
2. Magellan and his men got to know the honorable place in the study of
rajah of Butuan and Mazaua. Philippine culture and history.
According to Pigafetta, that rajah was
at Mazaua only on a visit. But it is easy
to see how the fact that Magellan had
known the rajah of Butuan could be
*Pigafetta kept a comprehensive journal, Pigafetta’s detailed descriptions of the
known as First Voyage Around the World, island, its geography, and its proximity to
which is a key primary source for Leyte match Limasawa, not Butuan.
understanding the events and interactions
in the Philippines during Magellan's
expedition. This journal is the basis of the 2. Pigafetta’s Description of the
argument for Limasawa being the site of Surrounding Environment:
the first Mass. It is considered a primary
source because Pigafetta, as Magellan’s Pigafetta described the island of the first
chronicler, recorded the events as they Mass as being small, with no rivers, but
happened. close to larger islands, particularly Leyte
and Mindanao. This aligns more with
*Pigafetta's detailed description of the first Limasawa's geography, as Masao, Butuan,
Mass, held on March 31, 1521, in Limasawa, is on the mainland and surrounded by
provides strong evidence. His accounts rivers.
include descriptions of the geographical
location, such as the fertile land, and 3. Events After the Mass:
insights into the local government and the
indigenous people's practices. These Pigafetta's account mentions that after the
details go beyond just identifying the site Mass, Magellan's fleet sailed to Cebu.
of the Mass, offering a deeper cultural and Limasawa’s location along the route to
historical understanding of the event. Cebu makes it a logical stopover for the
Pigafetta’s comprehensive and accurate fleet. Butuan, on the other hand, is not on
observations make his journal a crucial the natural course from the point of their
source for understanding this part of prior landings to Cebu, making it a less
history. likely candidate based on the expedition’s
sailing path.
Points and Arguments:
4. Archaeological Findings:
1. Historical Accounts:
There have been more archaeological
Pigafetta's Log: Antonio Pigafetta, the findings in Limasawa that support the
official chronicler of Magellan’s voyage, historical narrative of Magellan's landing
recorded that the fleet landed at an island and interactions with local leaders. These
situated at approximately "9 degrees and findings include remnants of trade and
40 minutes North latitude," which local artifacts that coincide with the
accurately corresponds to Limasawa. This timeline of the arrival.
geographical evidence is a critical piece of
documentation supporting Limasawa as 5. Contradictions in the Butuan Claim:
the site of the first Mass.
The Masao (Butuan) theory lacks solid
Consistent Historical Narrative: Historians documentation in the primary sources.
and scholars generally agree that Pigafetta’s account does not match
Butuan's location and geography, which is Argument: Pigafetta’s description of
on the mainland, rather than the island Mazaua (believed to be Limasawa) fits the
described by Magellan’s chronicler. geographical and cultural characteristics
of the island:
Additionally, Butuan is believed to have A natural harbor suitable for Magellan’s
been a center for a different historical ships.
event—Magellan’s later visit—but not the Fertile land capable of sustaining the
first Easter Mass, adding confusion to the explorers.
narrative. Friendly interactions with local leaders,
such as Rajah Kolambu, who helped
coordinate the mass.

Introduction: B. Francisco Albo’s Navigational Log:

The question of whether the first mass in Key Point: Francisco Albo, the expedition’s
the Philippines was held in Limasawa or navigator, recorded the journey’s specific
Butuan is a crucial historical debate. The routes and locations.
event represents the first major interaction Argument: Albo confirms that after leaving
between Europeans and Filipinos and has Homonhon Island, the fleet sailed south to
profound historical significance. A Mazaua (Limasawa), where the first mass
thorough examination of historical was held. His navigational details closely
accounts, geographical data, and match Pigafetta’s observations.
scholarly research strongly supports
Limasawa as the site of the first mass. 3. Geographical Evidence Favoring
Limasawa:
1. Historical Context:
A. Geographical Consistency:
A. The Arrival of Magellan: Key Point: Pigafetta and Albo both
Key Point: Magellan arrived in the describe the location of the first mass as
Philippines on March 16, 1521, marking a being south of Leyte and close to
critical point of contact between Europe Mindanao.
and the archipelago. Argument: Limasawa, situated 30
Argument: Understanding the sequence of kilometers south of Leyte, fits this
events after Magellan’s arrival is essential description better than Butuan, which is
to determining the location of the first located further north.
mass.
B. Topographical Features:
2. Primary Historical Accounts Supporting Key Point: Pigafetta describes the first
Limasawa: mass site as having hilly terrain and fertile
land.
A. Antonio Pigafetta’s Observations: Argument: Limasawa’s geography
Key Point: Pigafetta, an Italian chronicler of matches these features, while Butuan’s flat
Magellan’s expedition, provides the most coastal landscape does not align with this
comprehensive account of the journey. description.
 Conclusion Outline (dili final):
4. Scholarly and Archaeological Support: The evidence overwhelmingly supports
Limasawa as the site of the first mass in
A. Scholarly Consensus: the Philippines.
Key Point: The National Historical ● Pigafetta’s detailed observations;
Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and ● Albo’s navigational records
a majority of historians recognize geographical consistency; and
Limasawa as the site of the first mass. ● modern scholarly research all point
Argument: This conclusion is based on to Limasawa as the more accurate
thorough analysis of primary sources, location.
navigational data, and geographical While Butuan holds significant historical
alignment. value, it cannot substantiate its claim to
B. Archaeological Findings: the first mass with the same level of
Key Point: Artifacts uncovered in historical and geographical evidence.
Limasawa date back to the early 16th Therefore, Limasawa stands as the rightful
century. location of this pivotal event in Philippine
Argument: These findings support the history.
notion that Limasawa was a key location
during Magellan’s expedition, bolstering
claims that the first mass took place there. R&Qs
5. Counterarguments to Butuan’s Claims:
Historical Evidence:
A. Misinterpretation of Historical
Accounts: On Pigafetta's Account:
Key Point: Some Butuan advocates cite *Pigafetta’s account is considered the
"Masao" as the first mass site. most detailed and comprehensive of
Argument: This claim is based on later Magellan’s voyage. If Butuan is truly the
interpretations, which often conflict with site of the first mass, why does Pigafetta
the primary sources, such as Pigafetta’s consistently describe geographical
and Albo’s firsthand accounts. features that align more closely with
Limasawa rather than Butuan?
B. Geographical Inaccuracy:
Key Point: Butuan’s advocates argue that How do you reconcile Pigafetta's
Pigafetta’s descriptions better match description of a small island with fertile
Butuan’s location. land and a natural harbor with the flat and
Rebuttal: The distance and topography coastal geography of Butuan?
described by Pigafetta are more
consistent with Limasawa’s features, and On Francisco Albo’s Logbook:
Albo’s navigational log does not mention Albo’s navigational log confirms that the
stopping at Butuan. fleet sailed south from Homonhon to
Mazaua. Can you provide any navigational
evidence that suggests the fleet diverted
north toward Butuan, and if so, why is this primary-source evidence supporting
detail missing from both Pigafetta’s and Limasawa?
Albo’s accounts?
Later Historical Accounts:
Geographical Inconsistencies: *Some of the confusion over the first mass
*Butuan is situated far north of Limasawa. stems from 17th-century
How do you explain the fact that both misinterpretations by historians like
Pigafetta and Albo describe the first mass Francisco Colin and Francisco Combes.
site as being south of Homonhon and How reliable are these later interpretations,
Leyte, fitting Limasawa’s location? given that they were written long after
Magellan’s expedition, and often without
*Can you provide concrete geographical access to Pigafetta’s firsthand account?
descriptions or evidence from primary
sources that better match Butuan’s *Can you explain why modern historians
landscape compared to Limasawa’s and the National Historical Commission of
terrain of hills and fertile land? the Philippines (NHCP) continue to reaffirm
Limasawa as the site, despite Butuan’s
Archaeological Findings: claims?
*Butuan is often cited for its
archaeological significance due to the Butuan's Claim to Legislative Advocacy:
discovery of ancient Balanghai boats and
other artifacts. However, these findings Legislative Efforts:
predate Magellan’s arrival. Do you have *Butuan proponents have relied on
any artifacts or archaeological evidence legislative efforts, such as the 1995 bill
directly tied to the event of the first mass? claiming Masao as the site of the first
Limasawa has 16th-century artifacts linked mass. However, do legal actions or
to European contact. Are there any similar monuments prove historical events,
findings in Butuan directly relating to especially in the absence of solid historical
Magellan’s expedition? and primary evidence?

Butuan’s Historical Tradition: *These rebuttal questions challenge the

*While Butuan may have been a opposition to provide stronger evidence,
significant trading port before Spanish address inconsistencies, and justify their
colonization, do local legends or traditions reliance on secondary sources over
hold the same weight as primary historical primary accounts.
documents like those of Pigafetta and
Albo?

*Proponents of Butuan often cite local

traditions and monuments that claim
Butuan as the first mass site. How do these
claims override the wealth of