THE FIRST MASS WAS IN MASAO, BUTUAN

Supporting evidences:

● 1st Evidence: Diary of Antonio Pigafetta and the Chronicles of Magellan’s Voyage.

[Pigafetta has the most complete account of Magellan expedition entitled Primo viaggio intorno al
mondo (First Voyage around the world).

As observed by Gomez, the instance wherein Pigafetta had written about the mass said it had two things
in common; they are both held in the shores and there are Filipino natives present. Another passing
evidence, a document found concerning the landing of Magellan’s fleet in Suluan ‘’(Homonhon)’’ and
the treaty with the natives featured in a blog post in 2004.[13] It first came out in an article published in
1934 in Philippine Magazine featured by Percy Gil, and once again featured by Bambi Harper in her
column at the Philippine Daily Inquirer back in 2004.

In the afternoon of the same day, Magellan instructed his comrades to plant a large wooden cross on
the top of the hill overlooking the sea.[14] Magellan’s chronicler, Antonio Pigafetta, who recorded the
event said: “After the cross was erected in position, each of us repeated a Pater Noster and an Ave
Maria, and adored the cross; and the kings [Colambu and Siaiu] did the same.”[15]

Magellan then took ownership of the islands where he had landed in the name of King Charles V which
he had named earlier on March 16 Archipelago of Saint Lazarus because it was the day of the saint when
the Armada reached the archipelago.

On June 19, 1960, Republic Act No. 2733, known as the “Limasawa Law”, was enacted without
executive approval on June 19, 1960

[You see, in June 19, 1960, Republic Act 2733 lapsed into law, “without Executive approval.” President
Macapagal did not sign it. ]

[Without being disrespectful much less smart alecky, I am afraid the National Historical Institute panel
may never have read Pigafetta in its entirety or whatever they may have read, they dismally
misinterpreted!]

[There is absolutely no doubt that mass was celebrated in Limasawa on March 31, 1521, Easter
Sunday because Pigafetta did say so. But nowhere in the entire Pigafetta manuscript did he ever state
or even hint that it was “the first ever!”]

[In fact, the National Historical Institute repeated a much earlier Congressional error. You see, in June 19,
1960, Republic Act 2733 lapsed into law, “without Executive approval.” President Macapagal did not
sign it. That legislation declared Limasawa a National Shrine because it was there that “the First Mass in
the Philippines was held.”

Here is the verbatim quote (English translation from Blair & Robertson) of what Pigafetta wrote: “Early
on the morning of Sunday, the last of March and Easterday, the captain general sent the priest with
some men to prepare the place where mass was to be said.” Indeed, it was the first mention of mass
being celebrated since arriving in the islands they had just named “the archipelago of San Lazaro.”
Inescapably and irrefutably, however, Pigafetta never claimed that that Limasawa Easter Mass was the
“first ever, ” as we were taught in our elementary school Philippine History.]

[As a matter of observation, a few noted historians are now no longer referring to the Limasawa mass as
the “first.” Earlier, there has been a shift – referring to the Limasawa event as the “first recorded mass.”
Unavoidably, the stark implication, without officially admitting it, was that there was a first “unrecorded
mass.” Quite recently, the 500th Anniversary of that March 31 event (to be celebrated in 2021) was
referred to more factually as simply the “Easter Sunday Mass” at Limasawa. Claims of being the “first”
seem to be vanishing!]

● 2nd Evidence: The expedition traveled to 20-25 leagues from Humonhon, the first landing point.

[According to the primary records, again, the expedition travelled 20 to 25 leagues from Homonhon,
their first landing point, to the site of the first mass, taking a west southwest course. If they had been at
Limasawa Island, the distance is only about 14.6 leagues, or one half of that length.]

● 3rd Evidence: The distance to Cebu from MAzaua according to Piafetta was 35 leagues (140 miles).
The distance from Limasawa to Cebu is only 80 miles.

[The distance to Cebu from Mazaua according to Pigafetta was 35 leagues [140 miles]. The distance
from Limasawa to Cebu is only 80 miles. Significant archeological relics or Balanghai tradition. Attested
to the abundance of gold in the Agusan Valley.]

● 4th Evidence: It was mentioned that the king came to their ship in a balanghai. Butuan is now the site
of atleast nine excavated balanghai relics; by contrast, limasawa has no significant archeological relics
or balanghai tradition.

● 5th Evidence: Abundance of gold in the Agusan Valley.

● Magellan never landed at Limasawa at all. On June 19, 1960, the Philippine Congress enacted a bill (R.
2733) declaring Limasawa as the place where Magellan celebrated the first recorded mass in the
Philippines. The face that the President Carlos P. Garcia did not sign the law because he was not sure the
fact that the “MAZAUA” in the Pigafetta Codex is really Limasawa. It was the American historian Emma
Helen Blair and John Alexander Robertson who claimed in 1909 that the island of Mazaua is the
present island of Limasawa without giving any explanation for the identification.

BUTUAN TO PURSUE CLAIM IT WAS SITE OF FIRST MASS IN RP 485 YEARS AGO
BUTUAN CITY AND CULTURAL HISTORICAL FOUNDATION Inc. contested the declaration in early 1980’s-
90’s

● According to BCHFI(Butuan City Cultural and Historical Foundation Inc) there are 28 gathered new
pieces of scientific evidence and comparison between the two island (mazzaua and limasawa) 10
recovery of Balanghai boat in 1976 near masao river. Historian Gregorio Zaide, who originally supported
the Limasawa claimed that “It is high time for contemporary historians and the Philippines government
to correct their mistake and accept that the first Christian mass was celebrated in Masao, Butuan,
Agusan Del Norteand not in Limasawa, Leyte on Easter Sunday, March 31, 19, 1521.

2. GINES DE MAFRA HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS

● Gines de mafra (1493- 1546) was a portuguese or spanish explorer who sailed to the Philippines in the
16th Century. De Mafra was a member of expeditions of Fernao de Megalhaes of 1519-1521 and Ruy
Lopez de Villalobos 1542-1545. Independent scholar Vicente C. de Jesus said that these historians do not
consider the eyewitness account of Gines de Mafra, one of the voyagers, which bolster the Butuan
claim. He would also claim that some parts of the Ambrosiana codex, on which the Limasawa claim was
founded, was largely mistranslated.

*GEOGRAPHICAL MYSTERIES

● Magellan’s Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe. It is this document that makes his information an
incomparably important geographical testimony that unlocks the mystery of the island Mazaua. Because
the shape of the isle is almost circular, 3- leagues translated to an area of from 2,214up to 3,930
hectares. In contrast, Limasawa is only 698 hectares.

● He also stated, they anchored west of the isle: “Este isla tiene un puerto bueno a la parte del poniente
della, y es poblada” (This island called Mazahua has a good harbor on its western side and is inhabited).
De Mafra most clarifying testimony is that Mazaua was 15 leagues, roughly 45 nautical miles (83km)
below Butuan in 1521 which in Pigafetta’s map, and text is larger geographical conception than the
present day map.

3. BUTUAN HISTORIANS ASK CBCP TO RESOLVE THE FIRST MASS

CONTROVERSY IN CITY’s FAVOR

● Historian’s stated that they have new evidences that the first mass belongs to Butuan City. The mass
was ended in mazua a place in butuan now called Masao. Butan City Heriatage society president Greg
Hontiveros said that they were confident in their new data and evidence that the mass was held on their
city. It pointed out that one of important evidence is the yale codex which according to Magellan’s
scholar is more impressive than the Ambrosiana Codex.

- He also pointed out that one important evidence is the Yale Codex, which according to Magellan’s
history scholars, is more impressive than the Ambrosiana Codex used in the past to justify both claims.
He further stated that the document (referring to the Yale Codex) is now kept at Yale University while
the other two French manuscripts are in the French National Library. Another proof, according to Fr.
Amalla are the versions of Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan’s voyage chronicler, because there are subtle
indicators that can be used.

● Mazava or Mazaua is located 9 and ⅓ latitude and located south of Seilani which is 10 latitude.
Limasawa is an island 9 latitude near Leyte. Mazaua which is 9 latitude is probably located near Butuan
City or nearby municipality within Agusan Del Norte.

 Another evidence to prove that the first Catholic site was held somewhere in Butuan and not in
Limasawa Island was the historical account of Joelito Monzon Ramirez Jr., a local historian and
writer.
 (1)There was no island named Limasawa in 1521. On that event, Pigafetta recorded today’s
Limasawa as Gatighan Island, between Bohol and Panaon south of Leyte. Magellan never
landed in Gatighan.
 The name Limasawa appeared only in 1667, Historia de Mindanao, by Combes. Pigafetta saw
these islands ON THEIR WAY OUT FROM MAZAUA after their departure on April 4, after the
first mass was celebrated on March 31.
 They went to Mazaua from Suluan by saling, as recorded, downwards – west. From Suluan,
Limasawa can be reached by sailing northwest – but that is not their course. They sailed
dowmwards-west
 Upon their departure, they sailed northwards for Cebu. Had the been in Limasawa, that
direction would have landed them in Ormoc of Leyte.


CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, we formulated and gathered data that we an prove that the first mass dated and
happened on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521 at Masao, Butuan is clearly the site where the first mass
was held. It is because historians, archeologists, etc, were able to find credible artifacts or visible
evidences in butuan which the limasawa island did not contain.

The first documented Catholic Mass in the Philippines was held on March 31, 1521, Easter Sunday. It
was conducted by Father Pedro de Valderrama of Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition along the shores of
what was referred to in the journals of Antonio Pigafetta as “Mazaua”.

Today, this site is widely believed by many historians and the government to be Limasawa off the tip of
Southern Leyte,[1][2] However, until at least the 19th century, the prevailing belief was that the first
mass was held in Butuan.[3] This belief is maintained by some, who assert that the first mass was
instead held at Masao, Butuan.[
To end the conflict for the issue about the first mass, the National Historical Commission of the
Philippines (NHCP) panel adapted the recommendation[5] and unanimously agreed that the evidence
and arguments presented by the pro-Butuan advocates are not sufficient and convincing enough to
warrant the repeal or reversal of the ruling on the case by the National Historical Institute (the NHCP’s
forerunner). It is further strengthened by the evidence that it was only after 22 years, in 1543—when a
Spanish expedition led by Ruy López de Villalobos landed in Mindanao.

LEGAL CHARGES. Local historian Potenciano R. Malvar (left) and his counsel Atty. Jose Batungbacal, Jr.
announced in a press conference Thursday (March 18, 2021) in Butuan City the filing of a criminal
complaint against the panel members tasked to conduct queries and recommendations to determine
the site of the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines. Malvar alleges that the government-created panel
made libelous claims and falsifications in their official report. (PNA photo by Alexander Lopez)

BUTUAN CITY – The quest to recognize this city as the site of the first Catholic mass in the Philippines
has taken another turn after a criminal complaint was filed against the members of a panel tasked to
determine the site of the historic religious rite marking the start of Christianization in the country.

In a resolution issued in July last year, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)
sustained previous conclusions indicating that the first Catholic mass was celebrated during Easter
Sunday in 1521 in Limasawa Island in Southern Leyte.

The NHCP decision was based on recommendations made by an investigating panel led by Dr. Resil B.
Mojares, whose group was formed through President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 55 in May
2018.

The other members of the Mojares Panel include Dr. Danilo M. Gerona, Dr. Francis M. Navarro, Dr.
Carlos Madrid Alvares-Piñer, Fr. Antonio Francisco B. De Castro, and Dr. Jose Victor Z. Torres.

On Thursday, however, local historian Potenciano R. Malvar filed a criminal complaint against the
Mojares Panel for violations of Articles 355, 171, and 172 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) alleging libel
and falsifications by public officers and private individuals.

The Office of the City Prosecutor officially received the complaint on the same day, and respondents
have yet to receive copies of the complaint as of this writing.

Aside from all the panel members, Dr. Rolando O. Borringa, whom Malvar identified as adviser and
resource person of the group, was also named respondent in the case.

Extensive study

Malvar, a local historian, is a long-time advocate for the recognition of Butuan as the place where the
first Catholic mass was celebrated in 1521.
“For years, I have made extensive research not only here in the Philippines but also abroad, including
Spain and Portugal, and made researches and studies on the life and travels of Ferdinand Magellan,”
Malvar said in a press conference at the Balanghai Hotel here Thursday afternoon.

He recalled that Mojares’ group is the third panel the government created to resolve the controversies
on the first Catholic mass site; the first was the panel led by Supreme Court Justice Emilio Gancayco in
1995 and that of Dr. Benito Legarda Jr. in 2008.

“All the three panels concluded that Limasawa was the site of the first mass, but the Legarda panel’s
report was not conclusive as it encouraged local historians and scholars in Butuan to continue and
expand the historical studies to further strengthen their claim,” Malvar said.

In preparation for this year’s 500th anniversary of Magellan’s first circumnavigation of the world and his
first contact with Filipinos in 1521, the government has been preparing for the historic milestone since
2018.

Malvar said the Mojares Panel issued a call in September 2018 for the submission of position papers for
the claim of the first mass held in Butuan.

“I formally submitted a position paper entitled “Pigafetta’s 9° 2/3N Hidden Facts” during the panel’s first
meeting in Cebu City on December 12 to 13, 2018,” Malvar said.

He said the position paper was anchored on Antonio Pigafetta and Francisco Albo’s accounts on the life
and voyages of Magellan.

“Included on the paper was the result of my extensive research during my travels to the birthplace of
Magellan in Sabrosa, Portugal; in Vicenza and Milan in Italy and in Boston and Yale Libraries in the US
where I obtained the Italian and French versions of the Pigafetta manuscripts,” Malvar said.

The same paper was also discussed before its formal submission, particularly on November 9, 2018,
during a focused group discussion by the NHCP and the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP) in Butuan City, he added.

“My years of research and gathering of evidence made possible the completion of my position paper
pointing to the undisputed fact that the first Easter Sunday mass was celebrated in Magallanes, Butuan,”
Malvar said.

Libelous, falsified
In his complaint, Malvar alleged that the Mojares Panel’s conclusions in its report caused dishonor and
discredit to his person and in his reputation and years of extensive research and study on the actual site
where the first mass was celebrated in the country.

Malvar received the copy of the panel’s 72-page report in May last year, indicating that his position
paper was “based on conjectures from ideas derived secondary sources including a fictional account of
Magellan expedition”.

In his complaint, a copy of which was obtained by Philippine News Agency Friday, Malvar said the
Mojares Panel “maliciously concluded, without any explanation and basis that my presentation or
position paper was based on conjectures and fictional account”.

He also alleged that the panel members, being commissioned by the government, “made several
alterations” when it adopted as a whole the presentation made by Respondent Borrinaga.

Among the contentions made by Malvar was on the claim of Borrinaga that was taken on by the panel
that stated: “the three islands seen by Pigafetta from Saub Points and these three islands are believed to
be those of Camiguin, Bohol and Surigao area of Caraga.”

“In all my readings of the translations made by Robertson and Skelton of the Pigafetta manuscripts,
there was never any mention of ‘three islands’ as falsely claimed by Dr. Borrinaga and the Mojares Panel
in the subject report,” Malvar stipulated in the complaint.

He further alleged that the panel members made untruthful statements when it claimed that they
inspected the sites where the proponents said the first mass was held in Magallanes, Agusan del Norte.

Malvar attached in the complaint a certification issued by the chief executive of Magallanes town saying
that no member of the Mojares Panel visited the area.

The researcher lead to a conclusion that Antonio Pigafetta’s account is more firm than Albo because
Pigafetta’s account is more complete and supported by evidences including the date of event and also
the location. In Albo’s account he didn’t mention the first Mass but only the planting of the cross upon
a mountain top from which could be seen three islands to the west and southwest unlike Pigafetta he
mention in his account that the first Mass is held in Butuan on Easter Sunday, March 31. Pigafetta also
seen as a is a credible source because his work was instantly became classic that prominent in the west
like William Shakespeare, Michel de Montaigne, and Giambattista Vico referred to the book in their
interpretation of the new world. The chronicle of Pigafetta was one of the most cited documents by
historians who wished to study the pre-colonial Philippines.

Butuan and not in Limasawa Leyte; because according to (Republic Act No. 2733) the law as well as the
government declare that the first mass is really held in Masao, Butuan. Even though there is also a law
declare Limasawa as the place were the first Mass held there’s a possibility that they only want to detour
us to the truth that Butuan is the real place where it is held because there’s a lot of evidences that leads
to the conclusion that the first Mass was held in Masao, Butuan

Unang Misa: Butuan

1.Kahulugan ng salitang “Masawa” -Ayon kay Antonio Pigafetta, isa sa mga chronicler ni Magellan, ang
nagsasabi na ang ibig sabihin ng “Masawa” ay bright light o maliwanag na ilaw. Ang ibig sabihin ng
salitang ito ay maisasalin mula sa diyalektong Butuanon at sa pinanggalingang wika nito, ang Tausug,
at ang mga taong gumagamit ng mga diyalektong ito ay mula sa Butuan.

2.Ang Pagdalo ng Dalawang Pinuno -Ayon sa mga inilathala ng mga historyador, mayroong dalawang
pinuno na dumalo sa Unang Misa. Isa na rito si Rajah Siaiu at ang kanyang kapatid na si Rajah Colombu.

3.Pagdiriwang ng Kaganapan ng Unang Misa mula pa noong 17th Century -Tradisyon na mula noong
17thcentury ang paggunita sa kaganapan ng Unang Misa sa Butuan kung saan isang monumento pa ang
itinayo noong 1872. Ito ay ipinagdiwang ng halos tatlong daang taon

4.Father Colin: Pagganap ng Unang Misa sa Teritoryo ng Butuan at pagtatayo ng Krus. -Ayon kay Father
Colin, isa sa mga unang nagtala ng pangyayaring ito; ang Unang Misa ay nangyari sa teritoryo ng Butuan
kung saan nagtayo ng Krus sila Magellan.

5.Father Combes: Pagtatayo ng Krus -Ayon naman kay Father Combes, wala siyang binanggit na
kaganapan ng Unang Misa ngunit binaggit niya ang pagtatayo ng Krus sa Butuan. Kung ihahambing sa iba
pang mga lathala ay nasabing sabay naganap ang Unang Misa at ang Pagtatayo ng Krus.

6.Natagpuan ang Sampung Balanghai sa Butuan -Mayroon ring siyentipikong basehan na inilatag ang
mga Butuanos. Ayon kay Fr. Joesilo Amalla, mayroong sampung balanghai na natagpuan malapit sa
Barangay Masao na sinasabing ginamit upang magdala ng mga kagamitan na ginamit para sa pagsamba.

7.“Graben” na nakita malapit sa Pinamanculan Hills na malapin sa Barangay Masao -Ang “graben” ay
isang parte ng lupa na lumubog dahil sa paggalaw ng ilang bloke ng lupa sa crust. Ito ay ang
pinaniniwalaang Mazaua na tinutukoy ni Pigafetta na matatagpuan sa pagitan ng Pinamanculan Hills
at Barangay Masao sa Butuan.

8.Ginto sa Butuan gaya ng paglalarawan ni Pigafetta -Ayon kay Pigafetta, ang isla ng Mazaua ay
lugar na maraming ginto. Alam ng lahat na ang lugar malapit sa Butuan ay ginagamit ang ginto
upang makipagkalakal. Dagdag pa rito, ang Limasawa ay isang isla na hindi pinaninirahan nino man
kaya imposibleng angginto na tinutukoy ay matatagpuan sa Limasawa

9.Pag-ani pagkatapos ng Misa: Posible ba sa Limasawa? -Dahil nga sa basehan na walang naninirahan
sa Limasawa noon, imposibleng magkaroon ng mga taong magtatanim kung hindi sila Magellan
lamang. Dagdag pa rito, ang lupa ng Limasawa ay hindi ganoon kayaman kung saan lampas dalawang
araw bago matapos ang pag-ani kung magtatanim man roon. Pinaniniwalaang umani ng pananim
matapos ang misa kung saan ito ay posible sa Butuan dahil na rin sayaman ng lupa rito. Ayon sa mga
tiga-Butuan, dumaong sina Magellan sa Mazaua noongGood Fridayat tumulong sa pag-ani kasama ang
dalawang Rajah at ang mga tauhan nito. Malabong mangyari ang pag-aani sa Limasawa dahil ang isla
ng Limasawa ay napag-alamang hindi matataba ang lupa, kung kaya’t panayimportsila ng mga
ganoong klase ng produkto sa isla; isang ebidensyang agricultural na maaring basehan sa kung saan
nangyari ang ika-unang misa.

10. Albo: 9 Degree North, hindi tugma sa lugar ng Limasawa -Mula sa logbookni Albo, ang tinutukoy
nilang Mazaua ay matatagpuan 9 degrees North kung saan hindi rin naman matatagpuan ang Limasawa.
Kaya lamang ito ang pinili dahil sa katunog ng pangalan at malapit ito rito.

11. Sukat ng Lupa ng Limasawa -Mayroong paglalarawan na ginawa ni Pigafetta na may kasamang sukat
ng lupa. Ayon sa kanya, ang Mazaua ay may sukat na 3-4 na leguas na kung isasalin ay 2,213-3930
hektarya. Ang sukat ng Limasawa ay 698 hektarya lamang na, kung tutuusin, ay napakalayo sa
paglalarawan ni Pigafetta.

12. Hindi patas na pagpapasya ng National Historical Institution (NHI) -Ang NHI ay nagkaroon ng
hindi patas na paghatol patungkol sa pagpapapasiya sa kung saan naganap ang unang misa. Liban sa
hindi pagkakaroon ng mgaMagellan scholars, mga dalubhasang maiging pinag-aaralan ang mga
naging paglalakbay ni Magellan sa mundo, mayroon ding mgacodexo mga manuskrito na hindi nila
ginamit upang basehan ng kanilang paghatol nito. Ang mga kritikal na dokumento na hindi nila
isinama ay angYale Codex, isangcodexna, para sa mgaMagellan scholars, ay mas kapani-paniwala
kaysa saAmbrosian Codexna siyang ginamit ng mga historyador ng Pilipinas upang gawin ang
pagpapasya, at ang mga ikinuwento ni Gines de Mafra, isa sa mga kasama ni Magellan na
nakauwing buhay mula sa Mazaua. Ang mgacodicesna tinanggap lamang ng NHI ay ang Ambrosian
at ang Genoese Pilot account. Kung pagninilayang mabuti, ang ginawa nilang paghatol ay hindi
naaakma sa nararapat na kilos ng isang historyador, lalo na’t kung ipagsasawalambahala nila ang
ibang batis ng kasaysayan ng walang rason.

13. Pagpapasabatas na sa Limasawa ang pinagganapan ng Unang Misa -Ang unang misa sa Pilipinas ay
ipinagpasabatas noong 1960, kung saan sinabi na sa Limasawa ito naganap, bagamat walang
siyentipikong pruweba na susuporta sa batas na ito. Ang ipinapatunay naman ng mga tiga-Butuan
ngayon ay ang mga Balanghai na natagpuan, kasama na rin ang estado ng agrikultura at heograpiya ng
lugar

14. Sa Mapa ni Pigafetta, ang Limasawa ay hindi “Mazaua” kundi “Gatighan” -Makikita sa kanyang
mapa na ang itsura ng isla ng Mazaua ay tila nahahalintulad sa hugis ng isang pagi, ngunit ang hugis ng
isla ng Limasawa ay maihahalintulad sa isang bulateng pinutol. Bagamat ganito ang makikita sa mapa ni
Pigafetta, ang mga historyador ng Pilipinas ay naniniwala pa rin na ang Limasawa ang Mazaua, hindi ang
Gatighan