First Mass

in the
Philippines
Places Involve:

• Masao in Butuan
• Limasawa Island in Leyte
The National Historical Institute (NHI) has
already reached a conclusion after a two-
year study. In 1996, it reaffirmed the
popular belief propelled by Republic Act
2733 that the first Holy Mass was
celebrated in Limasawa Island on March
31, 1521.The NHI cited the memoirs of
Antonio Pigafetta.
 Republic Act No. 2733
Congress of the Philippines
19 June 1960

An Act to Declare the Site in Magallanes, Limasawa Island

in the Province of Leyte, Where the First Mass in the
Philippines was Held as a National Shrine, to Provide for
the Preservation of Historical Monuments and Landmarks
Thereat, and for Other Purposes
Primary Source use:

• The evidence of Albo’s Log-book

• The Chronicle of Pigafetta (First
Voyage Around the World)
 Antonio Pigafetta.

Who chronicled the expedition of Ferdinand Magellan. He was one of

the 18 men who returned to Spain in 1522.
 Francisco Albo
Pilot of Magellan’s flagship. He was also one of the 18 men
who returned to Spain in 1522.
Two Conflicting claims of the identity of Mazaua:

• First mass was held at the little island

of Leyte called Limasawa.

• First mass was held at the beach

called Masao at the mouth of the
Agusan River in Northern Mindanao;
Butuan.
First mass was held in Limasawa
but not in Masao in Butuan.
 Not in Masao
Reasons:

• Lack of evidence
• Inconsistency of Magellan’s route, the date,
and also the spellings of places and persons
involved
Various historians supporting the Butuan
tradition:

• Father Francisco Colin S.J.

- Magellan arrived at Butuan first, then to Limasawa and then to
Cebu.
-date given for the first mass is April 8, 1521
• Father Francisco Combes S.J.
- Magellan’s route, based on his statement, was from Limasawa
to Butuan, then back to Limasawa and then to Cebu on April 7,
1521.
• Geovani Careri
- He cited Whit Sunday instead of Easter Sunday
 Mazaua = Limasawa:

• The idea Limasawa=Mazaua was a wild guess

by Carlo Amoretti (1800), discoverer of the
true Pigafetta manuscript, who had not read
Combes' story. Amoretti published his
transcription and in a footnote he
wrote Mazaua may be Limasawa.

• The idea the "first mass" was at Limasawa was

first suggested by Manuel Walls y Merino
(1899), Spanish translator of Amoretti's Italian
Pigafetta's account.
 Reasons: Pigafetta’s Account
• Sunday, March 31,1521 (Easter Sunday)

-First Mass was celebrated (Morning) at

Mazaua which currently identified as Limasawa.
-And in the afternoon, cross was planted on the
summit of the highest hill and from there they
were shown three island to the west and
southwest.
-The king of Mazaua and the king of Butuan was
present in both event.
Pigafetta’s Map:
 Albo’s Log-book
• 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.”
• In Albo’s account, the location of Mazava (Masaua)
Fits the location of the island of the Limasawa, at
the Southern tip of Leyte, 9deg54’N.