GEC 102 READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

CONTROVERSIES AND CONFLICTING VIEWS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY:

THE SITE OF THE FIRST MASS

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this chapter, the student are expected to:

 Demonstrate the ability to formulate arguments in favor or against a particular issue using primary sources
INTRODUCTION
“History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are”- David
McCullough
ANTONIO PIGAFETTA

Around 1491 when he was born at Vicenza, Republicof Venice or was known now as Italy and died at
the aged of 39-40 around 1531, He studied astronomy; geography and cartography, an Italian scholar and explorer
from the Republic of Venice, He travelled with the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew on their
First Voyage around the world, He was one of the 18 men who returned to Spain in 1522.
The first Catholic Mass in the Philippines was held on March 31, 1521 (Eastern Sunday) Father Pedro de
Valderrama. Located at the Southern Leyte, a popularly known as the birthplace of the Church in the Philippines.
Holy First Mass marked the birth of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines.

CONTREVERSIES BETWEEN LIMASAWA AND MASAO/BUTUAN

MASAO

1872: A monument to commemorate the site of first mass on the Philippines was erected in Butuan.

1953: The people in Butuan asked the Philippine Historical Committee to rehabilitate the monument or place a
marker on the site.

On the basis of this objection the monument was re-erected but the marble slab stating it was the site of first
mass was removed. Zaide identified Masao in Butuan as the location of the first mass. The basis Zaide’s claim is
the diary of Antonio Pigafetta, chronicle of Magellan’s voyage.

LIMASAWA

Jaime de Veyra stated that the first mass was celebrated in Limasawa not in Butuan. Historian Pablo Pastells
stating by the footnote to Francisco Colin’s Labor Evangelica that Magellan did not go to Butuan but form
Limasawa to Cebu.

Francisco Albo ( pilot of Magellan’s flagship does not mention the first mass but he writes that they
erected a cross on a mountain which overlooked three islands the west and the southwest.James Robertson
agreed with Pastells in a footnote that “Mazua” was actually Limasawa.

In the authentic account of Pigafetta, the port was not in Butuan but an island named Mazua
(Masawa) Father Bernard studied all the Pigafetta’s maps, which place in Mazau off the southern tip of the larger
island of Leyte., a check with the modern maps will show that this jibes with Limasawa and not Masao or Butuan.
GEC 102 READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

EVIDENCE OF 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

EVIDENCE FOR BUTUAN/MASAO

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

QUESTION FOR DISCUSSIONS

1. Do you agree that the site of the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines was in Limasawa?
2. What does the Catholic Mass represent?
3. What is the important part of the Catholic Mass?
GEC 102 READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Activity: Comparison and Contrast

To compare is to tell how two or more things are alike. To contrast is to tell how two or more things are different.
Clue words such as but or unlike show contrasts. Often authors don’t use clue words. Readers must make
comparisons for themselves. Use this chart to compare and contrast the conflicting accounts of the site of the
first mass in the Philippines.

Subject being compared

Reasons for comparison

LIMASAWA

Point 1 Point 2

BUTUAN

Point 1 Point 2

Similarities/differences

Conclusion
GEC 102 READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Rubrics
3- Full Accomplishment- students compared and contrasted the conflicting versions of the venue of the first
Mass in the Philippines in a clear and consistent manner.
2-Substantial Accomplishment – students compared and contrasted the conflicting versions of the venue of
the first Mass in the Philippines but do so in a somewhat consistent manner.
3-Little or Partial Accomplishment- Students have difficulty comparing and contrasting the conflicting
versions of the venue of the first Mass in the Philippines consistently

REFERENCE
Solmerano et al. (2018). Readings in Philippine History. Zone 051, 1239 Instruccion St., Sampaloc Manila, 1008
Metro Manila: Fastbook Publishing Inc.
Torres J.V. (2018) Batis: Sources in Philippine History. Quezon City, Philippines: C & E Publishing Inc.
GEC 102 READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Class Debate : Site of the First Mass

Teacher Name: Mr. lacao-cao

Student Name: ________________________________________

CATEGORY 25 20 15 10
Organization All arguments were Most arguments All arguments were Arguments were
clearly tied to an were clearly tied to clearly tied to an not clearly tied to
idea (premise) and an idea (premise) idea (premise) but an idea (premise).
organized in a and organized in a the organization
tight, logical tight, logical was sometimes not
fashion. fashion. clear or logical.
Presentation Style Team consistently Team usually used Team sometimes One or more
used gestures, eye gestures, eye used gestures, eye members of the
contact, tone of contact, tone of contact, tone of team had a
voice and a level of voice and a level of voice and a level of presentation style
enthusiasm in a enthusiasm in a enthusiasm in a that did not keep
way that kept the way that kept the way that kept the the attention of
attention of the attention of the attention of the the audience.
audience. audience. audience.
Use of Every major point Every major point Every major point Every point was
Facts/Statistics was well supported was adequately was supported not supported.
with several supported with with facts,
relevant facts, relevant facts, statistics and/or
statistics and/or statistics and/or examples, but the
examples. examples. relevance of some
was questionable.
Information All information Most information Most information Information had
presented in the presented in the presented in the several
debate was clear, debate was clear, debate was clear inaccuracies OR
accurate and accurate and and accurate, but was usually not
thorough. thorough. was not usually clear.
thorough.
Respect for Other All statements, Statements and Most statements Statements,
Team body language, responses were and responses responses and/or
and responses respectful and were respectful body language
were respectful used appropriate and in appropriate were consistently
and were in language, but once language, but not respectful.
appropriate or twice body there was one
language. language was not. sarcastic remark.
Rebuttal All counter- Most counter- Most counter- Counter-
arguments were arguments were arguments were arguments were
accurate, relevant accurate, relevant, accurate and not accurate
and strong. and strong. relevant, but and/or relevant
several were weak.
GEC 102 READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY