Jane :)
Keep it simple but take risks.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2012
Butuan or Limasawa?
The first mass in the Philippines took place in Limasawa, not in Butuan. It is not just because of the lack
of evidence but because of the inconsistency of facts as well. Take for an instance the inconsistency of
Magellan’s route, the date, and also the spellings of places and persons involved as presented by the
various historians supporting the Butuan tradition.
According to Father Francisco Colin S.J., a historian, Magellan arrived at Butuan first, then to Limasawa
and then to Cebu. However, Father Francisco Combes S.J., a Jesuit writer, has another contention. To
him, Magellan visited Limasawa twice. Magellan’s route, based on his statement, was from Limasawa to
Butuan, then back to Limasawa and then to Cebu on April 7, 1521. Another claim by Giovanni Franceso
Gemeili Careri, a Calabrian, strengthened the idea that the first mass did not took place in Butuan
because of its presentation of the wrong date. He cited Whit Sunday instead of Easter Sunday (Bernad,
1983). These were just few of the inconsistent information presented in the Butuan tradition which
made it so absurd. I mean, how come one believe this tradition when you are fed with different versions
of stories from different mouths?
Because of the lack of supporting evidences, historians found out that the Butuan tradition is invalid
thereby coming up with a better tradition: the Limasawa tradition. Although the Limasawa tradition
came after the Butuan, it was proven with evidences that the first mass in the Philippines took place in
Limasawa Island in Visayas on March 31, 1521. It was also affirmed that in the same date, Magellan with
his troops planted a cross on the same site (Cebu Living: The good life in the Beautiful Island, 2006). The
tradition, unlike the other, is supported with a number of solid proofs which includes the Albo’s log
book, evidences of Pigafetta, and the evidence from Legazpi’s expedition. 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.” This best fits
the description of the geographical area of Limasawa which is not applicable to Butuan because there
was no island found in those directions. These are very strong proofs since these people have been part
of the expedition (Bernad, 1983). Albo and Pigafetta both took part in Magellan’s expedition. The former
was one of the pilots in Magellan’s flagship “Trinidad” and the latter was a member of the expedition
itself. Therefore, it is based on eyewitness account. In addition to that, an article by Rolando O.
Borrinaga (2007) in the Inquirer website says that there is an aerial photograph of the prominent hills in
Pigafetta’s map. It is where Magellan and his troops placed the cross known today as Magellan’s cross.
The cross, which symbolizes the baptism of Rajah Humabon, his wife, and his men into Roman Catholic,
served today as a tourist spot in Magallanes, Cebu.
Hence, the birthplace of Roman Catholicism is in Limasawa and not in Butuan.
Sources:
Cebu Living: The good life in the Beautiful Island. http://living.cebunetwork.com/article/magellan-crosscebu/. May 4, 2006.
Miguel A. Bernad S.J. Butuan or Limasawa? The site the First Mass in the Philippines:
A Reexamination of the Evidence. National Book Store. 1983.
Rolando O. Borrinaga. The right place for disputed first Mass in Limasawa.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/2007041460362/The_right_place_for_disputed_first_Mass_in_Limasawa. April 14, 2007.
PenTastic at 3:09 AM
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