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Case Study 1- Where did the first catholic mass take place in
the Philippines
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I.
Case Study 1: Where Did the First Catholic Mass Take Place in
the Philippines?
 The first Catholic Mass in the Philippines was held on March 31,
1521. (Eastern Sunday) Father Pedro de Valderrama Holy first mass
marked the birth of Roman Catholism in the Philippines.
II.
Was it in Limasawa or in Butuan/Masao?
 The place was located at the Southern Leyte. A popularly known as
the birthplace of the Church in the Philippines.
Controversies 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.
III.
Limasawa *
 Jaime de Veyra stated that the first mass was celebrated in
Limawasa not in Butuan.
 Historian Pablo Pastells stating by the footnote to F rancisco
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. Evidence for Masao.
IV.
Evidence for Masao
 The name of the place
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 The route from Homonhon
 The latitude position
 The geographical features
a) the bonfire
b) the balanghai
c) house
d) abundance of gold
e) a developed settlement Evidence for Limasawa
V.
VI.
VII.
The evidence of Albo’s Log-Book
 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
Summary of the evidence of Albo and Pigafetta.
Confirmatory evidence from the Legazpi expedition.
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