The Site of The First Mass by RM Fernando

presentation about the site of the first mass

1. The Site of The First Mass

2. Questions: •Where does the First Mass in the Philippines was held? •When does the First Mass in the Philippines happened?

3. The first Catholic Mass in the Philippines was held on March 31, 1521 (Eastern Sunday) Celebrated by: Father Pedro de Valderrama

4. 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 .

5. ANTONIO PIGAFETTA An Italian scholar and explorer from the Republic of Venice He joined the expedition to the Spice Islands led by explorer Ferdinand Magellan He was one of the 18 men who returned to Spain in 1522

6. LIMASAWA OR BUTUAN?

7. 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. MASAO, BUTUAN

8. 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. Gregorio 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. MASAO, BUTUAN

9. Gregorio Zaide’s 6 points favoring Masao, Butuan City: The name of the place (based on Pigafetta’s account “ Mazaua ”) The route from Homonhon taking a west southwest course to the site of the first mass The latitude position supporting the claim of Masao, Butuan

10. 4. The passage to Cebu to Butuan 5. Material cultures in Butuan such as “ bonfire ” and “ balanghai ” 6. The geographical features of Butuan a. the abundance of gold b. a developed settlement before the Westerns came

11. 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 . LIMASAWA

12. In the authentic account of Pigafetta, the port was not in Butuan but in an island named Mazaua Father Bernard studied all the Pigafetta’s maps, which place in Mazaua 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. LIMASAWA

13. The evidence of Albo’s Log-Book The Evidence of Pigafetta Summary of the evidence of Albo and Pigafetta. Pigafetta’s testimony regarding the route; The evidence of Pigafetta’s map The two native kings The seven days at “ Mazaua ” An argument from omission 4. Confirmatory evidence from the Legazpi expedition. Evidence for Limasawa

14. Thank You