the Site of the
First
Catholic
Mass
in the philippines
Presenters:
Map showing the island of Mazzana( Mazaua) in the Map showing the landmass of Butuam (Butuan) in
Ambrosian Manuscript of Pigafetta's chronicle of Mamgdanao(Mindanao) in the Ambrosian Manuscript
the voyage of Magellan's [Link] is from the of Pigafetta's chronicle of the voyage of Magellan's
book "Philippine Islands: Volume 33" by Blair and [Link] is from the book "Philippine Islands:
Robertson, published in 1906 Volume 33" by Blair and Robertson, published in 1906
The Butuan claim rests upon a tradition
that was almost unanimous and
unbroken for three centuries, namely
the 17th, the 18th and the 19th. On the
strength of that tradition and
embodying it, a monument was erected
in 1872 near the mouth of the Agusan
River at a spot that was then within
the municipal boundaries of Butuan,
but which today belongs to the
separate municipality of Magallanes,
named after Ferdinand Magellan.
The monument was a brick pillar on
which was a marble slab that contained
an inscription which might be
translated as follows: To the Immortal
Magellan: People of Butuan with their
Parish Priest and the Spaniards
resident therein, to commemorate his
arrival and the celebration of the First
Mass on this site on the 8th of April
1521. Erected in 1872, under the
District Governor Jose Ma. Carvallo.
1. In all primary sources
including the diary of
Antonio Pigafetta, the
chronicler of Magellan's
voyage, the name of the
place was Mazaua. Masao is
closer to its spelling as
compared to Limasawa which
has four syllables and begins
with another letter.
[Link] to primary records, the
expedition traveled 20 to 25 leagues
from Homonhon, the first landing
point. If they had been to Limasawa
Island, the distance is only 14.6
leagues or one-half of that length.
[Link] distance to Cebu from Mazaua
according to Pigafetta was 35
leagues [140 miles]. The distance
from Limasawa to Cebu is only 80
miles.
4. Distance: Humunu-
Mazzaua (20-25 leagues),
Homonhon-Limasawa (14.6
leagues), Homonhon-Masao,
Butuan (24.54 leagues),
Mazzaua-Zubu (35 leagues-
140 mil.), Limasawa-Cebu
(80 miles), & Masao,
Butuan-Cebu (150 miles).
[Link] mentioned plenty
of balanghai used by the
people as mode of
[Link] was
mentioned that the king came
to their ship in a Balanghai.
Butuan is now the site of at
least nine excavated
Balanghai relics; by contrast,
Limasawa has no significant
archeological relics or
Balanghai tradition.
6. The Western explorers got
excited at the abundance of
gold in Mazaua, for that was
the main currency at that
time. Both archeological relics
and the gold mines today
attested to the abundance of
gold in the Agusan Valley.
[Link] described the island of
Mazaua as circular like ray, Limasawa
Island’s shape is elongated like a cut worm
From Ambrosian From Murillo From Modern day
Codex Velarde Map Satellite Image
[Link] mentioned
notable farmlands, livestock
and even harvest.
Limasawa’s soil is too sandy
for an agricultural crops like
rice planting.