School of Criminal Justice: Passi City College City of Passi, Iloilo

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PASSI CITY COLLEGE

City of Passi, Iloilo

SCHOOL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

MODULE 3: CONTROVERSIES IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Course No: GE 4

CourseTitle: Readings in Philippine History with Indigenous People

Module Overview:

Significant events in the past always have different versions, like choices in a multiple
choice test, it depends upon whose narration will you believe in. as eyewitnesses and even
people who actually took part in the significant have contradicting narrations, this complicates
the study of history. While many agree that what counts is the event and its contributions to
what we are and what we have today, history enthusiasts would continue to seek and demand
the exact narrations of events to finally put to rest these controversies. The emergence of
modern technology has little contribution to shed light to these controversies, it is a must for
the historians to put to rest on these while the primary and secondary sources are still available.

Module Outcomes:

At the end of the module, the students should have:


 narrated the controversial historical event;
 supported a particular account or version of controversial historical event by providing
primary and secondary sources; and
 compared and contrasted different accounts or versions of controversial historical
event.

Instructor: CINDY P. SAPU-AY 1


GE 4-Readings in Philippine hisatory Module 3
Module Content:

Introduction:

Where was the first official Roman Catholic mass held? Accounts of the historians differ
as to where was the holy sacrament was celebrated by Father Pedro Valderrama on Easter
morning of March 31, 1521, whether it was in Limasawa, Southern Leyte or Masao, Butuan City.
Comparing the narratives it is clear that the term used to describe the place are almost similar
to one another as it is called either, Mazava, Mazagua, Mazaua or Masao but they were
unanimous that the place was abundant in gold and spices. While the enactment of law in 1960
has temporarily put to rest the issue, there is a need of careful and thorough investigation for
the people of Limasawa and the people of Butuan.

Discussion

SITE OF THE FIRST MASS

Arguments in Favor of Limasawa, Southern Leyte

Francisco Albo’s Account

A journal or log of Magallanes voyage was written by Francisco Albo, covering the voyage from
Cape San Agustin in Brazil until the “Victoria” (the first ship to circumnavigate to globe) returned
to Spain (Blair & Robertson,1975). The log begins November 29, 1519, and ends September 4,
1522. From the account:

March 1516, they sight more islands, giving names to two, Suluan anmd Yunagan – the first
island of the archipelago of San Lazaro (thePhilippines). They land successively at the islands of
Gada, Seilani, and Mazava, and pass by or anchor at Matan, Subu, Baibai. “We left Subu sailing
southeast…between the Cape of Subu and an island named Bohol; and on the western side of the
Cape of Subu is another island, by name, Panilongo, inhabited by blacks. This island and Subu
have gold and quantities of ginger”.

Instructor: CINDY P. SAPU-AY 2


GE 4-Readings in Philippine hisatory Module 3
Notice the word “Mazava” was the site where the expedition landed.

Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and/or Hernando Riquel (court clerk of the


home office) Account

Based on the May 1564 Report of the Occurrences on the Voyage and Journey of the
Armada of His Majesty under the Command of General Miguel Lopez de Legaspi in the
Discovery of the Islands of the West. The expedition as we know, was led by Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi, who was on board the San Pedro, together with head technician,
navigator Andres de Urdaneta and Hernando Riquel, court clerk of the Home Office(San
Agustin Museum & Jose Ramon de Miguel, 2009).

“In the morning of February 13, 1564, they caught sight of the Philippines. The
expedition entered the Philippines at the island of Samar called Tandaya. Based on the
descriptions of the pilots and on a map drawn on their charts by Martinez Fortun and
Diego Martin, we can conclude without any doubt that the point of arrival was island of
Tubabao on the coast of Samar, situated on latitude 12֯ 07֯ and 125֯ 33֯ east. Magellan
had reached in thePhilippines making landfall at this same point.
On March 9, after consultation with the officers,it was decided that the
expedition go to the island of Mazagua, called Limasawa.

Notice the word “Mazagua” was the site where the expedition landed. But
based on the accounts, the Legazpi-Urdaneta expedition followed exactly the route of
Magellan’s voyage.

Pigafetta’s Account

In Antonio Pigafetta’s account “Primo Viaggo Intorno Al Mondo” (First Voyage Around the
World) events of 1519-1522. He narrated the Magellan’s voyage while James Alexander
Robertson translated it into English language. The transcript is made from the original
document, which exists in the Bibleotica Ambrosiana, Milan, Italy. The narration of Pigafetta’s
account was taken from Blair&Robertson (1975).

“Early on the morning of Sunday, the last of March, and Easter-day, the captain-general
sent the priest with some men to prepare the place where mass was to be said; together with
the interpreter to tell the king that we were not going to land in order to dine with him, but to
say mass.

…There are dogs, cats,swine, fowls, goats, rice, ginger, cocoa-nuts, figs (i.e,bananas),
oranges, lemons, millet, panicum, sorgo, wax, and a quantity of gold in THAT ISLAND. It lies in
latitude of nine and two-thirds degrees toward the Arctic Pole, and in a longitude of one
Instructor: CINDY P. SAPU-AY 3
GE 4-Readings in Philippine hisatory Module 3
hundred and sixty-two degrees from the line of demarcation. It is twenty-five from the Aquada,
and is called MAZAUA.

Jose Arcilla, Historian

Jose Arcilla, author of “Introduction to Philippine History”, maintained that Magellan never
stepped on the grounds of Butuan where the alleged first mass took place.

“On March 16, 1521, Magellan reached the Philippines. In Limasawa, the islanders and
Europeans quickly became friends. The islanders described to the newcomers other places, like
Butuan and Calagan (Caraga), but Magellan did not go there”.

Arguments in Favor of Masao, Butuan City

Gregorio Zaide (2002) provides narration of what transpired during the first mass in the
Philippines, below is is narration:

“Another important event took place at Butuan. The first mass was held on the shore of
Masao, Butuan on Easter morning, March 31, 1521. It was said that Father Pedro de
Valderrama, the Spanish chaplain officiated the mass. The Filipino kings and their men attended
the mass along with Magellan and his men. After the mass, the Filipinos were treated to a
fencing exhibition by the Spaniards. Then, at sunset of the same day, Magellan planted a huge
wooden cross on the top of the hill overlooking the sea.”

Zaide also enumerated six points favouring Masao, Butuan City as the site of the first
mass in the Philippines. These are:

 First is the name of the place, as various accounts provide that the place where the mass
was held has three syllables which is “Masao” while “Limasawa” has four syllables.
 Second, path leading to Homonhon as the sources provide that the ship sailed 20 to 30
leagues from Homonhon and the first destination to the site of the first mass, taking a
west southwest course.
 Third, location of the latitude, other primary sources locate the place at 90 north
latitude, and others 9 2/3 degree. With this location, it easily takes Limasawa as a
possible site because it is closer by 10 degrees and supports the claim of Masao, Butuan
because it is exactly at nine degrees.
 Fourth, the passage to Cebu which is perfectly similar to the one taken by the sailors
from Cebu to Butuan.

Instructor: CINDY P. SAPU-AY 4


GE 4-Readings in Philippine hisatory Module 3
 Fifth, the material cultures in Butuan such as the practice of making bonfires, the
‘balanghai’ relics, in which Butuan is the site of at least nine excavated “balanghai’relics,
and the houses by which natives of Masao build their houses in stilts as compared to
the natives of Limasawa which built low houses as a protection against typhoons.
 Lastly, the geographical features of Butuan. The following geographical features of
Butuan are as follows: (1) the abundance of gold in Masao as opposed to Limasawa; and
(2) a developed settlement in which it is believed that Butuan was a developed port long
before the Westerns came.

Accounts at the End of the 19th Century and Start of the 20th Century
Supporting Butuan as the Site of the First Mass

Fred Atkinson, author of “The Philippine Islands” published in 1905, provides in his book:

“But without lingering Magellan continued westward and in March reaches the BUTUAN, on
the northern shore of Mindanao, where he landed and raising a cross on a small hill nearby
and celebrating the FIRST MASS IN THE PHILIPPINES, took possession of the island in the
name of the king of Spain, and began to win over the people to Spanish authority (Atkinson,
1905)”.

John Ford, author of “Additional Pages from an American Cruiser in the East” which was
published in 1898,provides in his book:

“On November 26, 1520, he (Magellan) found himself on the broad Pacific, and boldly stood
to the northward, and on March 16, 1521, he reached Ladrones Islands, and sailed along the
north coast of Mindanao. During Easter week of the same year he arrived at the entrance to
the Butuano River, where the FIRST MASS IN THE PHILIPPINES was celebrated”.

Written also in the Military Notes on the Philippines in September 1898 at the United States
Adjutant-General’s office a recognition of Butuan as thesite of the first mass in the
Philippines, the account states:

“Butuan town is situated on the right bank of the river Butuan, about 18 milesfrom the
mouth, and contains some 2,000 inhabitants, chiefly engaged in working a gold mine in the
vicinity. The anchorage is frequented by traders from Port Misamis, and from Cebu, and Mr.
Looney remarks that he carried from 3 to 5 fathoms of water between the bar of the river
and the town. The water of the river at Butuan is fresh and used for drinking.

The town is celebrated in history as being theplace where Magellan landed after his
anchorage near Limasawa Island, and where he celabrated the FIRST MASS IN THE PHILIPPINES.

Instructor: CINDY P. SAPU-AY 5


GE 4-Readings in Philippine hisatory Module 3
Limasawa Law

On June 19, 1960, Republic Act no. 2733, called the Limasawa Law was enacted without
the signature of the President of the Philippines. This law recognized Limasawa as the site of the
first mass in the Philippines. Obviously, some would question if an act of Congress is the proper
measure to correct or change our history. Below is the text of the law.

Republic Act No. 2733

An act to Declare the Site in Magallanes, Limasawa Island in the Province of Leyte, Where the
First Mass in the Philippines was Held as a National Shrine to provide For the Preservation of
Historical Monuments and Monuments Thereat and For Other Purposes

Section 1. The site in Magallanes, Limasawa Island in the Province of Leyte, where the first mass
in the Philippines was held is hereby declared a national shrine to commemorate the birth of
Christianity in the Philippines.

Section 2. All historical monuments and landmarks in said site shall be preserved and/or
reconstructed whenever necessary as much as possible in their original form and are hereby
declared national historical monuments and landmarks.

Section 3. The National Planning Commission shall exercise supervision and control over the
reconstruction and/or preservation of the aforesaid site and monuments, and shall issue rules
and regulations to effectuate the preceding sections of this Act.

Section 4. Necessary funds for the purpose of this Act shall be provided for in the annual
appropriations for public works and disbursements shall be made by the National Planning
Commission under such rules and regulations as the Auditor General may prescribe.

Section 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Enacted without Executive Approval on June 19, 1960

Instructor: CINDY P. SAPU-AY 6


GE 4-Readings in Philippine hisatory Module 3
Activity 1

Where do you think was the first mass in the Philippines held? Support your answer with
primary sources (e.g. individual persons, original documents, etc.) or secondary sources (articles,
books, manuscripts, etc.)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your output will be rated using the rubric below:

Features 4 3 2 1
Writer clearly Writer Writer Writer
answered all answered all answered attempted to
parts of the parts of the some parts of answer part
question in question in the question, of the
complete complete but left other question, but
Answer sentences. sentences, but parts answer is
Student the answer incomplete. unclear to
referred back may not be Answer may the reader
to the clear. not be in and not in
question in complete complete
their answer. sentences. sentences.
Writer cited Writer cited Writer may Writer did
evidence for evidence for have cited not cite
all parts of some parts of evidence for evidence
their answer the answer part of their from the text
directly from directly from answer. Most in any part of
the text, it is the text. Some parts of the their answer.
Cite
clear to the parts of the answer do
reader to answer do not not have
which part of have evidence
the text the evidence. from the text.
writer is
referring.

Instructor: CINDY P. SAPU-AY 7


GE 4-Readings in Philippine hisatory Module 3
Writer Writer Writer Writer did
explained all explained explained not explain or
parts of their most parts of some parts of expanded
answer in their answer their answer, upon their
clear terms to in clear terms. but most of answers.
their reader. Some parts of the answer
Writer the answer does not have
Explain/Expand
expanded are left an
their idea unexplained. explanation
beyond Writer may as to why the
simply not have writer
answering expanded believes that
the question. their idea. is the answer.

Assessment:

Create a table providing similarities and differences of different accounts and versions of the
first mass in the Philippines. (20 points)

Accounts/Version of
Chronological Event Similarities Differences

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Instructor: CINDY P. SAPU-AY 8


GE 4-Readings in Philippine hisatory Module 3
REFERENCES:

Carr,E. (1991). What Is Histor. London, United Kingdom: Penguin.


Lemon, M. (1995). The Discipline of History and the History of Thought. New
York, United States of America: Routledge.
Tosh, J. (2002). The Pursuit of History: Aims, Methods and New Directions in the
Study of Modern History (Revised 3 rd Ed.). London, United Kingdom: Pearson
Education Ltd.

FEEDBACK:

Write your feedback about this module on the space provided below.

MY FEEDBACK!

Great Job!

“Ask yourself if what you are doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be
tomorrow”

Instructor: CINDY P. SAPU-AY 9


GE 4-Readings in Philippine hisatory Module 3

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