Divine Word College of Legazpi

School of Education, Arts and Sciences

Legazpi City

MODULE FOR GE 02
Readings in Philippines History with Agrarian
Reform and Taxation

The purpose of this module is to serve as a resource for instructors and students taking
the course Readings in Philippine History with Agrarian Reform and Taxation/ GE 02.
This module may not be copied, duplicated, shared on social media, uploaded, or
recreated without the owner’s permission. Only members of the following classes are
permitted to use this.

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 SITE OF THE FIRST MASS

It has been said that the first Catholic mass in the Philippines was held on March 31, 1521.
Below is a credible primary source that explains to where the first Christian mass really happened.
It is a portion of Pigafetta’s accounts found in pages 23-32 of his book entitled, First Voyage
Around the World which was a material provided by CHED-RIPH team.
(Source: Pigafetta, Antonio. (1969). First Voyage Around the World. Manila: Filipiniana Book Guild.)

“At dawn on Saturday, March sixteen, 1521, we came upon a high land at a distance of
three hundred leagues from the islands of Ladroni—an island named (Samar). The following day,
the captain-general desired to land on another island, which was uninhabited and lay to the right
of the above-mentioned island, in order to be more secure, and to get water and have some rest.
He had two tents set up on the shore for the sick and had a sow killed for them. On Monday
afternoon, March 18, we saw a boat coming toward us with nine men in it. Therefore, the captain-
general ordered that no one should move or say a word without his permission. When those men
reached the shore, their chief went immediately to the captain-general, giving signs of joy because
of our arrival. Five of the most ornately adorned of them remained with us, while the rest went to
get some others who were fishing, and so they all came. The captain-general, seeing that they were
reasonable men, ordered food to be set before them, and gave them red caps, mirrors, combs,
belles, ivory, bocasine, and other things. When they saw the captain’s courtesy, they presented
fish, a jar of palm wine which they call uraca (arrack), figs more than one palm long (bananas),
and others which were smaller and more delicate, and two coconuts. They have nothing else then
but made signs with their hands that they would bring umay or rice, and coconuts and many other
articles of food within four days.

Coconuts are the fruit of the palm tree. Just as we have bread, wine, oil and vinegar, so
those people get everything from the tree. They get wine in the following manner. They bore a
hole into the heart of the said palm at the top called palmito, from which distils a liquor which
resembles white mist. That liquor is sweet but somewhat tart, and (is gathered) in canes (of
bamboo) as thick as the leg and thicker. They fasten the bamboo to the tree at the evening for the
morning, and in the morning for the evening. The palm bears a fruit, namely the coconut, which is
as large as the head or thereabouts. Its outside husk is green and thicker than two fingers. Certain
filaments are found in that husk, whence is made cord for binding together their boats. Under that
husk there is a hard shell, much thicker than the shell of the walnut, which they burn and make
therefrom a powder that is useful to them. Under that, shell is a white marrowy substance one
finger in thickness, which they eat fresh with meat and fish as we do bread; and it has a taste
resembling the almond. It could be dried and made into bread. There is a clear, sweet, water in the
middle of that marrowy substance which is very refreshing. When that water stands for a while
after having been collected, it congeals and becomes like an apple. When the natives wish to make
oil, they take that coconut, and allow the marrowy substance and the water to putrefy. Then they
boil it and it becomes oil like butter. When they wish to make a vinegar they allow only the water
putrefy, and then place it in the sun, and a vinegar results (that made from) white wine. Milk can
be also be made from it, for we made some. We scraped that marrowy substance and then mixed
the scrapings with its own water which we strained through cloth, and so obtained milk like goat’s
milk. Those palms resemble date-palms, but although not smooth they are less knotty that the
latter. A family of 10 persons can be supported on two trees, by utilizing one of them during one

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week and the other during the other 8 days for the wine; for if they did otherwise, the trees would
dry up. They last a century.

Those people became familiar with us. They told us many things, their names and those of
some of the island that could be seen from that place. Their own island was called Zuluan and it is
not very large. We took great pleasure with them, for they were very pleasant and conversable. In
order to show them greater honor, the captain-general took them to his ship and showed them all
his merchandise—cloves, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, mace, gold and all the things in the
ship. He had some mortars fired for them, whereat they exhibit great fear, and tried to jump out of
ship. They made signs to us that the above said articles grew in place where we were going. When
they were about to retire they look their leave very gracefully and neatly, saying that they would
return according to their promise. The island where we were called Humunu; (now Homonhon)
but in as much as we found two springs there of the clearest water, we called it Acquada da li
buoni Segnialli (“the Watering=place of Good Signs”), for there were the first signs of gold which
we found in those districts. We found a great quantity of white coral there, and large trees with
fruit a trifle smaller than the almond and resembling pine seeds. There are also many palms, some
of them good and others bad. There are many island in that district, therefore we called them the
archipelago of San Lazaro, as they were discovered on the Sunday of St. Lazarus. They lie in 10
degrees of latitude toward the Arctic Pole, and in a longitude of one hundred and sixty one degrees
from the line of demarcation.

At noon on Friday, March 22, those men came as they had promised us in two boats with
coconuts, sweet oranges, a jar of palm-wine and a cock, in order to show us that there were fowls
in that district. They exhibited great signs of pleasure at seeing us. We purchased all those articles
from them. Their seignor was an old man who was painted (tattoed). He wore gold earrings in his
ear and the others many gold armlets on their arms and kerchiefs about their heads. We stayed
there one week, and during that time the captain-general went ashore daily to visit the sick, and
every morning gave them coconut water from his own hand, which comforted them greatly. There
are people living near that island who have earrings in their ears so large that they can pass their
arms through them. Those people are caphri, that is to say heathen. They go naked, with a cloth
woven from the bark of a tree about their privies, except some of the chiefs who wear cotton cloth
embroidered with silk at the ends by means of a needle. They are dark, fat, and painted. They
anoint themselves with coconut and with beneseed oil as a protection against sun and wind. They
have very black hair that falls to the waist, and use daggers, knives, and spear ornamented with
gold, large shields, fascines, javelins, and fishing nets that resemble rizali; and their boats are like
ours.

One the afternoon of Holy Monday, the day of our Lady, March twenty-five, while we
were on the point of weighing anchor, I went to the side of the ship to fish and putting my feet
upon a yard leading down into the storeroom, they slipped, for it was rainy, and consequently I fell
into the sea, so that no one saw me. When I was all but under, my left hand happened to catch hold
of the clew-garnet of the garnet of the mainsail, which was dangling in the water. I held on tightly,
and began to cry out so lustily that I was rescued by the small boat. I was aided not, I believe,
indeed, through my merits but through the mercy of that front of charity (the Virgin). That same
day was shaped our course towards the west southwest between four islands, namely Cenalo,
Huinanghan, Ibusson, and Abarien.

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 On Thursday morning, March twenty-eight, as we had seen a fire on an island the night
before, we anchored near it. We saw a small boat which the natives call boloto (baroto) with eifght
men in it, approaching the flagship. A slave belonging to the captain-general, who was a native of
Zamatra (Sumatra), which was formerly called Taprobana, spoke to them. They immediately
understood him, came alongside the ship, unwilling to enter but taking a position at some little
distance. The captain, seeing that they would not trust us, threw them out a red cap and other things
tied to a bit of wood. They received them very gladly, and went away quickly to advise their king.
About two hours later we saw two balanghai coming. They are large boats and are so called (by
those people). They were full of men, and their king was in the large of them, being seated under
an awning of mats. When the king came near the flagship, the slave spoke to him. The king
understood him, for in those districts the kings knew more languages than other people. He ordered
some of his men to enter the ships, but he always remained in his balanghai, at some little distance
from the ship until his own men returned; and as soon as they returned he departed. The captain-
general showed great honor to the men who entered the ship, and gave them some presents, for
which the king wished before his departure to give the captain a large bar of gold and a basketful
of ginger. The latter, however, thanked the king heartily but would not accept it. In the afternoon
we went in the ships (and anchored) near the dwellings of the kings.

Next day, holy Friday, the captain-general sent his slave, who acted as our interpreter,
ashore in a small boat to ask the king if he had any food to have if carried to the ships; and to say
that they would be well satisfied with us, for he (and his men)had come to the island as friends and
not as enemies. The king came with six or eight men in the same boat and entered the ship. He
embraced the captain-general to whom he gave three porcelain jars covered with leaves and full
of raw rice, two very large dorado and other things. The captain-general gave the king a garment
of red and yellow cloth made in the Turkish fashion, and a fine red cap; and to the others (the
king’s men), some knives and to others, mirrors. Then the captain-general had a collation spread
for them, and had the king told through the slave that he desired to casicasi with him, that is to say,
brother. The king replied that he also wished to enter the same relations with the captain-general.
Then the captain showed him cloth of various colors, linen, coral (ornaments), and many other
articles of merchandise, and all the artillery, some of which he had discharged from him, whereat
the natives were greatly frightened.

Then the captain-general had a man armed as soldier, and place him in the midst of three
men armed with swords and daggers, who struck him on all parts of the body. Thereby was the
king rendered almost speechless. The captain-general told him through the slave that one of those
armed men was worth one hundred of his own men. The king answered that was a fact. The
captain-general said that he had two hundred men in each ship who were armed in that manner.
He showed the king cuirasses, swords, and bucklers and had a review made for him. Then he led
the king to the deck of the ship that is located above at the stern; and had his sea-chart and compass
brought. He told the king through the interpreter how he had found the strait in order to voyage
thither and how many moons he had been without seeing land, whereat the king was astonished.
Lastly, he told the king that he would like, if it were pleasing him to send two of his men with so
that he might them some of his things. The king replied that he was agreeable, and I went in
company with one of the other men.

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 When I reached shore, the king raised his hands towards the sky and then turned towards
us two. We did the dame toward him as did all the others. The king took me by the hand; one of
his chiefs took my companion: and thus, they led us under a bamboo covering, where there was a
balanghai, as long as eighty of my palm lengths, and resembling a fusta. We sat down upon the
stern of that balanghai, constantly conversing with signs. The king’s men stood about us in a circle
with swords, daggers, spears, and bucklers. The king had a plate of pork brought in and a large jar
filled with wine. At every mouthful, we drank a cup of wine. The wine that was left (in the cup) at
any time, although that happened but rarely, was put into a jar by itself. The king’s cup was always
kept covered and no one else drank from it but he and I. before the king took the cup to drink, he
raised his clasped hands toward the sky, and then toward us, and when he was about to drink, he
extended the fist of his left hand toward me (at first I thought that he was about to strike me) and
then drank. I did the same toward the king. They all make those signs on toward another when
they drink. We ate with such ceremonies and with other signs of friendship. I ate meat on holy
Friday, for I could not help myself. Before the supper hour, I gave the king many things, which I
had brought.

I wrote down the names of many things in their language. When the king and the others
saw me writing, and when I told them their words, they were all astonished. While engaged in that
the supper hour was announced. Two large porcelain dishes were brought in, one full of rice and
the other of pork with its gravy. We ate with the same signs and ceremonies, after which went to
the palace of the king which was built like a hayloft and was thatched with fig and palm leaves. It
was built up high from the ground on huge posts of word and it was necessary to ascend to it by
means of ladders. The king made us sit down there on a bamboo mat with our legs drawn up like
a tailors. After half an hour a platter of roast fish cut in pieces was brought in, and ginger freshly
gathered, and wine. The king’s eldest son, who was the prince, came over to us; whereupon the
king told him to sit down near us, and he accordingly did so. Then two platters brought in (one
with fish and its sauce, and the other with rice), so that we might eat with the prince. My companion
became intoxicated as a consequence of so much drinking ad eating. They used the gum of a tree
called anime wrapped in palm or fig leaves for lights. The king made us a sign that he was going
to go to sleep. He left the prince with us, and we slept with the latter on a bamboo mat with pillows
made of leaves. When day dawned the king came and took me by the hand, and in that manner we
went to where we had supper, in order to partake of refreshments, but the boat came to get us.
Before we left, the king kissed our hands with great joy, and we his. One of his brothers, the king
of another island, and the three men came with us. The captain-general kept him to dine with us,
and gave him many things.

Pieces of gold, of the size of walnuts and eggs, are found by sifting the earth in the island
of that king whom I led to our ships. All the dishes of that king are of gold and also some portion
of his house, as we were told by that king himself. According to their customs he was very grandly
decked out, and the finest looking man that we saw among those people. His hair was exceedingly
black, hung to his shoulders. He had a covering of silk on his head, and wore two large golden
earrings fastened in his ears. He wore a cotton cloth all embroidered with silk, which covered him
from the waist to knees. At his side hung a dagger, the haft of which was somewhat long and all
of gold, and its scabbard of carved wood. He had three spots of gold on every tooth, and his teeth
appreared as if bound with gold. He was perfumed with storax and benzoin. He was tawny and
painter all over. That island of his was called Butuan and Calagan. When those kings wished to

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see one another, they both went to hunt in that island where we were. The name of the king is Raia
Colambu, and the second Raia Siaui.

Earyl 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.
Therefore, the king sent us two swine that he had killed. When the hour for Mass arrived, we
landed with about fifty men, without our body armor, but carrying our other arms, and dressed in
our best clothes. Before we reached the shore with our boat, six pieces were discharged as a sign
of peace. We landed; the two kings embraced the captain-general, and placed him between them.
We went in marching order to the place consecrated, which was not far from the shore. Before the
commencement of the Mass, the captain sprinkled the entire bodies of the two kings with musk
water. During the Mass we made our offerings. The kings went forward to kiss the cross as we
did, but made no offerings. When the body of our Lord was elevated, they remained on their knees
worshipped Him with clasped hands. The ships fired all their artillery at once when the body of
Christ was elevated, the signal having been given from the shore with muskets. After the
conclusion of Mass, some of our men took communion.

The captain-general arranged a fencing tournament, at which the kings were greatly
pleased. Then he had a cross carried in and the nails and a crown, to which they made immediate
reverence. He told the kings through the interpreter that they were the standards given to him by
the emperor his sovereign, so that wherever he might go he might set up those tokens. (He said)
that he wished to set up in that place for their benefit, for whenever any of our ships came, they
would know their property. If any of their men were captured, they would be set free immediately
on that sign being shown. It was necessary to set that cross on the summit of the highest mountain,
so that on seeing it every morning, they might adore it; and if they did that, neither thunder,
lightning, nor storms would harm them in the least. They thanked him heartily and )said) that they
would do everything willingly. The captain-general also had them asked whether they were
Muslims or heathen, or what was their belief. They replied that they had no other worship but
raising their clasped hands and their face to the sky; and that they called their god “Abba”. Thereat
the captain was very glad, and seeing that, the first king raised his hands to the sky and said that
he wished that it were possible for him to make the captain see his love for him. The interpreter
asked the king why there was so little to eat there. The latter replied that he did not live in that
place except when he went hunting and to see his brother, but he lived in another island where all
his family were. The captain-general had him asked to declare whether he had any enemies, so that
he might go with his ships to destroy them and to render them obedient to him. The king thanked
him and said that he did indeed have two islands hostile to him, but that it was not then the season
to go there. The captain told him that if God would again allow him to return to those districts, he
would bring so many men that he would make the king’s enemies subject to him by force. He said
that he was about to go to dinner, and that he would return afterward to have the cross set up on
the summit of the mountain. They replied that they were satisfied, and then forming in battalion
and firing the muskets and the captain having embraced the two kings, we took or leave.

After dinner we all returned clad in our doublets, and that afternoon wept together with the
two kings to the summit of the highest mountain there. When we reached the summit, the captain-
general told them that he esteemed highly having sweated for them, for since the cross was there,

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it could not but be of great use to them. On asking them which port was the bes to get foos, they
replied that there were three, namely, Ceylon, Zubu, and Calaghan, but that Zubu was the largest
and the one with the most trade. They offered of their own accord to give us pilots to show us the
way. The captain-general thanked them, and determined to go there, for so did his unhappy fate
will. After the cross was erected in position, each of us repeated Pater Noster and an Ave Maria
and adored the cross; and the kings did the same. Then we descended through their cultivate fields,
and went to the place where the balanghai was. The kings had some coconuts brought in so that
we might fresh ourselves. The captain asked the kings for the pilots, for he intended to depart the
following morning, and (said) that he would treat them as if they were the kings themselves, and
would leave on of us as a hostage. The kings replied that every hour he wished the pilots were his
commands, but that night the first king changed his mind, and in the morning when we were about
to depart, sent word to the captain-general, asking him for love of him to wait two days until he
should have his rice harvested, and other trifles attended to. He asked the captain-general to send
him some men to help him, so that it might be done sooner; and said that he intended to act as our
pilot himself. The captain sent him some men, but the kings ate and drank so much that they slept
all the day. Some said to excuse them that they were slightly sick. Our men did nothing on that
day, but they worked the next two days.

One of those people brought us aboard a porringer full of rice and also eight or ten figs
fastened together to barter them for a knife which at the most was worth there catrini. The captain,
seeing that the native cared for nothing but a knife, called him to look at other things. He put his
hand in his purse and wished to give him one real for those things, but the native refused it. The
captain showed him a ducat but he would not accept that either. Finally the captain tried to give
him a doppione worth two ducats, but he would take nothing but a knife; and accordingly the
captain had one given him. When one of our men went ashore for water, one of those people
wanted to give him a pointed crown of massive gold, of the size of a colona, for the six strings of
glass beads, but the captain refused to let him barter, so that the natives should learn at the very
beginning that we prized our merchandise more than their gold.

Those people are heathens, and go naked and painted. They wear a piece of cloth woven
from a tree about their privies. They are very heavy drinkers. Their women are clad in tree cloth
from their waist down, and their hair is black and reaches to the ground. They have holes pierced
in their ears which are filled with gold. Those people are constantly chewing a fruit which they
call areca and which resembles pear. They cut that fruit into four parts, and then wrap it in the
leaves of their tree which they call betre (betel). Those leaves resemble the leaves of the mulberry.
They mix it with a little lime, and when they have chewed it thoroughly, they spit it out. It makes
the mouth exceedingly red. All the people in those parts of the world use it, for it is very cooling
to the heart, and if they ceased to use it they would die. They are dogs, cats, swine, fowls, goats,
rice, ginger, coconuts, figs, oranges, lemons, millet, panicum, sorgo, wax, and a quantity of gold
in that island. It lies in a latitude of nine and two-thirds degrees toward the Arctic Pole, and in a
longitude of hundred and sixty-two degrees from the line of demarcation. It is twenty-five leagues
from the Acquada, and is called Mazaua.

We remained there seven days, after which we laid our course toward the northwest,
passing among five islands; namely Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baybai, and Gatighan. In the last-
named island of Gatighan, there are bats as large as eagles. As it was late we killed one of them,

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which resembled chicken in taste. There are doves, turtle-doves, parrots and certain black birds as
large as domestic chickens, which have a long tail. The last mentioned birds lay eggs as large as
the goose, and bury them under the sand, through the great heat of which they hatch out. There is
a distance of twenty leagues from Mazaua to Gatighan. We set out westward from Gatighan, but
the king of Mazaua could not follow us (closely) and consequently, we awaited him near three
islands; namely, Polo, Ticobon, Pozon. When he caught up with us he was greatly astonished at
the rapdly with which we sailed. The captain-general had him come into his ship with several of
his chiefs at which they were pleased. Thus did we go to Zubu from Gatighan, the distance to Zubu
being fifteen leagues.”

References:

Ligan, V. O. et. al. (2018) Readings in Philippine History

Danao, E. L. (2015). Where was the first Mass in the Philippines held? Retrieved December 28,
2017 from http://www.manilatimes.net/first-mass-philippines-held/157730/

Pigafetta, A. and Stanley, H. E. J. (1874). First voyage round the world, by Magellan. Retrieved
from https://archive.org/detailed/firstvoyageround00piga

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