Primary Source: Albo's Log Source: 7.

From Mazava they sailed northwards again

towards Seilani. Tney followed the coast of Seilani
Diario o derotero del viage de Magallanes desde
in a northwesterly direction, ascending up to 10
el cabo se S. Agustin en el Brazil hasta el regreso
degrees of latitude where they saw three small
a Espana de la nao Victoria, escrito por Frandsco
islands.
Albo," Document no. xxii in Colleción de viages
descubrinmientos que hicieron por mar los 8. From there they sailed westwards some ten
Españoles desde fines del siglo XV, Ed. Martin leagues, and there they saw three islets, where
Fernandez de Navarrete (reprinted Buenos Aires they dropped anchor for the night. In the morning,
1945, 0 Vols) IV, 191-225. As cited in Miguel A. they sailed southwest some 12 leagues, down to
Bernad "Butuan or Limasawa The Site of the First a latitude of l0 and one-third degree. There they
Mass in the Philippines: A Reexamination of entered a channel between two islands, one of
Evidence 1981, Künaadman: A Journal of which was called "Matan" and the other "Subu."
Southern Philippines, Vol. 111, 1-35.
9.They sailed down that channel and then turned
1. On the 16th of March (1521) as they sailed in a westward and anchored at the town (la villa) of
westerly course from Ladrones, they saw land Subu where they stayed many days and obtained
towards the northwest; but owing to many shallow provisions and entered into a peace-pact with the
places they did not approach it. T'hey found later local king.
that its name was Yunagan.
10. The town of Subu was on an east-west
2. They went instead that same day southwards to direction with the islands of Suluan and Mazava.
another small island named Suluan, and there But between Mazava and Subu, there were so
they anchored. There they saw some canoes but many shallows that the boats could not go
these fled at the Spaniards' approach. This island westward directly but has to go (as they did) in a
was at 9 and two-thirds degrees North latitude. round-about way.
3. Departing from those two islands, they sailed It must be noted that in Albo's account, the
westward to an uninhabited island of Gada" where location of Mazava fits the location of the island of
they took in a supply of wood and water. The sea Limasawa, at the southern tip of Leyte, 9°54N.
around that island was free from shallows. (Albo Also, Albo does not mention the first Mass, but
does not give the latitude of this island, but from only the planting of the cross upon a mountain-top
Pigatetta's testimony, this seems to be the from which could be seen three islands to the west
"Acquada or Homonhon, at 10 degrees North and southwest, which also fits the southern end of
latitude.) Limasawa.
4. From that island they sailed westwards towards Primary Source: Pigafetta's Testimony on the
a large island names Seilani that was inhabited Route of Magellan's Expedition Source: Emma
and was known to have gold.(Seilani- or, as Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The
Pigafetta calls it, "Ceylon-was the island of Leyte.) Philippine Islands, Vols. 33 and 34, as cited in
5.Sailing southwards along the coast of that large Miguel A. Bernad, "Butuan or Limasawa? The Site
island of Seilani, they turned southwest to a small of the First Mass in the Philippines: A
island called "Mazava." That island is also at a Reexamination of Evidence" 1981, Kinaadman: A
latitude of 9 and two-thirds degrees North. Journal of Southern Philippines, Vol. III, 1-35.
6. The people of that island of Mazava were very 1. Saturday, 16 March 1521- Magellan's
good. There the Spaniards planted a cross upon a expedition sighted a "high land" named "Zamal"
mountain-top, and from there they were shown which was some 300 leagues westward of
three islands to the west and southwest, where Ladrones (now the Marianas) Islands.
they were told there was much gold. "They
2 Sunday, March 17 "The following day" after
showed us how the gold was gathered, which
sighting Zamal Island, they landed on "another
came in small pieces like peas and lentils.
island which was uninhabited" and which lay "to
the right" of the above-mentioned island of between four islands: namely, Cenalo,
"Zamal." (To the "right here would mean on their Hiunanghan, Ibusson and Albarien." Very
starboard going south or southwest.) There they probably "Cenalo is a misspelling in the Italian
set up two tents for the sick members of the crew manuscript for what Pigafetta in his map calls
and had a sow killed for them. The name of this "Ceilon and Albo calls "Seilani: namely the island
island was Humunu (Homonhon). This island was of Leyte. Hiunanghan" (a misspelling of
located at 10 degrees North latitude. Hinunangan) seemed to Pigafetta to be a separate
island, but is actually on the mainland of Leyte
3. On that same day (Sunday, March 17),
G.e., "Ceylon'"). On the other hand, Hibuson
Magellan named the ensure archipelago the
(Pigafetta's Ibusson) is an island east of Leyte's
"Islands of Saint Lazarus," the reason being that it
southern tip. Thus, it is easy to see what Pigafetta
was Sunday in the Lenten season when the
meant by sailing toward the west southwest" past
Gospel assigned for the Mass and the liturgical
those islands. They left Homonhon sailing
Office was the eleventh chapter of St. John, which
westward towards Leyte, then followed the Leyte
tells of the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
coast southward, passing between the island of
4. Monday, March 18- In the afternoon of their Hibuson on their portside and unangan Bay on
second day on that island, they saw a boat coming their starboard, and then continued southward,
towards them with nine men in it. An exchange of then turning westward to "Mazaua.
gifts was affected. Magellan asked for food
10. Thursday, March 28 In the morning of Holy
supplies, and the men went away, promising to
Thursday, March 6, they anchored off an island
bring rice and other supplies in "four days.
where the previous night they had seen a light or
5. There were two springs of water on that island a bonfire. That island "lies in a latitude of nine and
of Homonhon. Also, they saw there some two-thirds towards the Arctic Pole (i.e., North) and
indications that there was gold in these islands. in a longitude of one hundred and sixty-two
Consequently, Magellan renamed the island and degrees from the line of demarcation. lt is twenty-
called it the "Watering Place of Good Omen" five leagues from the Acquada, and is called
(Acquada la di bouni segniali). Mazaua.
6. Friday, March 22-At noon the natives returned. 11. They remained seven days on Mazaua island.
This time they were in two boats, and they brought 12. Thursday, April 4-They left Mazaua, bound for
food supplies. Cebu. They were guided thither by the king of
7. Magellan's expedition stayed eight days at Mazaua who sailed in his own boat. Their route
Homonhon: from Sunday, March 17, to the took them past five "islands" namely: "Ceylon,
Monday of the following week, March 25. Bohol, Canighan, Baibai, and Gatighan."

8. Monday, March 25 In the afternoon, the 13. At Gatighan, they sailed westward to the three
expedition weighed anchor and left the island of islands of the Camotes Group, namely, Poro,
Homonhon.In the ecclesiastical calendar, this day Pasihan and Ponson. Here the Spanish ships
(March 25) was the feast-day of the incarnation, stopped to allow the king of Mazaua to catch up
also called the feast of the Annunciation and with them, since the Spanish ships were much
therefore "Our Lady's Day. On this day, as they faster than the native balanghai-a thing that
were about to weigh anchor, an accident excited the admiration of the king of Mazaua.
happened to Pigafëtta: he fell into the water but 14. From the Camotes Islands they sailed
was rescued. He attributed his narrow escape southwards towards "Zubu.
from death as grace obtained through the
15. Sunday, April 7 - At noon they entered the
intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary on her
harbor of "Zubu (Cebu). It had taken them three
feast-day.
days to negotiate the journey from Mazaua
9. The route taken by the expedition after leaving northwards to the Camotes Islands and then
Homonhon was "toward the west southwest, southwards to Cebu. It must be pointed out that
both Albo and Pigafetta's testimonies coincide and 4. Sunday, March 31-"Early in the morning of
corroborate each other. Pigafetta gave more Sunday, the last of March and Easter day,"
details on what they did during their weeklong stay Magellan sent the priest ashore with some men to
at Mazaua. prepare for the Mass. Later in the morning
Magellan landed with some fifty men and Mass
Primary Source: Pigafetta and Seven Days in
was celebrated, after which a cross was
Mazaua Source: Emma Blair and James
venerated. Magellan and the Spaniards returned
Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands,
to the ship for the noon-day meal, but in the
Vols. 33 and 34, as cited in Miguel A. Bernad,
afternoon, they returned ashore to plant the cross
"Butuan or Limasawa? The Site of the First Mass
on the summit of the highest hill. In attendance
in the Philippines: A Reexamination of Evidence"
both at the Mass and at the planting of the cross
1981, Kinaadman: A Journal of Southern
were the king of Mazaua and the king of Butuan.
Philippines, Vol. III, 1-35.
5. Sunday, March 31-On that same afternoon,
1. Thursday, March 28-In the morning they
while on the summit of the highest hill, Magellan
anchored near an island where they had seen a
asked the two kings which ports he should go to in
light the night before a small boat (boloto) came
order to obtain more abundant supplies of food
with eight natives, to whom Magellan threw some
than were available in that island. They replied
trinkets as presents. The natives paddled away,
that there were three to choose from: Ceylon,
but two hours later two larger boats (balanghai)
Zubu, and Calagan. Of the three, Zubu was the
came, in one of which the native king sat under an
port with the most trade. Magellan then said that
awning of mats. At Magellan's invitation some of
he wished to go to Zubu and to depart the
the natives went up the Spanish ship, but the
following morning. He asked for someone to guide
native king remained seated in his boat. An
him thither. The kings replied that the pilots would
exchange of gifts was affected. In the afternoon
be available "any time. But later that evening the
that day, the Spanish ships weighed anchor and
King of Mazaua changed his mind and said that
came closer to shore, anchoring near the native
he would himself conduct Magellan to Zubu but
king’s village. This Thursday, March 28, was
that he would first have to bring the harvest in. He
Thursday in Holy Week, i.e., Holy Thursday.
asked Magellan to send him men to help with the
2. Friday, March 29-"Next day. Holy Friday, harvest.
Magellan sent his slave interpreter ashore in a
6. Monday, April 1 - Magellan sent men ashore to
small boat to ask the king if he could provide the
help with the harvest, but no work was done that
expedition with food supplies, and to say that they
day because the two kings were sleeping off their
had come as friends and not as enemies. In reply
drinking bout the night before.
the king himself came in a boat with six or eight
men, and this time went up Magellan's ship and 7. Tuesday, April 2 and Wednesday, April3- Work
the two men embraced. Another exchange of gifts on the harvest during the "next to days, 1.e.,
was made. The native king and his companions Tuesday and Wednesday, the 2nd and 3rd of
returned ashore, bringing with them two members April.
of Magellan's expedition as guests for the night.
8. Thursday, April 4-They leave Mazaua, bound
One of the two was Pigafetta.
for Cebu.
3. Saturday, March 30 Pigafetta and his
Using the primary sources avallable, Jesuit
companion had spent the previous evening
priest Miguel A. Bernad in his work Butuan or
teasting and drinking with the native king and his
Limasawa: The Site of the First Mass in the
son. Pigafetta deplored the fact that, although it
Philippines: A Reexamination of Evidence (1981)
was Good Friday, they had to eat meat. The
lays down the argument that in the Pigafetta
following morning (Saturday) Pigafetta and his
account, a crucial aspect of Butuan was not
companion took leave of their hosts and returned
mentioned-the river. Butuan is a riverine
to the ships.
settlement, situated on the Agusan River. The
beach off Masao is in the delta of said river. It 18
a curious omission in the account of the river,
which makes part of a distinct characteristic of
Butuan's geography that seemed to be too
important to be missed. The Age of Exploration is
a period of competition among European rulers to
conquer and colonize lands outside their original
domains. Initially, the goal was to find alternative
routes by sea to get to Asia, the main source of
spices and other commodities. Existing routes to
Asia were mainly by land and cost very expensive.
A sea route to Asia means that Europeans could
access the spice trade directly, greatly reducing
costs for traders. Spain's major foray into the
exploration was through Christopher Columbus,
who proposed to sail westward to find a shortest
to Asia. He was able to reach the Americas, which
was then cut-off from the rest of the known world.
Spain colonized parts of North America, Mexico,
and South America in the sixteenth century. They
were also able to reach the Philippines and claim
it for the Spanish crown. Later on, other European
rulers would compete with the activities of
exploring and conquering lands. It must also be
pointed out that later on, after Magellan s death,
the survivors of his expedition went to Mindanao,
and seemingly went to Butuan. In this instance,
Pigafetta vividly describes a trip in a river. But note
that this account already happened after
Magellan's death.

Instructor: Emilyn C. Bao