BUTUAN OR LIMASAWA?

The Site of the First Mass in the Philippines:

A Re-examination of the Evidence
(Miguel A. Bernad)
 OUTLINE
I. Butuan Tradition (17th, 18th, 19th century)
II. The Shift in Opinion
III. The Evidence for Limasawa
1. The evidence of Albo’s Log-Book
2. The evidence of Pigafetta
a. Pigafetta’s testimony regarding the route
b. The evidence of Pigafetta’s map
c. The two native kings
d. The seven days at “Mazaua”
e. An argument from omission
 OUTLINE
3. Summary of the evidence of Albo and Pigafetta
4. Confirmatory evidence from the Legazpi expedition
IV. The Geography of “Mazaua”
V. Why then the Butuan Tradition?
VI. The Importance of Butuan
What is there about the
site of the first mass in
the Philippines?
THE BUTUAN
TRADITION
THE BUTUAN TRADITION

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 Magellan.
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

“To the Immortal Magellan: the

People of Butuan with their Parish
Priest and the Spaniards resident
therein, to commensurate his arrival
and the celebration of the First Mass
on this site on the 8th of April 1521.
Erected in 1872, under District
Governor Jose Ma. Carvallo.” Inscription
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

17th Century

• Two Jesuit historians

• (1) Father Francisco Colin, SJ (1592-1660)
• Labor evangelica (work published in 1663)
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

At the end of three months and twelve days during which

they traversed 4,000 leagues, having crossed the Equator a
second time, they climbed up to 15 degrees North latitude
where they came upon two islands which they named Las
Velas [the Sails]. At 12 degrees North they came upon the
Ladrones Islands. A few days later they saw the island of
Ibabao [Samar] in this Archipelago. But the first island they
touched at was Humunu, a small uninhabited island near
Guiuan Point …. To that and other islets they gave the name
of Buenas Senas [Good Omens] but to the entire Archipelago
they gave the name San Lazaro, being the Saturday of Saint
Lazarus’ Sunday in Lent of the year 1521.
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

On Easter Day, in the territory of Butuan, the first

Mass ever offered in these parts was celebrated and a
cross planted. Magellan then took formal possession
of the islands in the name of the Emperor and of the
Crown of Castille.
The man who gave the most signal service to our
men was the chief of Dimasaua [sic], relative of the
chief of Butuan and that of Zebu, whither he led the
armada, which entered that harbour at noon on the 7th
of April, the Octave of Easter.
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

17th Century

• Two Jesuit historians

• (2) Father Francisco Combes, SJ (1620-1665)
• Historia de Mindanao y Jolo (printed in 1667)
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

The first time that the royal standards of the Faith were
seen to fly in this island [of Mindanao] was when the
Archipelago was first discovered by the Admiral Alonso [sic] de
Magallanes. He followed a new and difficult route [across the
Pacific], entering by the Strait of Siargao, formed by that island
and that of Leyte, and landing at the island of Limasaua which
is at the entrance of the Strait. Amazed by the novelty and
strangeness of the [Spanish] nation and the ships, the
barbarians of that island welcomed them and gave them good
refreshments.
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

While at Limasaua, enjoying rest and good treatment,

they heard of the River of Butuan, whose chieftain was more
powerful. His reputation attracted our men thither to see for
themselves or be disillusioned, their curiosity sharpened by
the fact that the place was nearby. The barbarian [chief] lived
up to our men’s expectations, providing them with the food
they needed …. Magellan contented himself with having them
do reverence to the cross which is erected upon ahillock was a
sign to future generations of their alliance …. The solemnity
with which the cross was erected and the deep piety shown by
the Spaniards, and by the natives following the example of the
Spaniards, engendered great respect for the cross.
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

Not finding in Butuan the facilities required by the ships,

they returned to Limasaua to seek further advice in planning
their future route. The Prince of Limasaua told them of the
three most powerful nations among the Pintados [Visayans],
namely those of Caraga, Samar, and Zebu. The nearness of
Zebu, the facilities of its port, and the more developed social
structure (being more monarchical) aroused everyone’s desire
to go thither. Thus, guided by the chief of Limasaua, passing
between Bool and Leyte and close to the Camotes Islands,
they entered the harbour of Cebu by the Mandawe entrance
on the 7th of April 1521, having departed from Limasaua on the
first day of that Month.
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION
Colin and Combes Compared

• Magellan visited both Combes

Butuan and Limasawa
Colin
• It was from Limasawa and • Magellan visits
• Magellan went first to with the help of Limasawa first; from
Butuan, then to Limasawa’s chieftain that there he goes to
Limasawa and from the Magellan expedition Butuan; then he
went to Cebu.
there to Cebu returns to Limasawa
• Magellan arrived in Cebu and then to Cebu
on the 7th of April 1521
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

17th Century

• Giovanni Francesco Gemelli Careri

• Calabrian
• Giro del Mondo, 1968, multi-volume work
• Influenced by Colin
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

On Whit Sunday the first Mass was said on the land of

Butuan, a cross erected and possession taken in the name of
the most invincible Charles 5th. The lord of Oimasaua [sic],
kinsman of the king of Butuan and to him of Cebu, was
assisting to Magellan, for he brought the ships into that port on
the 7th of April. Before Mass was said on Whit Sunday, the lord
and the king of Cebu were baptized, and by their means,
many men of note and others to the number of 500, and after
dinner the queen with 300 more.
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

• Joaquin Martinez de Zuňiga (1760-1818)

• Augustinian scholar
• Estadismo
• Influenced by Combes

…the Strait of Siargao lies “between” that island and

Leyte, and that island of Limasawa is “at the mouth” or
“entrance” of that Strait.
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

18th Century

One passage in Colin misunderstood

by most writers is his description of
the island of Mindanao.
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION
After that of Manila, the island of Mindanao is the largest in size and
the best in qualities among the islands of this Philippine Archipelago. Upon
these two largest islands, the other islands depend for protection and
security. Mindanao takes its name from the principal Province or Kingdom in
it, and this is so called from its many lakes: for danao in the language most
widely used in these islands means “lake”; whence, “Maguindanao”, the
place and the dwellers of lakes…
The first Province that faces the sea from across New Spain [Mexico]
is that of Caraga, which begins at the Cape of San Agustin and stretches
some fifty leagues to the point of Surigao in the northeast; and from there
the coastline stretches westward some fifteen leagues to the river of Butuan,
noteworthy in the history of these Islands, not so much for its gold and other
good qualities as for the fact that it was one of the first places where the
Discoverer, the Illustrious Hernando de Magallanes, landed and was
accorded good treatment…
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION
Colin does not say that Magellan first sighted the Cape of
San Agustin and then sailed northwards along the Pacific coast
of Mindanao, rounded Surigao point, and then sailed westward
to Butuan. Indeed in another place (as we have seen) he said
explicitly that Magellan entered Philippine waters farther north,
namely, near Samar, landing first at Homonhon. But careless
readers, seeing Colin’s description of eastern Mindanao, coupled
with Combes’ statement that Magellan had “entered” Philippine
waters through Siargao Strait, jumped to the conclusion that
Magellan must have come by the southern route as later
explorers did. This mistake became quite widespread in the 18th
and 19th centuries.
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

18th Century

• Juan de la Concepcion (1724-1787)

• Augustinian
• History of the Philippines, 14-volume
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION
The General left the islands which he called las Velas
Latinas or the Archipelago of San Lazaro – a name which they
still retain, although they have also added the name of Marianas
Islands. It is said that this was the Celebes of antiquity, although I
do not think this opinion is solidly founded. They sailed 300
leagues westward, discovered many islands with abundant
supplies. Magellan had with him a native Indian who understood
their language , which was a great help. They first saw Cape of
San Agustin at the southern tip of the large island of Mindanao.
They sailed along the coast of the province of Caraga, entered
the strait of Siargao which is formed by he Banajao Point and the
island of Leyte, and they landed at the island of Limasawa which
is at the entrance of the strait…
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION
…With the good reception given them by the natives of
Limasawa, they rested and recovered from past sufferings.
There, Magellan heard of the River of Butuan, whose datu or
chieftain was more powerful. He decided to go to the mouth of
that river, being led thither by the hopes aroused by its fame. The
chieftain [of Butuan] lived up to those hopes. He sent a boat with
ten men to inquire what kind of ships, of men, etc. Magellan
replied through the interpreter that they were vassals of the great
and powerful King of Castile; that all they sought was peace and
free trade; that they desired to buy food supplies at a fair price.
The chieftain replied that he did not have enough to supply so
large an expedition…
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

…but that he would ring what he could. They brought on board 4

pigs, 3 goats, and a supply of rice. It was Easter Sunday. The
General ordered the construction on land of a shelter made of
branches. Then he ordered all his men to disembark to hear
Mass, which was celebrated with great devotion by all, thanking
God for his blessings. And this was the first Mass ever offered on
these islands. He then ordered a large cross to be set up on a
hill.
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION
Criticisms to Juan’s account

1. He seems o think that the islands called “Las Velas” and the
Marianas Isands and the Archipelago of San Lazaro were all
one and the same thing.

2. He has misconstrued Magellan’s route, depicting him as

sighting the southeastern tip of Mindanao and sailing
northwards along the Pacific coast of this island, and then
entering by the Siargao Strait into Limasawa “which is at the
entrance of the strait.”
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

19th Century

• Joaquin Martinez de Zuniga (1760-1818)

• Augustinian
• Historia de Filipinas (1803)
• Retana (later adopted Joaquin’s work)
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

On Easter Sunday of the year 1521, Magellan was in Butuan. He

ordered the sacrifice of the Mass to be celebrated ashore, and
he planted a cross on a hillock near the beach. The natives were
present at these ceremonies, and they also witnessed the taking
of possession of the land in the name of the Crown of Castile.
These rites over, Magellan proceeded to Cebu where they killed
him.
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

John Foreman

On the 16th of March 1521 he Ladrones Islands were reached….

After a bloody combat … the fleet continued its course westward.
Coasting along the North of the Island of Mindanao they arrived
at the mouth of Butuan River, where they were supplied with
provisions by the chief. It was Easter Week on this shore the first
Mass was celebrated in the Philippines.
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

(Work of a Dominican friar)

After many days of good sailing, he caught sight of the Marianas Islands which
he named the Archipelago of San Lazaro, having discovered them on the
Saturday of Passion Sunday (7 March 1521). A little later he came to Philippine
territory where the Spaniards were well received by the natives at Punta
Guiguan to the east of Samar; and passing later through the Strait of Surigao,
they dropped anchor at Limasagua, whose chieftain came aboard and was
entertained by Magellan. The latter, on Easter Sunday, disembarked at Butuan,
a town in the island of Mindanao, where the first Mass in the Philippines was
celebrated. He returned to Limasagua; and learning of the importance of Cebu,
he proceeded thither; following the coast between Samar and Leyte and
passing by the Camotes, he arrived in Cebu on 7 April 1521.
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

19th Century
• Retana
• Estadismo (1893)

Butuan (corregimiento de) – Antiguo nombre de la

provincial de Caraga. Esta tiena fue la primera que
Magallanes incorporo a la Corona de Espana. En el
pueblo de Butuan se celebro la primera Misa que se rezo
en Filipinas.
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION

1920s – the textbook in Philippine History

in use at the Ateneo de Manila accepted
the Butuan tradition
 THE BUTUAN TRADITION
Magellan sailed on and reached the southern ocean on November 27
with only three vessels. He sailed a northerly and later on a northwesterly
course….Finally they made port in the islands of the “Lateen Sails” or “the
Ladrones“, for the natives robbed them of whatever they could find in the
ships, which they had been allowed to board. In the 17th century these
islands took the name of “Marianas”. On March 16th they descried the island
of Samar and to the southeast that of Homonhon, Malhon or Jomonhol, all
which names it bears at present. Here they stopped and were well received
by the inhabitants who offered them abundant provisions.
In Limasawa, the chief, named Bancao, made himself the friend of the
voyagers and received from the admiral the title of prince. From Limasagua
the voyagers sailed to the coast of Butuan. A cross was planted on a little
promontory near the seashore, on the left side as one enters the Agusan
river. There the first Mass said on Philippine soil was celebrated. A simple
monument stands as a record of this important event.
THE SHIFT IN
OPINION
 THE SHIFT IN OPINION

Emma Blair
James Alexander Robertson
 THE SHIFT IN OPINION

FATHER PABLO PASTELLS, SJ

Spanish Jesuit scholar
 THE SHIFT IN OPINION

Born in 1846 in Figueras, a province of Gerona, Spain

At 15, he entered the Condliar Seminary in Barcelona.
At 20, he entered the Jesuit novitiate in Spain.
1875 – came to Philippines
1871 – ordained a priest
Served on the Pacific coast (Bislig, Caraga, Cateel)
1887 – transferred to the northern coast of Mindanao
with HQ at Jasaan in Misamis Oriental
 THE SHIFT IN OPINION

1888 – recalled to Manila and was appointed Superior

of the entire Jesuit Mission in the Philippines (1888-
1893)
Collected enormous amount of documents from the
Archivo de Indias in Seville and other sources.
He had at his disposal the magnificent Philippine
library of the Tabacalera, Compaňia General de
Tabacos de Filipinas, in Barcelona.
 THE SHIFT IN OPINION

Published works

Three-volume
History of the
History of the
Three-volume Jesuit Missions in
Jesuits in
edition of Colin the Philippines in
Paraguay
(Madrid 1903 the 19th Century
(Madrid, 1912)
(Barcelona,
1916-17)
 THE SHIFT IN OPINION

Francisco Albo’s Logbook

Antonio Pigafetta’s Account

 THE SHIFT IN OPINION

Magellan did not go to Butuan. Raher, from the island

of Limasawa he proceeded directly to Cebu. In that
island he had dealings with Rajah Siagu, chieftain of
Butuan; and this would explain the author’s [i.e.
Colin’s] error. See the “Voyage” of Pigafetta and the
diary of Albo, both of whom were eyewitnesses.
 THE SHIFT IN OPINION
Letter of Rizal to Plaridel on 4 February 1889

See to it that someone there should learn Italian, because I

have here some manuscripts in Italian that deal with the first
coming of the Spaniards to the Philippines. They were
written by one of Magellan’s companions. As I have no time
to translate them myself, being busy about many things, it
would be good if one of our countrymen should translate the
work into Tagalog or Spanish, so that the situation of our
people in 1520 may become known. Italian is easy to learn.
By the Ahn method it can be learned in one month. I am
now learning Dutch.
 THE SHIFT IN OPINION

Trinidad Pardo de Tavera

Jayme de Veyra
THE EVIDENCE
FOR LIMASAWA
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA

1. The evidence of Albo’s Log-Book

2. The evidence of Pigafetta
a. Piafetta’s testimony regarding the route
b. The evidence of Pigafetta’s map
c. The two native kings
d. The seven days at “Mazaua”
e. An argument from omission
3. Summary of the evidence of Albo and Pigafetta
4. Confirmatory evidence from the Legazpi expedition
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence of Albo’s Logbook

1. On the 16th of March (1521) as they sailed in a westerly

course from the Ladrones, they saw land towards the
northwest; but owing to many shallow places they did not
approach it. They found later that its name was Yunagan.
2. They went instead that same day southwards to another
small island named Suluan, and there they anchored.
There they saw some canoes but these fled at the
Spaniards’ approach. This island was at 9 and two-thirds
degrees North latitude.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence of Albo’s Logbook

3. Departing from those two islands, they sailed westward

to an uninhabited island of “Gada” where they took in a
supply of wood and water. The sea around that island
was free from shallows.
4. From that island they sailed westwards towards a large
island named Seilani which was inhabited and was
known to have gold. (Seilani – or, as Pigafetta calls it,
“Ceylon” – was the island of Leyte.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence of Albo’s Logbook

5. Sailing southwards along the coast of that large island of

Seilani, they turned southwest to a small island called
“Mazava”. That island is also at a latitude of 9 and two-
thirds degrees North.
6. The people of that island of Mazava were very good.
There the Spaniards planted a cross upon a mountain-
top, and from there they were shown three islands to the
west and southwest, where they were told there was
much gold. They showed us how the gold was gathered,
which came in small pieces like peas and lentils.”
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence of Albo’s Logbook
7. From Mazava they sailed northwards again towards
Seilani. They followed the coast of Seilani in a
northwesterly direction, ascending up to 10 degrees of
latitude where the saw three small islands.
8. From there they sailed westwards some ten leagues, and
there they saw three islets, where they dropped anchor
for the night. In the morning they sailed southwest some
12 leagues, down to a latitude of 10 and one-third
degree. There they entered a channel between two
islands, one of which was called “Matan” and the other
“Subu”.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence of Albo’s Logbook

9. They sailed down that channel and then turned westward

and anchored at the town (la villa) of Subu where they
stayed many days and obtained provisions and entered
into a peace-pact with the local king.
10.The town of Subu was on an east-west direction with the
islands of Suluan and Mazava. But between Mazava and
Subu, there were so many shallows that the boats could
not go westward directly but had to go (as they did) in a
round-about way.
THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta

Primo viaggio intorno al mondo

(First Voyage Around the World)

Two excellent English translations:

(1) By Robertson (from the Italian)
(2) By Skelton (from the French)
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(a) Pigafetta’s Testimony Regarding the Route

1. Saturday, 16 March 1521. Magellan’s expedition sighted a “high

land” named “Zamal” which was some 300 leagues westward of
the Ladrones (now the Marianas) Islands.
2. Sunday, March 17. “The following day” after sighting Zamal
Island, they landed on “another island which was uninhabited”
and which lay “to the right” of the above-mentioned island of
“Zamal”. There they set up two tents for the sick members of the
crew and had a sow killed for them. The name of this island was
“Humunu” (Homonhon). This island was located at 10 degrees
North latitude.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(a) Pigafetta’s Testimony Regarding the Route

3. On that same day (Sunday, 17 March) Magellan named the

entire archipelago the “Islands of Saint Lazarus”, the reason
being that it was the Sunday in the Lenten season when the
Gospel assigned for the Mass and the liturgical office was the
eleventh chapter of St. John, which tells of the raising of Lazarus
from the dead.
4. Monday, 18 March. In the afternoon of their second day on the
island, they saw a boat coming towards them with nine men in it.
An exchange of gifts was effected. Magellan asked for food
supplies, and the men went away promising to bring rice and
other supplies in “four days”.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(a) Pigafetta’s Testimony Regarding the Route

5. There were two springs of water on that island of Homonhon,

Also they saw there some indications that there was gold in
these islands. Consequently Magellan renamed the island and
called it the “Watering Place of Good Omen” (Acquada la di
bouni segnialli).
6. Friday, 22 March. At noon the natives returned. This time they
were in two boats, and they brought food supplies.
7. Magellan’s expedition stayed eight days at Homonhon: from
Sunday, 17 March, to the Monday of the following weel, 25
March.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(a) Pigafetta’s Testimony Regarding the Route

8. Monday, 25 March. In the afternoon, the expedition weighed

anchor and left the island of Homonhon. In the ecclesiastical
calendar, this day (25 March) was the feast day of the
Incarnation, also called the feast of the Annunciation and
therefore “Our Lady’s Day”. On this day, as they were about to
weigh anchor, an accident happened to Pigafetta: he fell into the
water but was rescued. He attributed his narrow escape from
death as a grace obtained through the intercession of the
Blessed Virgin Mary on her feast day.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(a) Pigafetta’s Testimony Regarding the Route

9. The route taken by the expedition after leaving Homonhon was

“toward the west southwest, between four islands: namely,
Cenalo, Hiunanghan, Ibusson and Albarien.”
Thus, it is easy to see what Pigafetta meant by sailing “toward
the west southwest” past those islands. They left Homonhon
sailing westward towards Leyte, then followed the Leyte coast
southward, passing between the island of Hibuson on their
portside and Hiunangan Bay on their starboard, and then
continued southward, then turning westward to “Mazaua”.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(a) Pigafetta’s Testimony Regarding the Route

10. Thursday, 28 March. In the morning of Holy Thursday, 28 March,

“they anchored off an island where the previous night they had
seen a light or a bonfire. That island “lies in a latitude of nine and
two-thirds towards the Arctic Pole [i.e. North] and in a longitude
of one hundred and sixty-two degrees from the line of
demarcation. It is twenty-five leagues from the Acquada, and is
called Mazaua.”
11.They remained seven days on Mazaua Island. What they did
during those seven days, we shall discuss in a separate section
below, entitled “Seven Days at Mazaua.”
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(a) Pigafetta’s Testimony Regarding the Route

12.Thursday, 4 April. They left Mazaua, bound for Cebu. They were
guided thither by the king of Mazaua who sailed in his own boat.
Their route took them past five “islands”, namely: “Ceylon, Bohol,
Canighan, Baibai, and Gatighan.”
13. At Gatighan, they sailed westward to the three islands of the
Camotes Group, namely: Poro, Pasihan, and Ponson (Pigafetta
calls them “Polo, Ticobon, and Pozon”). Here the Spanish ships
stopped to allow the king of Mazaua to catch up with them, since
the Spanish ships were much faster than the native balanghai –
a thing that excited the admiration of the king of Mazaua.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(a) Pigafetta’s Testimony Regarding the Route

14. From the Camotes Islands they sailed [southwestward] towards

“Zubu”.
15.Sunday, 7 April. At noon on Sunday, the 7th of April, they entered
the harbour of “Zubu” (Cebu). It had taken them three days to
negotiate the journey from Mazaua northwards to the Camotes
Islands and then southwards to Cebu.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(b) The Evidence of Pigafetta’s Maps
1. First map - shows the large island of Samar (in the map it is spelt
Zzamal), and the smaller islands of Suluan, Abaren, Hiunangan and
“Humunu” (Homonhon), which is also described as “Aguada ly boni
segnaly.”
2. Second map – a double map. One map shows the island of Mindanao
or Maguindanao (the map spells it Mamgdanao). It shows on the
northern shore a deep indentation which is recognizably Panguil Bay.
To the west of that is “Cippit”. To the extreme east, bordering on the
Pacific, are Butuan, Calagan, and Benasan (spelt in the map Butuam,
Calagam,Benasam). The other map shows the southern tip of
Zamboanga, the island of Basilan, and the Sulu archipelago.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(b) The Evidence of Pigafetta’s Maps

3. Third map – the one most pertinent to our present investigation,

because it shows the island of Mazaua (the map spells it is
Mazzana) in relation to the “islands” of “Ceilon” and “Baibai” (i.e.
Leyte) and to those of Bohol, Gatighan and the three islands of
the Camotes Group (in the map called Polon, Pozon, and
Ticobon).
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(b) The Evidence of Pigafetta’s Maps
Comparing the maps, the following inferences seem justified:

1. Mazaua is a small island which lies off the southwestern tip of the larger
island of Ceilon (Southern Leyte), and is to the east of the island of Bohol.
It lies near the passage between Bohol and the western coast of “Ceilon”
(Leyte).
2. The island of Mazaua in Pigafetta’s map, therefore lies in a position
roughly equivalent to the actual position of the island of Limasawa.
3. In no way can Mazaua be indentified with Butuan, which is situated in
another and much larger island (which we now call Mindanao), the same
island in which “Calagan”, “Cippit”, and “Mamgdanao” are also located.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(c) The Two Kings

(1)The king of Mazaua

(2)The king or rajah of Butuan
- “the finest looking man”
- a visitor to Mazaua
That island of his was called Butuan and Calagan. When
those kings wished to see one another, they both went to
hunt in that island where we were.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(d) Seven Days at Mazaua

1. Thursday, 28 March. – In the morning they anchored near an sland

where they had seen a light the night before. A small boat (boloto)
came with eight natives, to whom Magellan threw some trinkets as
presents. The natives paddled away, but two hours later two larger
boats (balanghai) came, in one of which the native king sat under
an awning of mats. At Magellan’s invitation some of the natives went
up the Spanish ship, but the native king remained seated in his
boat. An exchange of gifts was effected. In the afternoon of that day,
the Spanish ships weighed anchor and came closer to shore,
anchoring near the native king’s village. This Thursday, 28 March,
was Thursday in Holy Week: i.e. Holy Thursday.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(d) Seven Days at Mazaua

2. Friday, 29 March. – “Next day. Holy Friday,” Magellan sent his slave
interpreter ashore in a small boat to ask the king if he could provide
the expedition with food supplies, and to say that they had come as
friends and not as enemies. In reply the king himself came in a boar
with six or eight men, and this time went up Magellan’s ship and the
two men embraced. Another exchange of gifts was made. The
native king and his companions returned ashore, bringing with them
two members of Magellan’s expedition as guests for the niht. One of
the two was Pigafetta.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(d) Seven Days at Mazaua
3. Saturday, 30 March. – Pigafetta and his companion had spent the previous
evening feasting and drinking with the native king and his son. Pigafetta
deplored the fact that, although it was Good Friday, they had to eat meat. The
following morning (Saturday) Pigafetta and his companion took leave of their
hosts and returned to the ships.
4. Sunday, 31 March. – “Early in the morning of Sunday, the last of March and
Easter day,” Magellan sent the priest ashore with some men to prepare for the
Mass. Later in the morning, Magellan landed with some fifty men and Mass was
celebrated, after which a cross was venerated. Magellan and the Spaniards
returned to the ship for the noon-day meal, but in the afternoon they returned
ashore to plant the cross on the summit o the highest hill. In attendance both at
the Mass and at the planting of the cross were the king of Mazaua and the king
of Butuan.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(d) Seven Days at Mazaua
5. Sunday, 31 March. – On that same afternoon, while on the summit
of the highest hill, Magellan asked the two kings which ports he
should go to in order to obtain more abundant supplies of food than
were available in that island. They replied that there were three
ports to choose from: Ceylon, Zubu, and Calagan. Of the three,
Zubu was the port with the most trade. Magellan then said that he
wished to go to Zubu and to depart the following morning. He asked
for someone to guide him thither. The kings replied that the pilots
would be available “any time”. But later that evening the king of
Mazaua changed his mind and said that he would himself conduct
Magellan to Zubu but that he would first have to bring the harvest in.
He asked Magellan to send him men to help with the harvest.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(d) Seven Days at Mazaua

6. Monday, 1 April. – Magellan sent men ashore to help with the

harvest, but no work was done that day because the two kings were
sleeping off their drinking bout of the night before.
7. Tuesday, 2 April, and Wednesday, 3 April. – Work on the harvest
during the “next two days”, i.e. Tuesday and Wednesday, the 2nd
and 3rd of April.
Thursday, 4 April.i – They leave Mazaua, bound for Cebu.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Evidence from Pigafetta
(e) An Argument From Omission

If the Magellan expedition were at the delta, and if the Mass

were celebrated there, why is there no mention of the river?
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
Summary of the Evidence of Albo and Pigafetta
In summary:

1. Magellan’s expedition entered Philippine waters south of the

island of Samar and dropped anchor at Homonhon where they
stayed a week. Then they sailed westward towards Leyte and then
southwards parallel to the eastern coast of that island and that of
the adjoining island of Panaon. Rounding the southern tip of the
latter, they anchored off the eastern shore of a small island called
Mazaua. There they stayed a week, during which on Easter Sunday
they celebrated Mass and planted the cross on the summit of the
highest hill.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
Summary of the Evidence of Albo and Pigafetta

2. The island of Mazaua lies at a latitude of nine and two-thirds

degrees North. Its position (south of Leyte) and its latitude correspond
to the position and latitude of the island of Limasawa, whose southern
tip lies at 9 degrees and 54 minutes North.
3. From Mazaua the expedition sailed northwestwards through the
Canigao channel between Bohol and Leyte, then northerwards parallel
to the eastern coast of this latter island, then they sailed westward to
the Camotes Group and from there southwestwards to Cebu.
4. At no point in that itinerary did the Magellan expedition go to Butuan
or any other point on the Mindanao coast. The survivors of the
expedition did go to Mindanao later, but after Magellan’s death.
 THE EVIDENCE FOR LIMASAWA
The Legazpi Expedition

• Legazpi expedition, 1565, forty-four years after Magellan

• Inquired about “Mazaua” from Camotuan and his companions,
natives of the village of Cabalian at the southeastern end of the island
of Leyte.
• Legazpi ships rounded the island of “Panae” (Panaon), which was
separated from Leyte by a narrow strait, and anchored off “Mazaua” –
inhabitants found to be hostile
• From Mazaua they went to Camiguing, and from there they intended
to go to Butuan on the island of “Vindanao” but were driven instead
by contrary winds to Bohol.
 THE
GEOGRAPHY OF
MAZAUA
 THE GEOGRAPHY OF MAZAUA
• Magellan was coasting southward down the eastern coast of Leyte
(Albo’s “Seilani”; Pigafetta’s “Ceylon”) with Hibuson Island on his left.
This took him down to the southern tip of what looks like a part of
Leyte but is really a separate island, the island of Panaon. When his
ships rounded the tip of Panaon, the wind was blowing westward
from the Pacific.
• It was late March: in March and April in this part of the Philippines, the
east wind is strong. It is what the people of Limasawa call the
“Dumagsa,” the east wind. Sailing with the wind, Magellan’s vessels
would find themselves going west or southwest, toward the island of
Limasawa. Having seen a light on the island one night, they dedded
the following day to anchor off it.
 THE GEOGRAPHY OF MAZAUA

• A visit to Limasawa will convince the traveller that here indeed is the
place circumstantially described by Pigafetta. The island is shaped
‘like a tadpole, running north to south’. The northern portion is almost
all hills, with the slopes dropping steeply to the sea, leaving only a
narrow coastal strip. But the southern portion of the island is almost
all level land with a few hills. It has a good harbour, protected on the
west by Panaon Isand and on the east by Limasawa. The fields in
this portion of the island are fertile. Here, on one of the hills, the cross
could be planted which everyone could see from the plain. And from
the top of that hill could be seen the islands to the south, to the west
and to the east.
WHY THE BUTUAN
TRADITION?
 WHY THE BUTUAN TRADITION?

• First, it must be remembered that the tradition is based on

second-hand information. One author repeats (and often distorts)
what previous authors have written, and is in turn copied (and
distorted) by subsequent authors.
• Second, as suggested by Pastells, Magellan and his men got to
know the rajah of Butuan at Masaua. According to Pigafetta, that
rajah was at Masaua only on a visit.
• Third, it must be remembered that the Butuan tradition, while
erroneous as to the site of the first Mass, is not entirely without
validity.
 WHY THE BUTUAN TRADITION?

The Butuan tradition may not have started in Butuan but in

Europe. With that, two questions might be asked: (1) Who started
it, and (2) how was it started?

• Maximilian of Transylvania, commonly known as Translyvanus

• His letter, De Moluccis Insulis, was the first published account
of the Magellan expedition. First printed in January 1523, only
two years after Magellan’s discovery of the Philippine Islands.
• Data from the survivors who had returned on the “Victoria”.
 WHY THE BUTUAN TRADITION?

Our men having taken in water in Acaca, sailed towards

Selani; here a storm took them, so that they could not bring
the ships to that island, but were driven to another island
called Massaua, where lives a king of three islands, after
that they arrived at Subuth. This is an excellent and large
island, and having made a treaty with its chieftain, they
landed immediately to perform divine service, according to
the manner of the Christians, for it was the feast of the
resurrection of Him who was our salvation.
THE IMPORTANCE
OF BUTUAN
 THE IMPORTANCE OF BUTUAN
1. The king of Butuan, Pigafetta says, “was the finest
looking man that we saw among those people.”

His hair was exceedingly black and hung to his shoulders. He

had a covering of sillk 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 the
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
appeared as if bound with gold. He was perfumed with storax
and benzoin. He was tawny and painted. [i.e. tattooed] all over.
 THE IMPORTANCE OF BUTUAN
Pieces of gold the size of walnuts and eggs are found by
sifting the earth in the island of that king who came to our
ships. All the dishes of that king are of gold and also some
portion of his house, as we were told by the king himself.
According to their customs he was very grandly decked out,
and the finest looking man that we saw among those
people.

2. From accounts of Legazpi’s expedition, Butuan was an

important trading port for interisland (and possibly for
foreign) commerce.
 THE IMPORTANCE OF BUTUAN

3. Archaeological importance of Butuan and the Agusan

River delta – almost all of the archaeological artefacts on
display in that museum had been dug up in that delta.

4. Butuan’s importance is underlined by the fact that it was

the first place in Mindanao where a Christian mission was
established. It was served, first by the Jesuits and later by
the Augustinian Recollects.
 THE IMPORTANCE OF BUTUAN
The Butuan Monument

• 1872 – monument was erected at Magallanes, near

Butuan.
• Erected near the river-edge which went underwater after a
few decades
• 1953 – a petition was sent to the National Historical
Committee (created in 1933, Luis Montilla was the
chairman at that time) asking that Butuan monument be
rehabilitated and re-erected.
• Mr. O.D. Opiana, Secretary of the Committee – to which
the petition was referred for study and comment.
 THE IMPORTANCE OF BUTUAN
The Butuan Monument

• Don Jayme de Veyra’s apodictic statement: “En

Limasawa y no en Butuan fue en donde se celebro la
primera Misa en estas regiones.” (“In Limasawa, not in
Butuan, the first Mass in these regions was celebrated.”)
• Pardo de Tavera’s “Notas para una cartografia de
Filipinas” (Notes for a Philippine cartography)
• Opiana forwarded to NHC that the petition to rehabilitate
the Butuan monument be dismissed (as a
recommendation) but the Committee did not accept it,
although they accepted the opinion.
 THE IMPORTANCE OF BUTUAN
The Butuan Monument

• A compromised resolution was passed on December 11,

1953.
• Why defenders of the Butuan tradition were offended?
• Despite the resolution of 1953, the NHC apparently did
nothing to rehabilitate the Butuan monument.
• “When I saw it in 1978, the monument was still lying on its
side. The benchmark of the US naval survey of 1905 was
still there. But the original marble slab of 1872 had been
removed.
 THE IMPORTANCE OF BUTUAN
The Butuan Monument

• In 1978, however, a more honourable future was being

prepared for that monument. The municipal authorities
were constructing a concrete pedestal, shaped like the
prow of a ship, upon which to mount the monument.
 THE IMPORTANCE OF BUTUAN
The Butuan Monument

Should the monument be preserved?