The First Mass in the Philippines

2. Questions:
•Where does the First Mass in the
Philippines was held?
•When does the First Mass in the
Philippines happened?

3. The first documented Catholic Mass in the
Philippines was held on March 31, 1521, Easter
Sunday. It was conducted by Father Pedro de
Valderrama of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition
along the shores of what was referred to in the
journals of Antonio Pigafetta as "Mazaua".

4. LIMASAWA
OR
BUTUAN?

5. Some historians argue that
the first Easter Mass in the
Philippines was actually held
on Limasawa Island, Leyte,
based on sources from the 16th
and 17th centuries. This
historical research by Dr.
Antonio Sanchez de Mora
supports the claim that the first
Easter Mass took place in 1521
on Limasawa Island.

6. Question:
Why some historian argue about the
location of the First Mass?

7. The location of the first Mass
in the Philippines is a subject of
debate among historians. There
are two main contenders for the
site of the first Mass:
Limasawa and Butuan

8. 1. Limasawa: According to
the accounts of Antonio
Pigafetta, a chronicler of
Ferdinand Magellan's
expedition, the first Catholic
Mass in the Philippines took
place on March 31, 1521,
on the island of Limasawa
in Southern Leyte. This
event is considered
significant in the history of
Christianity in the
Philippines.

9. Who is Antonio Pigafetta in
Philippine history?
Antonio Pigafetta was an Italian
scholar and explorer. He joined the
expedition to the Spice Islands led by
explorer Ferdinand Magellan under the
flag of the emperor Charles V and
after Magellan's death in the Philippine
Islands, the subsequent voyage
around the world.

10. 2. Butuan: On the other hand, some
historical sources suggest that the first Mass
actually occurred in Butuan, a city in the
northern part of Mindanao. These sources
point to the presence of a Christian
community in Butuan before the arrival of
Magellan's expedition. They argue that the
first Mass was celebrated there by Friar
Pedro de Valderrama, a member of the
Magellan expedition, prior to the Mass in
Limasawa.

11. How do both Limasawa and Butuan
contribute to the spread of Christianity in
the Philippines?
Both Limasawa and Butuan have
played significant roles in the spread of
Christianity in the Philippines, regardless of
the debate over the first Mass. They serve as
reminders of the country's religious history
and cultural heritage.