SITE OF THE FIRST MASS
Module 2/Topic 1
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" returned to Spain (Blair de Robertson, 1975)
• Miguel Lopez De Legaspi and/or Hernando Riquel (Court
Clerk of the Home Office) Account
O 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 Legazpi in the Discovery of the Islands of the
West.
• Pigafetta's Account
In Antonio Pigafetta's account "Primo Viaggo Intorno Al Mondo" (First Voyage
Around the World) events of 1519-1522.
• 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.
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF MASAO,
BUTUAN CITY
• Gregorio Zaide (2002) provides narration of what
transpired during the first mass in the Philippines.
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.
• John Ford , author of "Additional Pages from an American Cruiser in
the East" which was published in 1898
• Written also in the Military Notes on the Philippines in September
1898 at the United States Adjutant-Generals's Office recognition of
Butuan as the site of the first mass in the Philippines.
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.