BUTUAN TRADITION was publicly endorsed in the program for the 1921

Limasawa Exhibit.
• The First Mass in the Philippines was celebrated at
• Despite this, the change in location sparked significant
Butuan, near the Agusan River, in 1521. This tradition can
resistance from Butuan residents and their supporters.
be traced to the 17th century, with mentions of the event
For over three decades, they petitioned local and national
in the missionary works of Francisco Colin (1663) and
authorities, including the Philippine president, to
Francisco Combes (1667). These accounts were
officially recognize Butuan as the site of the First Mass,
influential, becoming widely accepted by later writers,
leading to a prolonged debate over the matter. Ultimately,
especially by the 19th century.
historians and scholars in the early 20th century
• In 1872, a monument was erected near the mouth of the
increasingly accepted Limasawa as the correct location.
Agusan River to commemorate this tradition, and it
remained a key historical narrative until the late 19th GOVERNMENT ACTION
century. However, historical scrutiny of these claims
• The government first got involved in the debate over the
evolved. In 1981, historian William Henry Scott examined
location of the First Easter Sunday Mass in 1980 when the
the sources behind Colin’s account, identifying that Colin
National Historical Institute (NHI) formed a panel to
likely relied on a summary of Antonio Pigafetta's
review the evidence. This was followed by two more
*Viaggio* from an earlier work by Gian Battista Ramusio.
panels in 1995 and 2008, all of which concluded that the
• The *Pigafetta* account, which was transcribed by Carlo
Mass took place on Limasawa Island.
Amoretti in 1800, became the standard source on the
• In 2018, with ongoing demands from Butuan supporters
Magellan Expedition for many years, though later
to reopen the case, the National Historical Commission of
scholars like Robert Robertson criticized Amoretti’s
the Philippines (NHCP) decided to settle the matter
transcription for distorting Pigafetta's original text. The
before the 500th anniversary of the Christianization of
controversy over the location of the First Mass deepened
the Philippines. The NHCP, along with the National
in 1894 when a more complete transcription of Pigafetta's
Quincentennial Committee (NQC), created the "Mojares
work by Andrea Da Mosto revealed discrepancies,
Panel" to re-examine the issue and make a final decision
reigniting debates about the true site of the First Easter
on the location.
Sunday Mass.
• The Butuan tradition persisted as a widely accepted The Butuan Focus Group Discussion
historical claim, despite the emerging challenges to its
accuracy based on these new textual findings. • In September 2018, the National Historical
Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) called for
LIMASAWA TRADITION position papers from Butuan proponents claiming
that the First Easter Sunday Mass took place in
• emerged as a revision of the *Butuan Tradition* following
Butuan. Two proponents, Gabriel Atega and Dr.
a closer examination of historical sources, particularly the
Potenciano Malvar, submitted their papers by the
log of *Victoria*'s pilot, Francisco Albo, and the
deadline.
transcription of Pigafetta’s account by Andrea Da Mosto
• On November 9, 2018, a Focus Group Discussion
in 1894. In contrast to the earlier belief that the First
(FGD) was held in Butuan City to review these papers.
Easter Sunday Mass took place in Butuan, scholars
The NHCP facilitated the discussion, with participants
Trinidad Pardo de Tavera and Father Pablo Pastells, SJ,
including local historians, government officials, and
concluded that the true site was Limasawa Island.
representatives from the Catholic Bishops
• Their conclusions were based on the Albo log and other
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
contemporary documents, including a rutter (sailing
• During the FGD, the two proponents presented their
directions) by an anonymous Genoese pilot, which
papers: Atega's "First Easter Day Sunday Mass
referenced an island near the coordinates of 9° latitude,
Celebration at the Island of Baug, Magallanes, Agusan
consistent with Limasawa. Da Mosto's footnote further
del Norte" and Malvar's "Pigafetta’s 9°2/3N, ‘Hidden
supported this by suggesting that the island identified in
Facts’". After the presentations, two open forums
the accounts was likely Limasawa, a name derived from
were held to clarify and discuss the evidence. By the
various historical sources.
end of the discussion, Atega and Malvar decided to
• In 1895, Pardo de Tavera published these findings in *El
combine their findings into a single paper, which
Comercio*, and by 1921, he solidified the Limasawa
would be prepared with the help of historian Michael
location in the context of the 400th anniversary of the
Charleston "Xiao" Chua.
Magellan Expedition. This shift from Butuan to Limasawa
Cebu Meeting the Western Mazaua Site of the Easter Sunday
Mass in 1521"*. In his presentation, Borrinaga
• the first gathering of the Mojares Panel, held on
reaffirmed that Limasawa Island was the site of
December 12-13, 2018, at Harolds Hotel in Cebu
the First Easter Sunday Mass. He also proposed
City. During this two-day meeting, the panel
that the site in Barangay Triana, on the western
reviewed past reports on the location of the First
side of the island, should be recognized as the
Easter Sunday Mass, including the 1980 NHI
actual location of the Mass, rather than Barangay
Workshop, the 1995 Gancayco Panel, and the
Magallanes, where the existing shrine is located.
2008 Legarda Panel.
Borrinaga further suggested that Saub Point, a
• At this meeting, Butuan proponents Gabriel nearby hill, was the place where Magellan’s men
Atega and Dr. Potenciano Malvar formally planted a cross, and where Pigafetta reportedly
presented their position papers supporting the saw the "three islands" (possibly Camiguin,
claim that the First Mass took place in Butuan. Bohol, and Surigao).
The panel then conducted a preliminary
• The panel then began preparing to evaluate the
assessment of the evidence presented by the two
position papers from both the Butuan and
proponents. Additionally, plans were made for
Limasawa proponents and planned to draft an
the next meeting in Tacloban, Leyte, where the
initial report. The final evaluation was scheduled
Limasawa proponents would present their
for July 23, 2019, in Manila.
evidence.
• On April 26, 2019, the panel conducted an ocular
HONTIVEROS ACT inspection in Limasawa, visiting both Barangay
Magallanes (the current site of the shrine) and
• On January 19, 2019, an article by Butuan Barangay Triana (Borrinaga's proposed site). They
proponent Gregorio Jose Hontiveros, titled *"A also climbed Saub Point, which offered a view of
Fire on the Island: Reasserting the Pro-Masao the three islands described by Pigafetta.
Position"*, was submitted to the NHCP for
consideration in the ongoing debate about the MANILA MEETING
location of the First Easter Sunday Mass. The
• The Mojares Panel met on July 23-24, 2019, at
article had originally been published in 2017 and
the National Quincentennial Committee (NQC)
was endorsed by Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of
office in the NHCP building in Manila. Panel
Cagayan de Oro, who was also acting as Apostolic
members present included Dr. Resil Mojares
Administrator of the Diocese of Butuan.
(Chair), Dr. Francis Navarro, Dr. Carlos Madrid, Fr.
• Hontiveros had been unavailable to attend the
Tony de Castro, Dr. Danilo Gerona, and Dr. Jose
2018 Focus Group Discussion in Butuan because
Victor Torres (Secretary General).
he was abroad at the time. However, his article
• Representatives from the Catholic Bishops'
was passed on to the Mojares Panel on February
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) also
6, 2019, by the National Quincentennial
attended: Fr. Emil Quilatan, OAR; Fr. Ted Torralba;
Committee (NQC). After reviewing the article, the
Fr. Amado Tumbali, SJ; Fr. Antolin Uy, SVD; and Fr.
panel decided to accept it as part of the evidence
Albert Flores.
for the Butuan position.
• Representatives from the NHCP and NQC were
Tacloban meeting also present, including Dr. Rene Escalante (NHCP
Chair and NQC Executive Director), Alvin Alcid,
• The second meeting of the Mojares Panel took Cielito Reyno, Ian Christopher Alfonso (NQC
place on April 25-26, 2019, at the Luxury Suites Secretariat Head), and others.
Hotel in Tacloban City, Leyte. The panel members • During the two-day meeting, the panel discussed
present were Dr. Resil Mojares (Chair), Dr. Francis
and agreed on the parameters for evaluating the
Navarro, Dr. Carlos Madrid, Fr. Tony de Castro,
evidence and preparing a formal report on their
and Dr. Jose Victor Torres (Secretary General). Dr. recommendation to the NHCP regarding the
Danilo Gerona was absent due to other official location of the First Easter Sunday Mass.
commitments.
• At this meeting, Limasawa proponent Dr. Rolando
Borrinaga presented his paper titled *"Limasawa
was Phonetically Called Masawa until 1602 and
Part II: Parameters of the Current Review 1. Magallanes** on Baug Island in Agusan del
Norte (Butuan area)
• The Mojares Panel set the following parameters
2. Pinamanculan** in Butuan City
for its review of the Butuan-Limasawa
3. Barangay Magallanes** in Limasawa
controversy regarding the location of the First
4. Barangay Triana** in Limasawa
Easter Sunday Mass:
1. Burden of Proof: Since previous panels (1980, SOURCES USED
1995, and 2008) had concluded that
• The Mojares Panel benefited greatly from
Limasawa Island was the site of the First
modern technology, especially the Internet and
Easter Mass, the burden of proof to change
the digitization of rare books and archival
the site fell on the Butuan proponents. The
documents. These tools provided easier access to
focus would be on **new evidence** that
essential sources and allowed for quick
had not been fully addressed by earlier
communication with international institutions
panels or any new data collected by the
holding important materials related to the
current panel.
Magellan expedition.
2. Evaluation of Papers: The panel agreed to
• Access to Original Manuscripts:
evaluate only the following papers for the
o The panel was able to access **digitized
Butuan claim:
copies** of the four known original
o Gabriel Atega’s paper (presented in the
**Pigafetta manuscripts** from the
FGD in Butuan in November 2018)
following repositories:
o Dr. Potenciano Malvar’s paper
(presented in the same FGD and in the 1. **Ambrosiana Codex** – Biblioteca
Mojares Panel meeting in Cebu in Ambrosiana, Milan, Italy
December 2018)
o Gregorio Hontiveros’ article, which was 2. **Yale-Beinecke Codex** – Beinecke
endorsed by Archbishop Antonio Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale
Ledesma for inclusion. University
▪ For the Limasawa side, the panel 3. **Manuscript 5650** – Bibliothèque
accepted **Rolando Borrinaga’s Nationale, Paris
paper**, presented during the
Tacloban meeting. No further 4. **Manuscript 24224** – Bibliothèque
presentations of evidence would be Nationale, Paris
accepted from either side after July o Additionally, the panel obtained the
23, 2019. following digitized sources:
3. Review of Previous Panels’ Decisions: The 1. **Robertson Transcription** of the
panel would only revisit the decisions of Ambrosiana manuscript, from the
earlier panels (1980, 1995, 2008) if those Ayer Collection MS 1391 v. 23
decisions were relevant to the **new (Newberry Library, Chicago).
evidence** presented by the Butuan and 2. **1894 Transcription by Andrea Da
Limasawa proponents or if new data had Mosto**, the first complete
been independently collected by the current transcription of the Ambrosiana
panel. manuscript, which was found online
4. Focus on the Site**: The review would focus at the Internet Archive.
solely on determining the location of the First
• New Translations:
Easter Sunday Mass. Other evidence
o To aid in the review, the panel commissioned
presented could be considered depending on
new translations of the relevant sections
its relevance to the site of the Mass.
from these manuscripts. Translators were
sourced from
1. **Ateneo de Manila University** and
the **University of the Philippines
Department of Languages**. Notably,
• Sites Considered: **Dr. Francis Navarro**, a panel
 member, contributed translations from ▪ **Barangay Magallanes** (Eastern Side)
**Spanish to English**. – where the **First Easter Sunday Mass
o The translations focused on the period Shrine** is currently located.
**before and after the event** of the First ▪ **Barangay Triana** (Western Side) –
Easter Sunday Mass. These new translations proposed by **Dr. Rolando Borrinaga**
were compared to earlier translations, as the actual site of the First Mass and
particularly those used by both the Butuan the **cross** planted by Magellan’s
and Limasawa proponents, such as the men.
**Robertson (Ambrosiana)** and **Skelton ▪ **Date of Visit**: April 26, 2019.
(Yale-Beinecke)** editions of the Pigafetta ▪ **Significance**: Limasawa Island has
manuscript. been consistently identified as the site of
• Additional Research: the First Mass in official government
o The panel also consulted **28 published studies since 1980.
books** in various languages, mostly in o **Mount Minga-aso, near Butuan City
**digital format**, which included (Butuan Claim)**
translations of sources related to the ▪ **Location**: A mountain near Butuan
Magellan Expedition. These sources included City, where Butuan proponent
accounts by **Gines de Mafra**, **Potenciano Malvar** claims that
**Francisco Albo**, and the **“Genoese **Magellan’s men** erected a cross.
Pilot”**. ▪ **Date of Visit**: July 12, 2019,
• In summary, the use of digital tools and access to conducted by **Dr. Carlos Madrid** of
a wide range of sources allowed the Mojares the Mojares Panel, along with **Gerwill
Panel to conduct a thorough and efficient review Cruz** of the NHCP and **Malvar**.
of the evidence regarding the site of the First ▪ **Significance**: This site was suggested
Easter Sunday Mass. by Malvar as the location for the cross
that was supposedly erected by
SITE INSPECTION (NHCP and Mojares Panel) Magellan's men.
• The NHCP and the Mojares Panel conducted site • These site visits provided the panel with
inspections of locations proposed by both the important contextual information to help assess
**Butuan** and **Limasawa** proponents as the validity of the claims.
the possible sites of the **First Easter Sunday NAVIGATION INFORMATION
Mass**. These inspections were crucial in
evaluating the claims and gathering firsthand • A key issue in the debate over the **First Easter
information. The following sites were visited: Sunday Mass** location was the navigational
o **Baug, Magallanes, Agusan del Norte data provided by **Antonio Pigafetta**, the
(Butuan Claim)** chronicler of Magellan’s voyage. Butuan
▪ **Location**: The site where the **1872 proponent **Gabriel Atega** argued that
First Mass Monument** is located in Pigafetta’s recorded coordinates point directly to
Butuan. **Butuan** as the site of the First Mass.
▪ **Date of Visit**: November 10, 2018, • To address these navigational concerns, the
during the **Focus Group Discussion** **Mojares Panel** enlisted the help of **Ignacio
in Butuan City. Fernandez Vial**, a naval engineer and historian,
▪ **Significance**: This site has been a to provide expert analysis. Vial, who designed
long-standing claim for the location of and built a replica of Magellan’s ship
the First Mass, supported by Butuan **Victoria**, retraced Magellan’s route during a
proponents. voyage from 2004 to 2006. This experience gave
o **Limasawa Island, Leyte (Limasawa Vial access to detailed data on the **Magellan
Claim)** expedition's route**, which was vital for the
▪ **Location**: Two specific places on panel’s research.
**Limasawa Island** were inspected: • Vial’s unpublished manuscript, particularly
**Chapter 8** ("Filipinas-Brunei-Filipinas"), was
 translated for use in the panel’s review of the Additionally, **Saub Point** in Triana, where
navigational aspects of the journey. This a cross is believed to have been planted by
manuscript helped clarify some of the issues Magellan’s men, should also be
around Magellan’s movements in the Philippines. acknowledged as the site of the cross.
• In addition, the panel reviewed contemporary However, this recommendation should be
studies on Magellan’s voyage, including: made **after consulting with local
o **Scott M. Fitzpatrick and Richard stakeholders and government units** to
Callaghan's article** (2008) – Analyzing ensure proper representation and support.
the Pacific crossing using computer • In summary, the panel upheld Limasawa as the site of the
simulations to assess how oceanographic First Mass, but endorsed changes to the specific location
factors influenced Magellan's route. within Limasawa and recommended further recognition
o **Ana-Cornelia Badea, Gheorghe Badea, of Butuan's historic value.
Doina Vasilca, and Camelia Georgiana
Semen's paper** (2016) – Applying new
technologies to re-examine Magellan’s
first voyage around the world.
• These studies helped the panel assess the
navigational data and its relevance to
determining the location of the **First Easter
Sunday Mass**.

PART IV: CONCLUSION

• On the Location of the First Easter Sunday

Mass**
o After thoroughly reviewing the evidence, the
Mojares Panel concluded that while the
**Butuan proponents** presented serious
and substantial arguments, their evidence
was not strong enough to overturn the
current government decision. The panel
therefore **recommends that Limasawa
Island** in Leyte remain recognized as the
site of the **First Easter Sunday Mass** of
1521.
• On Butuan’s Historical Significance**
o The panel acknowledged **Butuan's
historical importance**, particularly as a
major precolonial trading hub and its role in
the spread of Christianity in **Mindanao**.
This significance, however, is independent of
whether it is the site of the First Mass. The
panel **recommends that the NHCP
promote Butuan** as one of the country's
key historic sites, emphasizing its broader
cultural and historical importance.
• On Limasawa and the Site of the First Mass**
o The panel supports **Dr. Rolando
Borrinaga's proposal** to recognize
**Barangay Triana** on Limasawa Island,
instead of Barangay Magallanes, as the true
site of the **First Easter Sunday Mass**.