Scribd
Upload
447 views

Comparison and Contrast

The document compares and contrasts the accounts of where the first Catholic mass was held in the Philippines - either Limasawa island or Butuan. It analyzes the key points from historical sources that describe the route of Magellan's expedition and the events that occurred on Easter in 1521. While the Butuan tradition was long-held for over 250 years based on writings from the 1600s, the document concludes the first mass most likely took place in Limasawa island due to inconsistencies in the Butuan accounts and stronger evidence from primary sources that place the events in Limasawa.

Uploaded by

Karen Joy Abella
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
447 views

Comparison and Contrast

The document compares and contrasts the accounts of where the first Catholic mass was held in the Philippines - either Limasawa island or Butuan. It analyzes the key points from historical sources that describe the route of Magellan's expedition and the events that occurred on Easter in 1521. While the Butuan tradition was long-held for over 250 years based on writings from the 1600s, the document concludes the first mass most likely took place in Limasawa island due to inconsistencies in the Butuan accounts and stronger evidence from primary sources that place the events in Limasawa.

Uploaded by

Karen Joy Abella
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Karen Joy B.

Abella BEEd -1A

COMPARISON AND CONTRAST

To compare is to tell how two or more things alike. To contrast is to tell how two things are different. Clue words such as like or show
comparison. Clue word such as but and unlike show contrast. Often writers can’t use clue words. Readers must make comparison for
themselves. Use the chart to compare and contrast the conflicting accounts of the site of the first Mass in The Philippines.

Subject being compared:

LIMASAWA AND BUTUAN


Reason for comparison:

To know where the first mass in the Philippines is being held.


LIMASAWA

POINT 1 POINT 2
- The shift in opinion from Butuan to Limasawa was due to - According to Father Francisco Combés S.J., a Jesuit
a rediscovery and a more attentive study of two primary writer, Magellan visited Limasawa twice. Magellan’s
sources on the subject: Namely, Pigafetta’s account and route, based on his statement, was from Limasawa to
Albo’s log. Butuan, then back to Limasawa and then to Cebu on
- Magellan did not go to Butuan. Rather, from the island of April 7, 1521.
Limasawa he proceeded directly to Cebu. - For our present purpose, the main point is that Magellan
Landed at Butuan and there planted the cross solemn
ceremony. Combés does not mention the First Mass.
- What he mentions are the other two way events which,
from Pigafetta’s account, had occurred on the same day
as the first Mass, namely the planting of the cross and
the formal claiming of the Archipelago on behalf of the
Castilian Crown.
BUTUAN

POINT 1 POINT 2
- The date given for the first Mass (8 April, 1521) may be - According to Father Francisco Colin S.J., a historian,
an obvious error, or it may be a clumsy and anachronistic Magellan arrived at Butuan first, then to Limasawa and
attempt to translate the original date in terms of the then to Cebu.
Gregorian calendar. In any case, that monument is a - Both Colin and Combés agree that Magellan expedition
testimonial to the tradition that remained vigorous until went to Cebu on the 7th of April 1521: that is to say, on
the end of the 19 century, namely, that Magellan and
th
the Octave of Easter, or one week after the Mass which
his expedition landed at Butuan and celebrated there the – in this tradition – was supposed to have been
first Mass ever offered on Philippine soil. celebrated at Butuan.
- The important thing in Colin’s account as far as our - On Whit Sunday the first Mass was said on the land of
present purpose is concerned, is the fact that he Butuan, a cross erected and possession taken in the
represents the first Mass, as well as the solemn planting name of the most invincible Charles 5th.
of the cross and the formal taking possession of the
Islands in the name of the Crown of Castile, as having
taken place at butuan on Easter Sunday of 1521.
SIMILARITIES/DIFFERENCES
- Only Limasawa and Butuan are the serious contestant for the First Mass site.
- In 1953 another monument was placed on the island of Limasawa, obviously contesting the former. While the Butuan
monument was the culmination of a 250 year-old tradition based on wrotings going as far back as 1663 (Colin) and reasserted
again and again up to the turn of the century
CONCLUSION

- In conclusion the first mass in the Philippines took place in Limasawa, not in Butuan. It is not just because of the lack of
evidence but because of the inconsistency of facts as well. The inconsistent information presented in the Butuan tradition
made it so absurd. I mean, how come one believes this tradition when you are fed with different versions of stories from
different mouths? Because of the lack of supporting evidences, historians found out that the Butuan tradition is invalid thereby
coming up with a better tradition: Limasawa tradition. Although the Limasawa tradition came after the Butuan, it was proven
with evidences that the first mass in the Philippines took place in Limawasa Island in Visayas on March 31, 1521.

You might also like