Site of the First Mass

Summary

The video script discusses the historical debate over the location of the first Catholic mass in the Philippines. Traditionally, Misawa Island is credited with hosting the event on March 31, 1531, as documented by Antonio Pigafetta, a navigator on Magellan's expedition. However, local historians in Butuan argue that the mass occurred in Manzawa, now Masao, due to its agricultural significance, which Misawa Island lacks. The script also highlights the discrepancies in historical records, with some suggesting that 'Misawa' was not the island's name in 1521, but 'Kalibutan'. The debate is significant for the Church, with a local historian urging the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines to investigate the controversy.

Takeaways

• 🗓️ The first Catholic mass is historically stated to have been held on Misawa Island on March 31, 1531.
• 📜 Antonio Pigafita, an Italian traveler and chronicler, provided a detailed account of Magellan's expedition, including the first mass.
• 👑 Both the King of Masawa and the King of Butuan were in attendance at the first mass and the planting of the cross.
• 🤔 Local historians in Butuan, however, believe the first mass took place in Manzawa, now called Masao, not Misawa.
• 🙏 Friar Pedro Valderrama celebrated the mass on Easter Sunday, alongside Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew.
• ⚓️ The Spaniards planted a cross on the highest hill and stayed in the area for seven days, interacting with the local Rahaz men.
• 🌾 The Spaniards helped with the rice harvest for two days, indicating the place was a significant agricultural area.
• 🏝️ Misawa Island in Leyte was not an agricultural area, suggesting that the first mass site might be misidentified.
• 📍 The location of the first mass is disputed, with some arguing it was in Butuan City, not later identified as Misawa.
• 🔍 The name 'Misawa Island' only appeared in 1667, according to 'Historia di Mindanao', adding to the controversy.
• 🏛️ Greg Cortezeros, a local historian and president of the Butuan City Heritage Society, has requested the CBCP to investigate the first mass controversy.

Q & A

Where was the first Catholic mass reportedly held according to history books?

History books state that the first Catholic mass was held in Misawa Island.

Who were the kings present during the first Catholic mass according to Antonio Pigafita?

The kings of Masawa and Butuan were in attendance at the first Catholic mass.

What is the significance of Antonio Pigafita in relation to Magellan's expedition?

Antonio Pigafita was a famous Italian traveler who studied navigation and provided the most complete account of Magellan's expedition in his work 'Primo Villagio Intorno al Mondo'.

What is the alternative location proposed by local historians for the first Catholic mass?

Local historians in Butuan believe that the first site of the Catholic mass took place in Manzawa, now called Masao, not in Misawa.

On what date did Friar Pedro Valderrama celebrate mass with Ferdinand Magellan and his men?

Friar Pedro Valderrama celebrated mass with Ferdinand Magellan and his men on March 31, which was Easter Sunday.

How long did the Spaniards stay in the area after the first mass?

The Spaniards stayed in the area for seven days after the first mass.

What activity did the Spaniards participate in with the local people after the mass?

The Spaniards helped in the rice harvest for two days with more than a hundred of the rahash men.

Why do some believe that Misawa Island was not the site of the first mass?

Some believe Misawa Island was not the site of the first mass because it was not an agricultural area, and the people who attended the mass harvested rice for two days, which Misawa Island could not provide.

What is the historical dispute regarding the name of Misawa Island?

The historical dispute is that there was no island named Misawa in 1521; it was known as Kadingilan Island. The name 'Misawa' only appeared in 1667 according to 'Historia di Mindanao'.

What does Greg Cortezeros, a local historian and president of the Butuan City Heritage Society, claim about the first mass?

Greg Cortezeros claims that the honor of the first mass belongs to the city of Butuan, not in Misawa, and has requested the CBCP to investigate the controversy.

Why is the controversy over the first mass's location still unresolved?

The controversy over the location of the first mass remains unresolved because every history book tells a different story, and there is no consensus on the definitive site.

Outlines

00:00

🗺️ Dispute Over the Site of the First Catholic Mass

The paragraph discusses a historical debate regarding the location of the first Catholic mass. Traditionally, it is recorded as having taken place on Misawa Island, as indicated by a monument there. However, local historians in Butuan City, Philippines, argue that the first mass occurred in Manzawa, now called Masao, not Misawa. The account by Antonio Pigafita, an Italian traveler who documented Magellan's voyage, supports the Misawa Island claim. On March 31, 1531, Friar Pedro Valderrama celebrated mass with Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his men. They also planted a cross on a hill and interacted with the local ruler and people, including helping with the rice harvest, which suggests a significant agricultural area. The paragraph also mentions that Misawa Island was not an agricultural area, unlike Butuan, which further complicates the debate. The name 'Misawa' only appeared in historical records much later, in 1667, and some argue that there was no island by that name in 1521, suggesting the actual site of the first mass might be Butuan.

Keywords

💡First Catholic Mass

The first documented Catholic Mass in the Philippines was held on March 31, 1521, Easter Sunday, conducted by Father Pedro de Valderrama of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition. This event is considered the beginning of Christianity in the Philippines and is a significant historical and religious milestone. The video script discusses the controversy surrounding the exact location of this mass, with some historians believing it took place in Misawa Island, while others argue for Manzawa, now called Masao in Butuan. The script also mentions the planting of a cross and the participation of local rulers, indicating the mass's cultural and religious importance.

💡Misawa Island

Misawa Island is mentioned in the video script as the location where some historians believe the first Catholic Mass was held. However, the script also presents a dispute about this, with local historians in Butuan suggesting that the first mass took place in Manzawa, now called Masao. The script describes Misawa Island as not being an agricultural area, which is used to argue against it being the site of the first mass, as there would have been nothing to harvest there, unlike in Butuan.

💡Antonio Pigafetta

Antonio Pigafetta was a famous Italian traveler and scholar who documented Magellan's expedition in his work 'Primo Villagio intorno al mondo'. His chronicles are considered the most complete account of the first voyage around the world and are a primary source for the study of the first Catholic Mass in the Philippines. The video script cites Pigafetta's records as evidence for the mass being held in Misawa Island, although this is contested by other historians.

💡Butuan

Butuan is a city in the Philippines where local historians believe the first Catholic Mass took place, specifically in an area known as Manzawa, now called Masao. The video script mentions that the people who attended the mass in Butuan were said to have harvested rice, indicating the area's agricultural significance. This is used as an argument in favor of Butuan being the site of the first mass, as opposed to Misawa Island, which was not known for agriculture.

💡Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who led the expedition that is believed to have introduced Christianity to the Philippines through the first Catholic Mass. The video script discusses the controversy surrounding the location of this event, with Magellan's role being central to the historical narrative. His expedition is commemorated for its impact on the spread of Catholicism in the region.

💡Cross Monument

The cross monument mentioned in the video script is a significant symbol related to the first Catholic Mass. It is said to be located on the highest hill of Misawa Island, marking the spot where the cross was planted during the mass. The monument serves as a historical marker and a point of interest for those interested in the religious history of the Philippines.

💡Agricultural Area

The video script discusses the agricultural significance of the area where the first mass is believed to have taken place. It mentions that the people who attended the mass in Butuan harvested rice, which suggests that the area was a significant agricultural region. This detail is used to argue in favor of Butuan as the site of the first mass, as opposed to Misawa Island, which is not described as an agricultural area.

💡Historian

Historians play a crucial role in the video script by providing different perspectives and interpretations of the historical events surrounding the first Catholic Mass. Their research and debates contribute to the ongoing controversy about the exact location of the mass. The script mentions local historians in Butuan who believe the first mass took place in Manzawa, now called Masao, and their arguments are based on historical records and geographical analysis.

💡Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)

The CBCP is mentioned in the script as an organization that has been requested to investigate the controversy surrounding the first Catholic Mass. The script implies that the event is of great symbolic and religious importance to the Church, and the CBCP's involvement suggests a desire for a thorough and authoritative examination of the historical evidence.

💡Historical Evidence

Historical evidence is a central concept in the video script, as it is used to support different claims about the location of the first Catholic Mass. The script refers to various accounts, including those by Antonio Pigafetta, as well as geographical and agricultural considerations, to argue for or against Misawa Island and Butuan as the site of the mass. The historical evidence is crucial in the ongoing debate among historians and is the subject of investigation by the CBCP.

Highlights

The first Catholic mass was historically recorded to have been held in Misawa Island.

A monument on Misawa Island commemorates the event with a cross and inscription dating back to 1531.

Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian traveler, provided a detailed account of Magellan's expedition, including the first mass.

Local historians in Butuan dispute the location of the first mass, claiming it occurred in Manzawa, now known as Masao.

Friar Pedro Valderrama celebrated the first mass on March 31, during Easter Sunday, alongside Ferdinand Magellan.

The Spaniards planted a cross on the highest hill after the mass and stayed in the area for seven days.

The attendees of the mass also helped in the rice harvest, indicating the area was a significant agricultural region.

Misasawa Island in Leyte was not an agricultural area, suggesting it was not the site of the first mass.

The name 'Misawa' did not exist in 1521; the island was known as 'Kaakan' at the time.

The name 'Limasawa' first appeared in historical records in 1667, according to 'Historia di Mindanao'.

Greg Cortezeros, a local historian and president of Butuan City Heritage Society, claims the honor of the first mass for Butuan.

Cortezeros has requested the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to investigate the controversy.

The dispute over the first mass's location remains unsolved due to conflicting historical accounts.

The event's significance to the church and local communities underscores the importance of resolving the controversy.

The historical debate highlights the complexity of verifying historical events and the importance of accurate record-keeping.

The location of the first mass is a symbol of cultural and religious heritage for the communities involved.

Transcripts

site of the first mass

so what is the issue

history books states that the first

catholic mass was held in the misawa

island

so this is

what you see in the misawa island

that cross and then on the side of the

cross is this

writing it says

first cross monument sunday 31 march

1531

in the afternoon they returned ashore to

plant across on the summit of the

highest hill

in attendance both at the mass and the

planting of the cross were the king of

masawa and the king of butuan that is

according to antonio figa

pica

so antonio pigafita was a famous italian

traveler who studied navigation so he

has the most complete account

of magellan's expedition

entitled primo villagio intorno al mundo

for the first voyage around the world

so there

it says that the first catholic mass was

held in the misawa island later

but

local historians in buda one believed

that the first site of the catholic mass

took place in manzawa a place in bhutan

now called masao and not it later

so this is what happened on march 31

21 easter sunday friar pedro valderrama

celebrated mass together with portuguese

explorer ferdinand magellan and his men

were the spaniards were the ruler

[Music]

afterwards they planted a cross in the

highest hill and stayed in the area for

seven days and helped in the rice

harvest for two days together with more

than a hundred of the rahash men so that

is according to the account of

uhita

museum believed that the site of the

first mass was in with one and not in

the misawa

people who attended the mass harvested

rice for two days meaning that the place

was a huge agricultural area

mimasawa island in leyton was not an

agricultural area therefore there is

nothing to harvest there so this is the

location of the masawa

island so this is leyte and we have the

lipasawa island it is actually a very

nice island so this is not an

agricultural area look at this

compared to but the wine so

this is

now

and this is for the wine actually

island is just right here so

almost just they're very near

so this is but one city and it it has a

huge agricultural area

ramirez jr a local historian writer in

said that there was no island named the

misawa in 1521.

on that event

recorded recorded today's misawa as

getting han island between bohol and

south of leyte magellan never landed in

tapignan island

so there was no misawa at that time

because the name of the misawa island

that time was katikan

island

the name limasawa appeared only in 1667

according to historia di mindanao by

called this

so

that is also one of their

disputes

this is he is a local historian and

president of the bouton city heritage

society

greg cortezeros said that the owner the

honor belongs to the city of bouton and

not in later and he also requested the

cbcp to investigate the first mass

controversy since the event is very

symbolic and important to the church

however

this has remained unsolved because every

history books

tells us that the first class is