Conflicting Views and Controversies in Philippine History

• First Recorded Christian Mass


  It was held on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521 at a little island-port named Mazua (brilliant light and crystal)
• Two identical reports on the first mass

  • Antonio Pigafetta (1523) and Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas (1601)
• Sonia Zaide identified Masao (also Mazua) in Butuan as the location of the first mass


  She used the diary of Antonio Pigafetta as the main evidence
• Congresswoman Ching Plaza filed a House Bill


  Asserting the site of the first mass was Butuan
• The Congress referred the matter to NHI for it to study the issue and recommend a historical finding
• The National Historical Institute chair, Dr. Samuel K. Tan reaffirmed Limasawa as the site of the first Mass
• Support for Limasawa as the site of the first Mass

  • Supported by the PH Government
  • Supported by the Roman Catholic Church
  • Supported by the Embassy of Spain
• Support for Butuan City as the site of the first Mass

  • Artifacts and Relics
  • Monument of the First Mass
• Evidence for Limasawa


  • The Evidence of Alba's Log Book
  • The Evidence of Pigafetta
  • Confirmatory Evidence from Legazpi expedition
• Rizal's Retraction


  I retract with all my heart whatever in words, writings, publications and conduct has been contrary to my character as a son of the Catholic Church
• Evidence of Rizal's Retraction

  • Retraction Document
  • Eye-witnesses
  • Signed Retraction Prayer Book
  • Rizal's Acts of Piety
  • Roman Catholic Marriage with Ms. J.
• Case against the Retraction

  • The Retraction document is said to be forgery
  • Acts and Facts do not fill well with the story of the Retraction
  • Retraction is out of Rizal's Character
• The Philippine Revolution of 1896


  Began with what later became known as the "First Cry" or the initial move of the Filipinos to begin the revolution for independence
• On Dr. Pio Valenzuela's Account


  • Dr. Pio Valenzuela was an official of the Katipunan and a friend of Andres Bonifacio
  • It was at Pugad Lawin, in the house of Melchora Aquino, where over 1,000 members of the Katipunan met and tore their cedula certificate
• On Guillermo Masangkay's Account


  • Guillermo Masangkay was a friend and fellow of Andres Bonifacio
  • He stated that the First Cry happened on August 26, 1896
  • He changed his narrative several times
• On August 26, a big meeting was held in Balintawak, at the house of Apolonio Samson
• Who was the NHI Chair who reaffirmed Limasawa as the site of the first mass?

  Dr. Samuel K. Tan
• According to him, Rizal's retraction document was said to be a one-man document

  Dr. Rizardo R. Pascual
• Reason behind Rizal's retraction document being a one-man document:

  1. Slant of the letters in the document
  2. Significant variations in the formation of individual letters
  3. Document's signature has seven differences from Rizal's signature
  4. Similarities of several aspects between the body of the retraction document and the writing of the two witnesses
• Fr. Balaguer stated that Rizal took and signed his prayer book, "Acts of Faith" with his name.