This is in reference to the article “Limasawa, not Butuan, affirmed as site of first Mass in PH” (8/21/20).
At the outset, let me point out that the members of the Mojares panel, who rendered their “final report” on the matter of the true site of the first Mass in the Philippines, were expected to be impartial and neutral or, at the very least, fair in allowing representatives of the Butuan proponents to be part of the said panel.
They clearly were not motivated by the desire to get to the truth.
Perhaps, the public should take a closer look at the composition of the Mojares panel, particularly its chair and two panel members who are true-blooded Limasawa advocates, since Mojares himself had expressed his stand on the matter in an article he published on the subject.
The Mojares panel deliberately ignored the 104-page manuscript entitled “Pigafetta 9 2/3: The Hidden Facts,” which clearly showed King Charles’ order to Magellan to keep the location of those islands of spice UNDER GUISE. The Mojares panel was not aware of the fate of Trinidad, the flagship of Magellan. The ship and all its instruments, maps, cartas, and logs, especially the navigational log of Andres de San Martin, were seized. That log of Andres de San Martin listed the 9” latitude of Mazaua. There was that island of spice nearby to the east of Mazaua, where Magellan went to, during Easter week of 1521.
The report of Antonio Brito, governor of Malacca, to the Portuguese king was prima facie evidence that Magellan indeed went to the Island of Spice, Butuan, logged at 9” latitude, and staked that same island with the Cross and King’s Crown at the summit of the highest mountain (Pigafetta located it at 9” 1/3 north latitude [Albo]).
The panel intentionally deleted the narratives of Pigafetta from the accounts, which clearly stated that it was the First King who communicated with Magellan and the interpreter during the mid-morning and afternoon of the Easter Sunday celebration.
Worst of all was what the Mojares panel did with the Skelton translation! For the panel to include Skelton’s preface as authored by Pigafetta is unacceptable to true scholars. Skelton’s words could be crucial to the Limasawa advocates’ distorting the truth and changing or altering the true intent of Pigafetta.
Furthermore, the panel presented its translation of the Robertson and Skelton documents. The Pigafetta narratives were limited only to the events which the panel only printed, starting from the dawn of Saturday to mid-morning of Sunday.
I contend that there was absolutely NO NEED for the Mojares panel to spend money and make its own translation. In fact, its words were not translations. Pigafetta’s words were actually changed! The words the panel inserted had another meaning.
The panel had to change (not interpret) certain words. The reason is obvious. Pigafetta stated that during the seven-day odyssey, there was more than one island that Magellan visited during the Easter day celebration. Why did Raja Siaui send two pigs to Magellan if the celebration of the Easter Mass was on the same island, Mazaua?
That was also the intention of the Mojares panel, which limited its report to the Easter Mass, from dawn of Saturday, intentionally deleting the activities and personalities during the late morning and afternoon of the Easter Sunday celebration in the panel’s presentation.
The Mojares panel, as well as the Gancayco and Legarda panels and Congress, through Republic Act No. 2733, perpetuated the error in history regarding the site of the first Mass in the Philippines.
Apparently, the panel members set out NOT to find the truth, but to affirm a historical error. Such was accomplished at great cost to our country.
I may be a small voice in the wilderness, but I will not cease in my search for the truth.
Butuan, not Limasawa, was where the first Mass in the Philippines was held, and my research over five years proves it.
There are none so blind as those who do not wish to see.
POTENCIAO “BON” MALVAR, MD