31/03/2025
504TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST EASTER MASS IN THE PHILIPPINES
1521 | March 31 | 2025
As the Diocese of Maasin celebrates today the 504th Anniversary of the Arrival of Christianity in the Philippines, we are reminded of the events that happened on that day - March 31, 1521 - at the island of Limasawa:
"On Sunday, the last day of March was Easter and the Captain-General sent very early on land the chaplain with some men, so that they prepare the necessary things to offer Mass. Through the interpreter (Enrique) we told the dato that we will disembark not to eat but to do a religious observance or duty. Informed, the dato sent two slaughtered pigs on board through his messengers.
"About fifty of us went down onto the shore without armor, but with weapons and the best dressed that we could be. Before anchoring the boats to the bank, the ships shot six cannon blasts as a sign of peace. When we jumped on land, the two datos that were waiting for us, hugged the Captain General and placed him among them. We were lined-up at the place where the Mass would take place near the beach.
"Prior to beginning the Holy Sacrifice, the Captain-General sprinkled the two kings with musk water. At the Offertory, the two datos adored the cross with us, but they did not make the offering; at the elevation they knelt down, remaining with the crossed arms imitating our posture. Then there was a shot from a rifle on land which was the conventional sign, and the ships made a general salvo. At this end, some of ours received Holy Communion while the Captain General and others made a spectacle in the handling of arms which pleased the datos.
"Later he brought a cross with nails and a crown where the islanders following our example, revered it. By means of the servant, the dato said the cross as an emblem should be planted on this soil... a cross then would be planted high on the islands hill.
"Then, he [the Captain] made them ask whether they were Moros or gentiles and what their beliefs were. They answered that they did not adore anything on earth; but if God is mentioned they raise their arms toward the sky whom they call Abba. Greatly elated the first Dato [Kulambo] raised his arms to the heavens and said that he wanted to demonstrate the appreciation that he feels..."
- excerpted from ๐๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ฆ๐ช๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐: ๐ผ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ช๐ฉ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฝ๐๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ค ๐พ๐๐ง๐๐ช๐ข๐ฃ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ค๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฃ by Fr. Cantius J. Kobak, O.F.M. published in Philippiniana Sacra, Vol. ###IX, No. 115 (January โ April, 2004), pp. 35
(Article and photo by Manuelito Sultan Uy)
