READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Case study #1 Where did the first Catholic Mass take place in the
Philippines?

Francisco Albo’s log stated that From the island of Seilani, “they turned southwest
to a small island called “Mazava”. Because of the people in Mazava who showed
kindness to the Spaniards, the Spaniards planted a cross upon a mountain-top
overseeing the three islands to the west and southwest where they were told that it
was abundant with gold. From Mazava, they sailed northwards going to Seilani
again. While on Antonio Pigafetta’s account, March 31, early in a Sunday morning,
Magellan ordered a priest and his other men to prepare for the mass. Later in the
morning Magellan and his 50 men performed the mass, and a cross was venerated.
They returned to the ship and went back in the afternoon to plant the cross on the
summit of the highest hill. Both the King of Mazaua and the king Butuan was
present during the mass and the planting of the cross. Francisco Albo only stated
that the Spaniards only planted the cross because of the people’s kindness. It was
not mentioned that they performed a mass. On the other hand, Antonio Pigafetta
stated that after the mass, Magellan ordered his men to plant the cross so that
when other Spaniards saw this cross, they would not cause any harm and trouble to
the people. This mass will go down in history as the first mass in the Philippines
held in Butuan and Mazaua.

Case Study #2 What happened in the Cavite Mutiny?

Case Study #3 Did Rizal Retract?

Father Manuel Garcia’s account was a letter from Jose Rizal on December 29, 1896
with the words “I retract with all my heart”. But this was actually repeatedly
published in newspaper and Magazines in Manila, Spain, from an anonymous writer
which later on revealed to be Fr. Vicente Balaguer. According to Fr. Balaguer’s
testimony, Rizal was very faithful in confessing, attending mass, prayed the rosary,
and received communion, which seemed out of the character. This has been used
to argue the authenticity of the document. On Cuerpo de Vigilancia’s testimony, he
stated that Senor del Fresno and Senor Maure entered death row with Rizal and
signed the retraction on his life. Vigilancia’s account coincides with the retraction
document. But Fr. Balaguer’s account was not mentioned which makes him a
secondary source to the writing of the document. Aside from all these testimonies,
The original text was discovered in the archdiocesan archives on May 18,1935 after
it disappeared for 39 years from the afternoon of the day when Rizal was shot.

CASE STUDY #4 Where did the cry of rebellion happen?

The "Cry" of rebellion officially started on August 29, 1896. Andres Bonifacio
gathered his men to start the rebellion on the evening of August 23,1896, his
troops, men and women gathered in total was 300 and still many more patriotic
KKK members were coming (Ileto 1979). The morning of August 24 came and
many more devoted members were arriving, Andress expected a total of 30,000
crowd from municipalities of San Juan del monte, San Felipe Neri, Pasig and many
more. Andres decided to move to a small village in the house of Tandang Sora
which he continued to wait for the members. Andres gathered all the heads of the
KKK to plan out thier revolution and decided the start of the rebellion will be on the
mid day of August 29, 1896 which they shouted thier battlecry for the start of the
revolution. Teodoro Kalaw is somewhat correct in his writing of history being the
"Cry" of rebellion was on the last week of August (August 29) and in Balintawak.