This chapter presents some of the controversial events in the history of the Philippines.

Each
lesson will present the primary sources pertaining to these disputed accounts followed by a
discussion on the main issues and arguments. The task of the students is to decide which
argument to side on by analyzing the primary sources available.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover Page
Introduction
Table contents
Pre-test
Lesson 1 ONE PAST BUT MANY HISTORIES:
CONTROVERSIES AND CONFLICTING VIEWS
IN THE PHILIPPINE HISTORY
Learning Objectives
Lesson 1 Site of the First Mass
Worksheet 1
Lesson 1.2 Cavite Mutiny
Worksheet 2
Lesson 1.3 Retraction of Rizal
Worksheet 3
Lesson 4 Cry of Balintawak
Worksheet 4
References
Pre-Test
Unit 1: PAST BUT MANY HISTORIES:
CONTROVERSIES AND CONFLICTING VIEWS IN THE
PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Lesson 1: SITE OF THE FIRST MASS

One of the most controversial topics in Philippine history is the site of the first Catholic Mass, which
happened on March 31, 1521 (Easter Sunday). Today, debates on the matter are being opened as the
Philippines celebrates the 500th years of Christianity, and this time it is not just Masao, Butuan and
Limasawa Island in Leyte, but including other places in Butuan such as Baug Island, Suatan and Bood
Promontory. In this lesson, we will continue reading the accounts Antonio Pigafetta which is
considered as a complete record of the journey of Magellan

Primary Source:

The First Voyage Round the World, translated from the accounts of Antonio Pigafetta accompanied by
original documents, with notes and an introduction by Lord Stanley of Alderley.

In the island belonging to the king who came to the ship there are mines of
gold, which they find in pieces as big as a walnut or an egg, by seeking in the ground.
All the v e s s e l s which he makes use of are made of it, and also some parts of his
house, which was well fitted up according to the custom of the country, and he was
the handsomest man that we saw among these nations. He had very black hair coming
down to his shoulders, with a silk cloth on his head, and two large gold rings hanging
from his ears, he had a cloth of cotton worked with silk, which covered him from the
waist to the knees, at his side he wore a dagger, with a long handle which was all of
gold, its sheath was of carved wood. Besides he carried upon him scents of storax
and benzoin. He was tawny and painted all over. The island of this king is named
Zuluan and Calagan, and when these two kings wish to visit one another they come
to hunt in this island where we were. Of these kings the painted king is called Raia
Calambu, and the other Raia Siani. On Sunday, the last day of March, and feast of
Easter, the captain sent the chaplain ashore early to say mass, and the interpreter
went with him to tell the king that they were not coming on shore to dine with him,
but only to hear the mass. The king hearing that sent two dead pigs. When it was time
for saying mass the captain went ashore with fifty men, not with their arms, but only
with their swords, and dressed as well as each one was able to dress, and before the
boats reached the shore our ships fired six cannon shots as a sign of peace. At our
landing the two kings were there, and received our captain in a friendly manner, and
placed him between them, and then we went to the place prepared for saying mass,
which was not far from the shore. Before the mass began the captain threw a quantity
of musk rose water on those two kings, and when the offertory of the mass came, the
two kings went to kiss the cross like us, but they offered nothing, and at the elevation
of the body of our Lord they were kneeling like us, and adored our Lord with joined
hands. The ships fired all their artillery at the elevation of the body of our Lord. After
mass had been said each one did the duty of a Christian, receiving our Lord. After
that the captain had some sword-play by his people, which gave great pleasure to the
kings. Then he had a cross brought, with the nails and crown, to which the kings made
reverence, and the captain had them told that these things which he showed them
were the sign of the emperor his lord and master, from whom he had charge and
commandment to place it in all places where he might go or pass by. He told them
that he wished to place it in their country for their profit, because if there came
afterwards any ships from Spain to those islands, on seeing this cross, they would
know that we had been there, and therefore they would not cause them any
displeasure to their persons nor their goods; and if they took any of their people, on
showing them this sign, they would at once let them go. Besides this, the captain told
them that it was necessary that this cross should be placed on the summit of the
highest mountain in their country, so that seeing it every day they might adore it, and
 that if they did thus, neither thunder, lightning, nor the tempest could do them hurt.
The kings thanked the captain, and said they would do it willingly. Then he asked
whether they were Moors or Gentiles, and in what they believed. They answered that
they did not perform any other adoration, but only joined their hands, looking up to
heaven, and that they called their God, Aba. Hearing this, the captain was very joyful,
on seeing that, the first king raised his hands to the sky and said that he wished it were
possible for him to be able to show the affection which he felt towards him. The
interpreter asked him for what reason there was so little to eat in that place, to which
the king replied that he did not reside in that place except when he came to hunt and
to see his brother, but that he lived in another island where he had all his family. Then
the captain asked him if he had any enemies who made war upon him, and that if he
had any he would go and defeat them with his men and ships, to put them under his
obedience. The king thanked him, and answered that there were two islands the
inhabitants of which were his enemies; however, that for the present it was not the
time to attack them. The captain therefore said to him that if God permitted him to
return another time to this country, he would bring so many men that he would put
them by force under his obedience. Then he bade the interpreter tell them that he
was going away to dine, and after that he would return to place the cross on the
summit of the mountain. The two kings said they were content, and on that they
embraced the captain, and he separated from them. After dinner we all returned in
our dress coats, and we went together with the two kings to the middle of the highest
mountain we could find, and there the cross was planted. After that the two kings and the
captain rested themselves; and, while conversing, I asked where was the best port for
obtaining victuals. They replied that there were three, that is to say, Ceylon, Zzubu, and
Calaghan, but that Zzubu was the largest and of the most traffic. Then the kings
offered to give him pilots to go to those ports, for which he thanked them, and
deliberated to go there, for his ill-fortune would have it so. After the cross had been
planted on that mountain, each one said the Paternoster and Ave Maria, and adored
it, and the kings did the like. Then we went down below to where their boats were.
There the kings had brought some of the fruit called cocos and other things to make
a collation and to refresh us. The captain, being desirous to depart the next day in the
morning, asked the king for the pilots to conduct us to the above-mentioned ports,
promising him to treat them like themselves, and that he would leave one of his own
men as a hostage. The first king said that he would go himself and conduct him to
this port, and be his pilots but that he should wait two days, until he had had his
rice gathered in and done other things which he had to do, begging him to lend him
some of his men so as to get done sooner. This the captain agreed to.

This kind of people are gentle, and go naked, and are painted. They wear a
piece of cloth made from a tree, like a linen cloth, round their body to cover their
natural parts: they are great drinkers. The women are dressed in tree cloth from their
waists downwards; their hair is black, and reaches down to the ground; they wear
certain gold rings in their ears. These people chew most of their time a fruit which
they call areca, which is something of the shape of a pear; they cut it in four quarters,
and after they have chewed it for a long time they spit it out, from which afterwards
they have their mouths very red. They find themselves the better from the use of this
fruit because it refreshes them much, for this country is very hot, so that they could
not live without it. In this island there is a great quantity of dogs, cats, pigs, fowls, and
goats, rice, ginger, cocos, figs, oranges, lemons, millet, wax, and gold mines. This island
is in nine degrees and two-thirds north latitude, and one hundred and sixty-two
longitude from the line of demarcation: it is twenty-five leagues distant from the other
island where we found the two fountains of fresh water. This island is named
Mazzava.

Main Issue: The questions about where the first mass happened in the Philippines came from the
dichotomy of understanding of “Mazaua” based on the accounts of Pigafetta. This led to the Limasawa
and Masao, Butuan debate.

1) MASAO, BUTUAN – The claim is based on a tradition that was highly observed from the 17 th
to19th century. Historians claim that there has been no mention of the Limasawa Island in the
primary sources of this dispute history. Masaua according to them is now Masao.
 LIMASAWA ISLAND – The accounts of Pigafetta, jointly read with Francisco Albo’s diary (in
a form of a log book), showed that Magellan’s expedition did not reach Mindanao when
they landed in Homonhon. Instead, they have settled in an island in a latitude similar to the
position of Limasawa today, south of Leyte. In addition, the disputed location in Masao i s
n e a r a r i v e r , but in there has been no mention of such geographical feature in the
story of Pigafetta.

The debate may have been settled today in favor of Limawasa, but the people of Butuan, with
their evidence and faith, are still in the fight for their claims. Regardless of the result in the future, one
this is for sure, Magellan has planted on the Philippine soil the seed of Christianity and everything has
changed since then.

Worksheet 1
 NAME: SCORE:

YEAR/SECTION: DATE:

Directions: Analyze the primary sources and the arguments presented in this lesson, and
decide on the main issue/s using your own arguments.

MAIN ISSUE:
______________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DECISION:_________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ARGUMENT/S:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1.2: CAVITE MUTINY

You have learned from the previous chapter that primary sources are written from the perspectives of their respective authors.
Hence, accounts on a specific event may differ and later result to disputes. This exactly what happened in understanding the 1872
Cavite Mutiny from the Spanish and Filipino reports.

Primary sources: The major sources of this past event are the documents by the Spanish historian, Jose Montero y Vidal; official
report of Gov. Gen. Rafael Izquierdo; by a Filipino researcher, Dr. Trinidad Hermenigildo Pardo de Tavera; and French writer,
Edmund Plauchut.

Main issue: The accounts on this particular history presents conflicts on the real reasons of the mutiny.

Arguments:

1. SPANISH PERSPECTIVE – The reports of Vidal and Izquierdo both implicated that the rebellion was an attempt
to overthrow the Spanish government. In particular, Izquierdo reports that the Filipino clergy is behind the
mutiny to rally secularization. Both has originally reported that this “plan” was caused by the
abolition of the privileges of the workers of Cavite arsenal, which include the non-payment of
taxes of tributes and the exemption from force labor. But, the two added several causes like the
overthrowing of secular throne through the Spanish revolution, the unrestrained press
disseminating unclean propagandas, the books with liberal, republican, and democratic ideals,
and the support and conspiracy of native priests to replace the Spanish friars. For these reasons,
the GOMBURZA in February 17, 1872 were executed.
2. FILIPINO PERSPECTIVE - For the Filipinos, the mutiny was a response to the injustice in the society.
This bloody event, according to Tavera, was caused by the eradication of privileges granted to the
soldiers and workers of the arsenals in Cavite as a result of Izquierdo’s hard-hearted policies. When
they found out that taxes and other burden have been deducted from their salaries, they rose in
arms on January 20, 1987. However, after two days, the insurgency has been subdued when Gen
Izquierdo ordered immediate reinforcement of troops in Cavite.
In addition, Tavera reports that the friars and Izquierdo have used the mutiny to report a
conspiracy of Filipino residents and clergy to abolish the government. This is in the eve of the plan
of the Central Government in Madrid to remove the certain powers from the friars in the
government and in management of educational institutions.

In an article published by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in 2012,

these four primary sources have been considered and some basic suggested the following
unvarying facts:

1) There was dissatisfaction among the workers of the arsenal as well as the members of
the native army after their privileges were drawn back by Gen. Izquierdo;
2) Gen. Izquierdo introduced rigid and strict policies that made the Filipinos move and turn
away from Spanish government out of disgust;
3) The Central Government failed to conduct an investigation on what truly transpired but
relied on reports of Izquierdo and the friars and the opinion of the public;
4) The happy days of the friars were already numbered in 1872 when the Central Government
in Spain decided to deprive them of the power to intervene in government affairs as well as
in the direction and management of schools prompting them to commit frantic moves to
extend their stay and power;
5) The Filipino clergy members actively participated in the secularization movement in order to allow
Filipino priests to take hold of the parishes in the country making them prey to the rage of the friars;
6) Filipinos during the time were active participants, and responded to what they deemed as injustices;
and
7) The execution of GOMBURZA was a blunder on the part of the Spanish government, for the action
severed the ill-feelings of the Filipinos and the event
inspired Filipino patriots to call for reforms and eventually independence.
The mutiny may have a number of versions from both sides, but one this is for sure, it has been a gateway to a number of events
that led to the Philippine Independence in 1898.

Worksheet 1.2

NAME: SCORE:

YEAR/SECTION: DATE:
Directions: Analyze the primary sources and the arguments presented in this lesson, and
decide on the main issue/s using your own arguments.

MAIN ISSUE:
_______________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DECISION:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

ARGUMENT/S:

Lesson 1.3 Retraction of Rizal

One of the most controversial documents in Philippine history is the retraction of Jose
Rizal. Two texts have been published on this matter – the first was on December 30, 1986 in
Diaro de Manila and La Voz Española; the second one was on February 14, 1897 in La Juventud.
Both were said to be written by Fr. Balaguer.

Primary source: Here’s the alleged original copy found by Fr. Manuel Garcia, CM on May 18, 1935.
Following are the text from Fr. Balaguer in January 1987 and its English

Me declaro catolica y en esta Religion en que naci y me eduque quiero vi-vir y morir.

Me retracto de todo corazon de cuanto en mis palabras, escritos, inpresos y conducta ha habido
contrario a mi cualidad de hijo de la Iglesia Catolica. Creo y profeso cuanto ella enseña y me
somento a cuanto ella manda. Abomino de la Masonaria, como enigma que es de la Iglesia, y
como Sociedad prohibida por la Iglesia. Puede el Prelado Diocesano, como Autoridad Superior
Eclesiastica hacer publica esta manifastacion espontanea mia para reparar el escandalo que
mis actos hayan podido causar y para que Dios y los hombers me perdonen.

Manila 29 de Deciembre de 1896

Jose Rizal

Me declaro catolica y en esta Religion en que naci y me eduque quiero vi-vir y morir. Me retracto
de todo corazon de cuanto en mis palabras, escritos, inpresos y conducta ha habido contrario a
mi calidad de hijo de la Iglesia. Creo y profeso cuanto ella enseña y me somento a cuanto Ella
manda. Abomino de la Masonaria, como enigma que es de la Iglesia, y como Sociedad prohibida
por la misma Iglesia.

Puede el Prelado diocesano, como Autoridad superior eclesiastica hacer publica esta
manifastacion espontanea mia, para reparar el escandalo que mis actos hayan podido causar,
y para que Dios y los hombers me perdonen.

Manila, 29 de Diciembre de 1896

Jose Rizal

English translation:

I declare myself a catholic and in this Religion in which I was born and educated I wish to live and
die.

I retract with all my heart whatever in my words, writings, publications and conduct has been
contrary to my character as son of the Catholic Church. I believe and I confess whatever she
teaches and I submit to whatever she demands. I abominate Masonry, as the enemy which is
of the Church, and as a Society prohibited by the Church. The Diocesan Prelate may, as the
Superior Ecclesiastical Authority, make public this spontaneous manifestation of mine in order
to repair the scandal which my acts may have caused and so that God and people may pardon
me.

Manila 29 of December of 1896

Jose Rizal

Main issue: Whether or not Jose Rizal retracted in favor of the Catholic Church.

Arguments:
 1) NO. RIZAL DID NOT RETRACT – A number of historians question the authenticity of the
retraction document citing several inconsistencies from Rizal’s writing and even ideals.
The following are some of the observed variances from the “original” document and
that of Fr. Balaguer:

a) Instead of the words "mi cualidad" (with "u") which appear in the original and the
newspaper texts, the Jesuits’ copies have "mi calidad" (without "u").
b) The Jesuits’ copies of the retraction omit the word "Catolica" after the first "Iglesias"
which are found in the original and the newspaper texts.
c) The Jesuits’ copies of the retraction add before the third "Iglesias" the word "misma"
which is not found in the original and the newspaper texts of the retraction.
d) With regards to paragraphing which immediately strikes the eye of the critical reader,
Fr. Balaguer’s text does not begin the second paragraph until the fifth sentences while
the original and the newspaper copies start the second paragraph immediately with
the second sentences.
e) Whereas the texts of the retraction in the original and in the manila newspapers have
only four commas, the text of Fr. Balaguer’s copy has eleven commas.
f.) The most important of all, Fr. Balaguer’s copy did not have the names of the
witnesses from the texts of the newspapers in Manila.

2) YES. RIZAL RETRACTED – Rizal was Catholic when he died as a consequence of his
retraction. In fact, he was buried in a Catholic cemetery. The said document was alleged
to be signed two years before his execution. This was done along with his profession of
faith as a requirement to marry Josephine Bracken.

Today, a number of known historians would believe in the retraction after the presentation
of Cuerpo de Vigilancia de Manila, also known as the Katipunan and Rizal documents,
which consist of important primary sources of the Philippine revolutions purchased by the
government from Spain in the mid-1990s.
This debate will continue until enough evidence will put the issue to rest. But
regardless of what it may result to, one thing is for sure, the works of Rizal has inspired a
number of Filipinos of his time to fight for the freedom of the country.

Worksheet 3

NAME: SCORE:

YEAR/SECTION: DATE:
Directions: Analyze the primary sources and the arguments presented in this lesson, and decide on
the main issue/s using your own arguments.

MAIN ISSUE:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________

DECISION:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

ARGUMENT/S:

Lesson 1.4 Cry of Balintawak

The exact date and location of a certain past event are very important in the study of
history. The event that happened in August 1896 is highly considered as a significant turning
point in Philippine history. In this lesson, the issues and arguments for the exact date and
location of the Cry will be examined.

The “cry” may be understood as decision to revolt, the tearing of community tax certificates
or cedulas, or the encounter with Spanish forces. Several sources to this event present several
interpretations of the word. But what is worth dealing is its exact date and location.

One of the often examined source to this is of Pio Valenzuela. However, as years passed
by, his accounts also changed. Ultimately, in 1935 with Pacheco and Pantas, Valenzuela
proclaimed that, “hindi sa Balintawak nangyari ang unang sigaw ng paghihimagsik na
kinalalagian ngayon ng bantayog, kung di sa pook na kilala sa tawag na Pugad Lawin.” (The
first Cry of the revolution did not happen in Balintawak where the monument is, but in a place
called Pugad Lawin.)
This greatly influenced the research findings of National Historical Institute (formerly
Philippine Historical Committee) when it identified in 1940 that Pugad Lawin is actually located as
part of sitio Gulod, Banlat, Kalookan City. Subsequently, it was identified to be the place of
Tandang Sora and the cry happened on August 23.

On another primary source, Mga Gunita ng Himagsikan (1964) by Emilio Aguinaldo has
presented the following letter from Andres Bonifacio:

Noong ika-22 ng Agosto, 1896, ang Sangguniang Magdalo ay tumanggap ng isang lihim na sulat mula
sa Supremo Andres Bonifacio, sa Balintawak, na nagsasaad na isang mahalagang pulong ang kanilang idadaos
sa ika-24 ng nasabing buwan, at lubhang kailangan na kami ay magpadala roon ng dalawang kinatawan o
delegado sa ngalan ng Sanggunian. Ang pulong aniya’y itataon sa kaarawan ng kapistahan ng San Bartolome
sa Malabon, Tambobong. kapagkarakang matanggap ang nasabing paanyaya, an gaming Pangulo na si G.
Baldomero Aguinaldo, ay tumawag ng pulong sa tribunal ng Cavite el Viejo… Nagkaroon kami ng pag-
aalinlangan sa pagpapadala roon ng aming kinatawan dahil sa kaselanang pagdararanang mga pook at totoong
mahigpit at abot-abot ang panghuli ng mag Guardia Civil at Veterana sa mga naglalakad lalung
-lalo na sa mag pinaghihinalaang mga mason at Katipunan. Gayon pa man ay aming hinirang at
pinagkaisahang ipadalang tanging Sugo ang matapang na kapatid naming si G. Domingo Orcullo… Ang aming
Sugo ay nakarating ng maluwalhati sa kanyang paroonan at nagbalik din na wala naming sakuna, na taglay
ang sulat ng Supremo na may petsang 24 ng Agosto. Doon ay wala naming sinasabing kautusan, maliban sa
patalastas na kagugulat-gulat na kanilang lulusubin ang Maynila, sa Sabado ng gabi, ika-29 ng Agosto, at ang
hudyat ay ang pagpatay ng ilaw sa Luneta. Saka idinugtong pa na marami diumano ang nahuli at napatay ng
Guardia Civil at Veterana sa kanyang mga kasamahan sa lugar ng Gulod…
English translation:

On 22 August 1896, the Magdalo Council received a secret letter from Supremo Andres Bonifacio, in
Balintawak, which stated that the Katipunan will hold an important meeting on the 24th of the said month,
and that it was extremely necessary to send two representatives or delegates in the name of the said Council.
The meeting would be timed to coincide with the feast day of Saint Bartolomew in Malabon, Tambobong.
Upon receiving the said invitation, our President, Mr. Baldomero Aguinaldo, called a meeting at Tribunal of
Cavite el Viejo… We were apprehensive about sending representatives because the areas they would have
pass through were dangerous and was a fact that the Civil Guard and Veterans were arresting travelers,
especially those suspected of being freemasons and members of Katipunan. Nevertheless, we agreed and
nominated to send a single representative in the person of our brave brother, Mr. Domingo Orcullo… Our
representative arrived safely at his destination and also returned unharmed, bearing a letter from the
Supremo dated 24 August. It contained no orders but the shocking announcement that the Katipunan would
attack Manila at night on Saturday, 29 August, the signal for which would be the putting out of the lamps in
Luneta. He added that many of his comrade had been captured and killed by the Civil Guard and Veterans in
Gulod…

This primary source clearly has overthrown the Cry of Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896 in
the Bahay Toro, Kalookan. The letter cited in the memoirs suggests that the event was closer
to Balintawak. Furthermore, in the discussions of the Philippine Historical Association in
February 2003, a descendant of Tandang Sora protested that “Pugad Lawin” was literally
pertaining to the hawk nests on top of a Sampaloc tree at Gulod near Balintawak.
Contemporary studies may have concluded that it was the Cry of Balintawak at around noon
of Monday, August 24, 1896 at the site of the barn and house of Tandang Sora in Gulod, now
barangay Banlat, Quezon City. Moreover, the studies reiterated that Filipinos, in light of this
event, must celebrate the following:
a) The establishment of a revolutionary or the facto government that was republican in
 aspiration;
b) The designation of Bonifacio as the Kataastaasang Pangulo (Supreme
Presiddent),
c) The election of the members of his cabinet ministers and Sanggunian
and Balangay heads.

Worksheet 4
NAME: SCORE:

YEAR/SECTION: DATE:
Directions: Research and analyze the primary sources and their arguments about the Cry of August
1896. Decide on the main issues and present your own arguments.

MAIN ISSUE:
__________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________

DECISION:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

ARGUMENT/S:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

SILVESTRE M. SANORJO JR.

Instructor