First Holy Mass controversy

(This commentary on Fr. Joesilo Amalla’s book An Island They Called Mazauawas first published in Gemma Cruz Araneta’s op-ed column in the Manila Bulletin on Feb. 25, 2021. It also appeared in her personal website at http://www.gemmacruzaraneta.com. The column is being reprinted with permission from the author.)

THE first Holy Mass was celebrated not in the Visayas but in Mindanao because that historical event, that first step to staking territory in the name of God and King occurred not in Limasawa, which is part of the Visayas, but in Butuan (Mazaua) situated in northern Mindanao. Please do not think that I am unilaterally and presumptuously overturning the final decision of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (formerly called National Historical Institute).