Readings in Philippine History Chapter 3: “One Past But Many Histories”: Controversies and Conflicting views in Philippine History
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This chapter discusses controversies and conflicting views regarding important events in Philippine history. It examines debates around the actual site of the first Catholic mass as well as the location and date of key Katipunan events like the Pagpupunit and Pasya. Regarding Rizal's alleged retraction, conflicting accounts are presented from Catholic friars and historians. While some evidence supports the retraction, such as a statement from a Spanish spy, many details remain dubious and open to question by scholars. Overall, the chapter illustrates how understandings of the past are often subject to interpretation and differing historical perspectives.
Readings in Philippine History Chapter 3: “One Past But Many Histories”: Controversies and Conflicting views in Philippine History
- 1. Chapter 3: “ONE PAST BUT MANY HISTORIES”: Controversies and Conflicting views in Philippine History
- 2. Chapter 3: “ONE PAST BUT MANY HISTORIES”: Controversies and Conflicting views in Philippine History • Site of the First Mass • Cry of Balintawak or Pugad Lawin • Retraction of Rizal
- 3. Site of the First Mass
- 4. • On April 1, 1521 (originally March 31) the first mass in the Philippines was happened in “Mazaua.” • R.A. No. 2733 declared Barangay Magallanes in Limasawa, Southern Leyte as the site of the first mass
- 5. • Dr. Sonia M. Zaide presented evidences that the site of the first mass was not in Limasawa but in Masao, Butuan, Agusan del Norte.
- 6. • The site of the first mass was first mentioned by Maximillian Transylvanus on his “De Moluccis…” in 1523 because he interviewed the survivors of Magellan expedition. • The survivors mentioned that they landed in “Messana” where the first mas was officiated.
- 7. Limasawa as site of the first mass: • Carlo Amoretti (1800) of Ambrosiana Library said that Mazaua where Magellan landed before and the Limasawa mentioned by Fr. Francisco Combes are the same. • Limasawa was supported by Fr. Pablo Pastells, Dr. Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, Jaime de Veyra and James Robertson.
- 8. • Fr. Francisco Colin wrote a book about the spread of Christianity in the Philippines but could not exactly determine the site, but he based in “Limasawa” claim because of the writings of Antonio Herrera who based his writings to Andres San Martin that the site was in “Mazaua” • Limasawa became part of Magellan’s expedition because of the writings of Fr. Colin (Dimasaua) and Fr. Francisco Combes (Limasawa on his “Historia de Mindnao… in 1667)
- 9. • William Henry Scott, Vicente de Jesus and NHI- the eyewitness account for the issue was the accounts of Gines de Mafra (mariner who reached Mazaua twice; 1521 and 1543) *From Homonhon, Magellan and his men travelled westward, southwest to the tip of Seilani (Panaon) to avoid Northeast monsoon Homonhon Limasawa and Panaon
- 10. Masao as site of the first mass • Gian Battista Ramusio (1536) wrote a chronicle about the voyage of Magellan where he insisted Butuan as the site of the first mass • Sonia Zaide pointed-out the ff.: 1. As the place called “Mazaua,” Limasawa has four syllables and begins with another letter, while Masao has conclusive syllable. 2. The expedition traveled 20-25 leagues from Homonhon. If they had been to Limasawa, the distance only 14.6 leagues.
- 11. 3. The distance to Cebu from Mazaua based on Pigafetta was 35 leagues (140 miles). The distance from Limasawa to Cebu is only 80 miles. 4. Rajah of Mazaua came to their ship in a “Balanghai,” now, Butuan is a site for atleast nine excavated Balanghai relics. Limasawa has no significant relic of Balanghai. 5. Mazaua has abundance of gold, now Agusan Valley had abundance of gold while Limasawa doesn’t have.
- 12. • Mafra mentioned that Magellan’s group reached Mindanao. Mazaua is 45 n.m. south of Surigao, a perfect harbor during Northeast monsoon. • As drawn by Pigafetta, Mazaua has two hilly areas; Pinamangculan and Dalindingan where many rice, coconut and fruits.
- 13. Saint James The Great Church, Bolinao, Pangasinan the first site? • A marker claims that it 1324, Fray Odorico Pordenone from Friuli, Italy officiated the first Catholic mass in the country
- 14. Where’s the site of the first mass in the Philippines; Limasawa, Southern Leyte? Masao Shore, Butuan, Agusan del Norte? Bolinao, Pangasinan?
- 15. Cry of Balintawak or Pugad Lawin?
- 16. • Before, Caloocan was only a municipality of Manila province • Caloocan composed of several barrios, namely Balintawak, Baesa, Bagobantay, Bahay Toro, Banlat, Culiat, Kangkong, Loma, Marulas, Talipapa, and Tangke.
- 17. “Cry” (Unang Sigaw) • Unang Laban- Soledad Borromeo-Buehler • Pasya- Teodoro Agoncillo & Isagani Medina • Pagpupunit- Agoncillo & Medina
- 18. “Cry of Balintawak” • Borromeo-Buehler pointed out, that this “Cry” commemorated the “Unang Laban,” the Katipunan encounter with a detachment of the Guardia Civil on August 26, 1896.
- 19. “Cry of Pugad Lawin” • The name “Pugad Lawin” did not appear on any map of Caloocan at that time. • In 1917, Pio Valenzuela insisted that the Pagpupunit and Pasya were happened on the house of Melchora Aquino in Pasong Tamo, Barrio Banlat, Caloocan (“Pacpac Lawin”) • But on 1920’s Valenzuela restated that the two events happened at Juan Ramos’ house in Barrio Bahay Toro, Caloocan (“Pugad Lawin”)
- 20. • Isagani Medina believed that Pagpupunit preceded the Pasya. • But it was not believed by many and insisted that Pagpupunit happened soon after the Pasya had been taken, and in the same vicinity.
- 21. • Allegedly, the Pagpupunit was happened on August 23, while Pasya was happened on August 24 because of the following documents (Medina): - Biak na Bato Constitution (1897) - Carlos Ronquillo’s chronicles (1896) - La Liga Filipina Monument, Tondo (1903) - Santiago Alvarez’ memoirs (1927)
- 22. Where did the allegedly Pagpupunit (August 23) and Pasya (August 24) really happen? • Leading revolutionists went first to Poblacion, Caloocan after leaving Manila, and then headed eastwards via Kangkong towards Pasong Tamo and eventually Balara. • Some sources say they left Kangkong as early as August 23, whereas others say they were still in Kangkong as late as August 26.
- 23. • Three places where the Pagpupunit and Pasya was happened: 1. Apolonio Samson’s house in Barrio Kangkong, Caloocan 2. Melchora Aquino’s house in Pasong Tamo, Barrio Banlat, Caloocan 3. Juan Ramos’s house in Barrio Bahay Toro, Caloocan
- 24. “Walang tigil ang ambon na humina at lumakas habang tinatahak ng Katipunan ang malalawak at mapuputik na bukiran at parang. Basaan ang mga damit, namimitig ang katawan sa malamig na simoy ng hangin. Pagal at walang imik sa paglalakad.” -Santiago Alvarez, 1896
- 25. *Based on Santiago Alvarez’ accounts* • August 22, 1896, Bonifacio and 300 Katipuneros reached Apolonio Samson’s house in Kangkong, Caloocan with 12 revolvers, itak, suligi and balaraw. • August 23, 1896, Bonifacio and his men went to Melchora Aquino’s house in Bahay Toro and the lady fed 500 Katipuneros. • August 24, 1896- the number of Katipuneros in Aquino’s house reached 1,000, then Bonifacio led a general meeting
- 26. • The meeting pointed-out the establishment of “Pamahalaang Mapaghimagsik” (an evidence that Bonifacio can considered to be as the president of the Philippines) and the Pasya (decision) for the start of revolution, scheduled to be on August 29-30, 1896.
- 27. SOURCE LOCATION DATE Pio Valenzuela (1911) Kangkong, Caloocan August 23, 1896 Pio Valenzuela (1917) Pasong Tamo, Caloocan August 23, 1896 Labi ng Katipunan Marker (1917) Kangkong, Caloocan August 23, 1896 Tomas Remigio (1917) Kangkong, Caloocan Pio Valenzuela (1920s) Pugad Lawin (Bahay Toro), Caloocan August 23, 1896 Julio Nakpil (1925) Kangkong, Caloocan August 26, 1896 Sinforoso San Pedro (1925) Kangkong, Caloocan Ramon Bernardo (1927) Pasong Tamo, Barrio Banlat, Calooca August 24, 1896 Guillermo Masangkay (1929-1957) Kangkong, Caloocan August 26, 1896
- 28. SOURCE LOCATION DATE Cipriano Pacheco (1933) Kangkong and Pugad Lawin (not specific), Caloocan Briccio Pantas (1933) Kangkong, Caloocan Francisco Carreon (1935) Kangkong, Caloocan Vicente Samson (1961) Kangkong, Caloocan August 26, 1896
- 29. • From the survey, Jim Richardson surmised that the KKK Veterans’ statements that the two events happened in Kangkong, Caloocan was legitimate. • Yet, Teodoro Agoncillo and Isagani Medina considered the memoirs of Valenzuela because of his being an “eye witness.”
- 30. • Teodoro Agoncillo wrote the book, “Revolt of the Masses” in 1956 that was based fully on Valenzuela’s memoirs • Agoncillo insisted that the Pagpupunit and Pasya was happened on August 23, 1896 in Pugad Lawin particularly in Bahay Toro, Caloocan (Juan Ramos house)
- 31. • In 1983, “Pugad Lawin Historical Committee” was established who investigated the “Cry” but did not find any fresh document that the “Cry” happened in other places. • Its investigation relayed to the National Historical Institute, then, a historical marker was placed on Bahay Toro, Quezon City (alleged Pugad Lawin) on August 23, 1984.
- 32. • In order to simplify the issue, Dr. Ambeth Ocampo suggested that it is much better to be called as “Sigaw sa Caloocan” (Cry of Caloocan). • In some ways, to play safe, Prof. Xiao Chua suggested it to be called as “Unang Sigaw ng Himagsikan” (First Cry of Revolution).
- 33. Where did the KKK’s Pagpupunit and Pasya really happened; Kangkong, Caloocan? Pasong Tamo, Barrio Banlat, Caloocan? Bahay Toro, Caloocan (Pugad Lawin)?
- 35. December 28, 1896 • Archbishop of Manila Fr. Bernardino Nozaleda requested the Jesuit Professors of Rizal in Ateneo Municipal to give him some spiritual consolation. Part of this was to convince him to “retract” his Freemasonry linkages.
- 36. *Based on the statements of Fr. Vicente Balaguer in Murcia, Spain on August 8, 1917* December 29, 1896 • Fr. Balaguer went to Rizal on 11:00 AM together with Fray Jose Villaclara tried to convince him to write a retraction paper. • But still believing in the Holy Scriptures, Rizal supposedly refused to retract his anti-Catholic views by exclaiming:
- 37. “Look, Fathers, if I should assent to all you say and sign all you want me to, just to please you, neither believing nor feeling, I would be a hypocrite and would then be offending God!” • But historians believed that Rizal had a deal with the friars that he will make a retraction paper in return, they will allow him to marry with Josephine Bracken and to produce a marriage certificate.
- 38. • Allegedly, friars agreed with this deal. After their conversation, Fr. Balaguer reported to the Archbishop that the only hope to save the life of Rizal was to retract. 2:00 PM • Rizal had talks with Fr. Estanislao March and Fr. Jose Villaclara then, Fr. Balaguer returned to his cell at 3:30 PM to discuss (again) the retraction. History did not know about the result of their second discussion.
- 39. 5:30 PM • Don Silvino Lopez Tuñon, the Dean of the Manila Cathedral, accompanied by Frs. Balaguer, March and Villaclara to talk with Rizal and exchange some views with him. Historians did not find any papers about their but one thing is for sure, this was about the retraction paper of Rizal. • Before he took his last supper, he had confessed to Fray Faura. Afterwards, an amiable talk happened to Rizal and Manila’s Royal Audiencia Fiscal Don Gaspar Cestaño at 9:30 PM.
- 40. 10:00 PM • Rizal and some Catholic friars worked on his retraction papers. • Fr. Balaguer allegedly brought a retraction draft to Rizal made by Archbishop Nozaleda but Rizal did not like it because it was too long. • Fray Pio Pi, the Superior of Jesuit Mission in the Philippines, made a shorter retraction paper that was liked by Rizal and signed it.
- 41. “I retract with all my heart anything in my words, writings, publications and conduct that has been contrary to my character as a child of church. I declare this spontaneously, in order to repair any scandal which my acts may have caused and so that God and man may pardon me.” • The retraction paper was also signed by two witnesses; Juan Del Presno, chief of the Civil Guards who watched Rizal in Fort Santiago and Eloy Maure, adjutant of plaza in Intramuros.
- 42. • As stated by Father Balaguer, he was the one who married Rizal and Bracken before his execution (6:00 AM of December 30, 1896). • Gregorio Zaide, said that Rizal’s assumed retraction and his supposed church marriage with Josephine Bracken have been considered as a highly dubious by many Rizal scholars until the present time.
- 43. • Nevertheless, the alleged retraction paper “signed” by Rizal did not do anything. Spanish military court became firm on its decision to sentence him to death by means of firing squad as duly allowed by Governor General Camilo G. Polavieja.
- 44. Evidence of Rizal’s retraction: The Statement of Federico Moreno
- 45. • The retraction paper was found in 1935 • The issue on Rizal’s retraction was proven because of a document that could be an “independent eye witness account,” the spy records of Federico Moreno from the members of Cuerpo de Vigilancia Manila. • This Cuerpo were the Spanish spies stationed in prison cell of Rizal during his stay in Intramuros.
- 46. Some of its members mentioned to Moreno three things: • Rizal wrote a paper that he called “La Retractacion” • Fr. Villaclara, Fr. March, Del Presno and Maure were on Rizal’s prison cell during that time (match with the persons who signed the “retraction paper” aside from Rizal) • Rizal was married to Bracken before his execution.
- 47. Did Rizal really retract before he was executed?
- 48. Other controversies in Philippine History: • Princess Urduja, a hoax? • Andres Bonifacio, the first Philippine President? • Emilio Aguinaldo sold Philippine revolution in Biak-Na-Bato? • Golden arinola of Elpidio Quirino • Marcos’ Martial Law was a “Golden Age”
- 49. Thank you! Yosef Eric C. Hipolito, LPT, MA Bachelor of Arts in History [email protected]