Christianity was brought to the region by European explorers in 1521, marking a pivotal moment in the history of the Philippines.
On March 17, 1521, Portuguese explorer Fernão de Magalhães (“Ferdinand Magellan”) arrived at Homonhon Island, making first contact with the local inhabitants.
Along with Magellan was Father Pedro de Valderrama, as it was a legal requirement for expeditions to have a Catholic chaplain on board, both for the spiritual needs of the sailors and for evangelization of new lands.
According to the Kahimyang Project, "After a grueling three-month crossing of the Pacific Ocean, where the men were forced to eat rats and sawdust to survive, the expedition sighted land in the Philippine archipelago on March 16, 1521. Magellan named the islands the Archipelago of Saint Lazarus because they arrived on the feast day of the saint. The initial landing was on the small, uninhabited island of Homonhon, where the crew found fresh water and were able to recover from the effects of scurvy."
While the crew caught sight of land on March 16, they didn't land until March 17, which at the time was the feast of St. Lazarus.
First Mass in the Philippines
Initially there was only brief encounters with the local inhabitants, but eventually the crew desired to celebrate Easter Sunday.
According to Vatican News, "On Easter Sunday in 1521, Father Pedro de Valderrama celebrated the first Catholic Mass in what is now the Philippines, specifically on the island of Limasawa in Southern Leyte."
The Mass was celebrated on an "improvised altar" and the congregation included local inhabitants.
Joshua Kueh explains for the Library of Congress blog that "Antonio Pigafetta (1480?-1534?), an expedition member, wrote in 'A Narrative Account of the First Circumnavigation' that two indigenous leaders participated in the Mass: Rajah Colambu, ruler of Limasawa, and Rajah Siagu, ruler of Butuan, both of whom kissed the cross and prayed with the crew. Next, the expedition headed to Cebu, where the king and queen of the island and their subjects showed signs of embracing the Catholic faith."
The Philippines currently has one of the highest populations of Catholics in the world, and it all began when Magellan reached the group of islands in 1521.
