Limasawa, Southern Leyte—An estimated 3,000 Catholics flocked Sunday to this historic small island to celebrate this year’s 498th first Mass celebration in the country.
Most. Rev. Gabriele Giordano Caccia, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, said the presence of the Church and the presence of Christianity “has shaped this country and the entire world.”
“Almost 500 years ago, they just said the mass with few people. It was like a seed put in the soil. Now, that seed has become a big tree,” said the apostolic nuncio, referring to the first Catholic mass held by Ferdinand Magellan and his Spanish army along with the local settlers on March 31, 1521.
Caccia said the event “reminds us that the beginning is always small, something that seems not so important.”
“Who knew at that time that in a remote island in the Pacific somebody was saying the mass? Back there, they didn’t even know that there were lands and islands here,” he said.
“We are grateful to those who came. But as they came, they went. But faith stays,” said Caccia
He added the legacy of the first mass “is not only language and culture but the gift of knowledge of true God.”
Caccia led the holy mass together with Maasin Bishop Precioso Cantillas, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Palo Archbishop John Du, diocese priests, and other religious groups.
Southern Leyte Representative Roger Mercado, Governor Damian Mercado, and other local officials also attended the event.
Cantillas asked the Catholics to “continue to share the faith.”
“As a youth leader, we are looking at this celebration as a stepping stone for our youths to further understand and embrace their Catholic belief,” said Abbie Jean Tampos, 26.
“The first mass activity strengthens my religion,” added Rommel Labastida, a parent from Limasawa.
Meanwhile, Karen Tiopes, Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director in Eastern Visayas said they are now “trying to drumbeat the activities on an escalating level in anticipation of the 500th year celebration of the first mass on 2021.”
“We even say, this event actually gave birth to tourism. Because this is where the first cultural encounter happened between the natives who were here in Limasawa and the Westerners who were part of the fleet of Magellan,” said Tiopes.
She added that the island has remained an “icon destination in historical tourism.”
According to the tourism director, they are also positioning Limasawa as “must-see visit here in Eastern Visayas for the different activities people can do in the waters around the island.”
“Limasawa is blessed with natural wonders. It has pristine water, rich marine life. The best dive sites in Sogod Bay is found here. There is lagoon in other side of the island which makes you feel like you’re in a paradise because of its beauty,” she said.
According to Tiopes, they were able to train and develop 41 households for “homestay program” to help accommodate tourists in Limasawa.
“We only have few accommodation facilities. Visitors on the island would also expect to do camping,” Tiopes said.
While saying that there is no star-rated hotel on Limasawa yet, Tiopes said that accommodation on the island is “very affordable.”
“Part of their job is to hone the skills of the tourism service providers and check on their services to see more room for improvement,” she said.
“As far as DOT is concerned, we’re also here to observe and to project the number of visitors on 2021, and to see in what manner we, together with the Southern Leyte provincial government, the local government of Limasawa and the church, can work together to prepare the island to the larger influx of visitors on 2021,” added Tiopes.
The tourism director also hoped that the controversy surrounding the first mass “will be put to rest so both people in Southern Leyte and Butuan will finally have peace of mind and no longer be squabbling on this issue.”
Earlier, Leyte-based historian Rolando Borrinaga said his latest study pointed to Limasawa as the site of the first mass.
Borrinaga, who was also instrumental on the return of the Balangiga bells, is set to deliver his latest study with the National Quincentennial Committee of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines on April 25-27, 2019 in Limasawa and Maasin City.
