“In the morning of February 13, 1564, they caught sight of the Philippines. The expedition entered the Philippines at the island of Samar called Tandaya. Based on the descriptions of the pilots and on a map drawn on their charts by Martinez Fortun and Diego Martin, we can conclude without any doubt that the point of arrival was island of Tubabao on the coast of Samar, situated on latitude 1 2^o 07^o and 125^o 33^o east. Magellan had reached the Philippines making landfall at this same point.

On March 9, after consultation with the officers, it was decided that the expedition go to the island of Mazagua, now called Lirnasawa.

"Early on the morning of Sunday, the last of March, and Easter-day, the captain-general sent the priest with some men to prepare the place where mass was to be said; together with the interpreter to tell the king that we were not going to land in order to dine with him, but to say mass.

...There are dogs, cats, swine, fowls, goats, rice, ginger, cocoa-nuts, figs (i.e., bananas), oranges, lemons, millet, panicum, sorgo, wax, and a quantity of gold in THAT ISLAND. It lies in latitude of nine and two-thirds degrees toward the Arctic Pole, and in a longitude of one hundred and sixty-two degrees from the line of demarcation. It is twenty-five from the Acquada, and is called MAZAUA.

"On March 16, 1521, Magellan reached the Philippines. In Limasawa, the islanders and Europeans quickly became friends. The islanders described to the newcomers other places, like Butuan and Calagan (Caraga), but Magellan did not go there".

”Another important event took place at Butuan. The first mass was held on the shore of Masao, Butuan on Easter morning, March 31, 1521. It was said that Father Pedro de Valderrama, the Spanish chaplain officiated the mass. The Filipino kings and their men attended the mass along with Magellan and his men. After the mass, the Filipinos were treated to a fencing exhibition by the Spaniards. Then, at sunset of the same day, Magellan planted a huge wooden cross on the top of the hill overlooking the sea.”

“But without lingering Magellan continued westward and in March reaches BUTUAN, on the northern shore of Mindanao, where he landed and raising a cross on a small hill nearby and celebrating the FIRST MASS IN THE PHILIPPINES, took possession of the island in the name of the king of Spain, and began to win over the people to Spanish authority (Atkinson, 1905) ”

” On November 26, 1520, he (Magellan) found himself on the broad Pacific, and boldly stood to the northward, and on March 16, 1521, he reached Ladrones Islands, and sailed along the north coast of Mindanao. During Easter week of the same year, he arrived at the entrance to the Butuano River, where the FIRST MASS IN THE PHILIPPINES was celebrated. "

”Butuan town is situated on the right bank of the river Butuan, about 18 miles from the mouth, and contains some 2,000 inhabitants, chiefly engaged in working a gold mine in the vicinity. The anchorage is frequented by traders from Port Misamis, and from Cebu, and Mr. Looney remarks that he carried from 3 to 5 fathoms of water between the bar of the river and the town. The water of the river at Butuan is fresh and used for drinking.

The town of BUTUAN is celebrated in history as being the place where Magellan landed after his anchorage near Limasawa Island, and where he celebrated the FIRSTMASS IN THE PHILIPPINES.”