Fernando M. Tan, Jr.* 

Master of Arts in Theology, St. John the Evangelist School of Theology in Palo, Leyte, Philippines. 

*Correspondence: tanfernando14@gmail.com (Fernando M. Tan, Jr., Master of Arts in Theology, St. John the Evangelist School of Theology in Palo, Leyte, Philippines).

Powered by Froala Editor

ABSTRACT 

This review intends to examine the merits of the book entitled, Homonhon Island: The Correct Site of the First Mass in the Philippines written by Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD. The author presents his arguments using a sociological-theological approach against proponents of Butuan, Limasawa, and Bolinao Islands, who earlier were claimed to be the correct site of the first Mass, respectively. The book contains 4 chapters the first of which deals with a historical background of the current sites of the first Mass while the rest focus on the author’s arguments backed up by logical reasoning and a revisit of Antonio Pigafetta’s accounts. Content analysis revealed themes of diversity, regionalism, and dynamism characterizing the historian’s representations of their narratives. The rich discussion and well-organized layout of interesting data that are rarely found in other theological books make this masterpiece a must-read for historians, scholars, teachers, and students probing into the controversy behind the true site of the first mass in the Philippines.

Keywords: Homonhon Island, Correct site, First mass, Historians, Book review, and Philippines.

Citation: Tan, Jr. FM. (2023). Homonhon island; the correct site of the first mass in the Philippines: a book review, Asian J. Soc. Sci. Leg. Stud., 5(3), 62-66. https://doi.org/10.34104/ajssls.023.062066

Powered by Froala Editor