Filling the Gaps in Magellan's Route through the Pacific Ocean and the Philippines.

This article examines the contested location of Mazaua, the site of the first Easter Sunday Mass in the Philippines in 1521 during Magellan’s expedition, proposing a fourth candidate—Masapelid Island with Mahaba Island east of Surigao City—alongside the traditionally considered Limasawa and Butuan. Using primary sources such as Pigafetta’s maps and logs, combined with modern cartographic reconstructions and navigational data, the study argues that Mazaua was situated beyond Mindanao’s northeastern corner rather than near Limasawa or Butuan, supported by geographic, linguistic, and historical evidence including distances, island features, and local toponyms. The article also clarifies Magellan’s Pacific route, identifying his “San Pablo” and “Tiburones” islands as Fakahina and Caroline Islands, respectively, and discusses related historical events such as the destruction of Mazaua in 1563 and subsequent expeditions’ attempts to locate it. The findings contribute to Philippine historical geography by reassessing early 16th-century navigation records and challenging prevailing assumptions about Magellan’s landing sites.