THE Filipinas Quincentenario 1521–2021 has been preparing for a long-run celebration of the 500th year of Christianization in the Philippines and a global commemoration of the first circumnavigation of the world from January 2019 to 2021, national spokesperson Manny Lopez revealed on Saturday at the Elizabeth Hotel in Cebu City.
Three major events will be celebrated during the two-year long celebration, such as the first navigation around the globe by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, the Filipinos’ Christianity and to commemorate Lapu-Lapu as the first Malay who became a hero for his successful resistance against against foreign domination.
Organizers are expecting millions of local and international attendees to witness the event.
Lopez said they were planning to follow Magellan’s domestic voyage from the island of Samar, where Magellan first landed, then to Leyte, Butuan, Cebu, Surigao, Dinagat, Zamboanga and Palawan, before his group returned to Spain.
“We are discovering our true history through the voyage. In that way, we can understand the lessons of history to guide us for our future. Filipinos must know their identity,” he said.
Lopez claimed that Cebu would be the main venue of the event where King of Spain and Argentina President are expected to visit.
He added that the organizers were hoping that President Rodrigo Duterte will issue an executive order to commemorate the event.
“This (event) is open to the public. We will coordinate with the local government units (LGUs), private sector, and of course the national government for this big event,” he explained.
Quincentenario Cebu Affairs director Pual Hubahib told Cebu Daily News that they decided to officially kick off the event in 2019, because Magellan started his voyage from Spain in 1519 and arrived in the country in 1521. The main highlight of the celebration will be the Battle of Mactan in April 27, 1521.
Quincentenario executive director Jun Alvizo asked the Cebuanos to help make this event become successful.
“We are begging the public to clean the city so that guests all over the world would be amazed on how Cebuanos care for the motherland,” he said.
Alvizo said the public should not rely on the LGUs to clean the environment, but help themselves to reached the objective of the cleanest city.