Delegates from Magellan cities visit Lapu-Lapu City
Noli Hernandez of Megaworld shows to a visitor the architectural drawing for Plaza Magellan, as Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama look on. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Some 40 delegates from seven countries in Europe, South America and Asia comprising the group Global Network of Magellan Cities (GNMC) visited Lapu-Lapu City last Wednesday.
Mayor Paz Radaza welcomed the delegates, who were accompanied by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, to the Liberty Shrine.
Radaza brought the delegates, led by GNMC Secretary General Jose Manuel dela Fuente of Spain, to the Magellan’s marker erected in 1866 inside the Liberty Shrine with engraved words “Glorias Españolas” and to the monument of Datu Lapu-Lapu.
Cultural dancers in colorful costumes entertained the delegates with their performances.
Radaza also brought the delegates to a vacant lot across the Liberty Shrine, where the “Plaza Magellan” will be constructed by the Megaworld.
“We will be constructing a life-size replica of the Galleon Victoria, the ship used by Magellan to circumnavigate the globe, where a museum will be built,” said Noli Hernandez, president of Megaworld Cebu Properties Inc.
He said they offer this, in coordination with Lapu-Lapu City government, to honor the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, whose arrival in the Philippines will turn 500 years in 2021.
Hernandez said Plaza Magellan is a themed mall within the 30-hectare Mactan Newtown Township.
The delegates came from Lisbon and Sabrosa (Portugal), Seville (Spain), Puerto Sta. Cruz and Puerto San Julian (Argentina), Punta Arenas (Chile), Tidore (Indonesia), Mayors Melchor Petracorta of Limasawa, Leyte and Stephany Uy-Tan of Catbalogan, Samar.
Megaworld treated the delegates with Filipino delicacies for a snack, such as cooked camote, palitao, puto, budbod, biko, masi and lechon, among others.
The delegates were then brought back to the Liberty Shrine to witness the re-enactment of the Battle of Mactan by the cultural dancers.
The delegates also participated in the ceremonial floral offering for Lapu-Lapu and Magellan at the shore where they met.
The guests boarded a replica of the Galleon Victoria with two original Spanish canons and dropped flowers to the sea.
Dela Fuente said he was impressed by the preparations made by the city governments of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu for the commemoration of the 500th year of Magellan’s exploration.
“Our heartfelt gratitude to the local officials for their warm welcome and great efforts in preparing for the 500th year of Magellan’s exploration and arrival in the Philippines,” he said in a speech.
Mayor Radaza said in her speech she was honored and proud that Lapu-Lapu City is included in the Global Network of Magellan Cities.
“I am glad that all of you have taken your time to travel here in our city to honor Datu Lapu-Lapu and Ferdinand Magellan. Let me take this opportunity to welcome you to the “historic resort city,” she said.
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