Cebu City to host 2016 Magellan cities tour

Cebu City will host an international gathering of officials from cities and countries that were visited by explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

“The gathering will be after Sinulog 2016. The representatives from the cities will also be here during the IEC (International Eucharistic Congress),” Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama told reporters yesterday.

Rama was in Sabrosa, Portugal last week where several mayors and representatives of some of the cities Magellan had visited were present.

The group, which is called Global Link Magellan Cities, also named Rama as vice-president for Asia.

During his visit, Rama entered into a sister-cities agreement with the municipality of Sabrosa where he was accompanied by other city officials and Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Philippe Lhuillier.

Connected

There were also representatives from Argentina, Chile, Spain and Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, who attended the signing of the agreement.

Sabrosa is the birthplace of Magellan, who led the first sea expedition that circumnavigated the world. Magellan died in the Battle of Mactan against Lapu-Lapu.

During his speech before the signing, Rama highlighted how Sabrosa and Cebu were connected through Magellan.

“I told them that I’m sorry to express to all of you that when Magellan went to our island, he had not been able to come back to your place here in Sabrosa. And it took 493 years until such a time that we came over here,” he said.

Rama said the group of Magellan-visited cities will also be seeking an audience with Pope Francis next year.

The mayor also told reporters that he will inform the City Council and bring a multi-sectoral group to handle preparations.