THE town of Guiuan in Eastern Samar is gearing up to commemorate the 503rd anniversary of Magellan’s landing on Homonhon Island with a series of activities.
Municipal tourism officer Janet Israel-Ramos announced that the town has organized several events to mark the historical event, which will be attended by residents from Guiuan, Suluan, and Homonhon, along with municipal and provincial government officials.
The commemorative activities, also known as the “Philippine Part in the First Circumnavigation of the World,” kicked off on March 12 with the opening of the “Panagtawo” or Kadiwa ng Pangulo at Guiuan’s Plaza, organized by the municipal government in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry.
Dr. Rolando Borrinaga, a prominent historian, will conduct a history lecture on March 16 at the island village of Suluan.
According to Antonio Pigefetta’s chronicle, the residents of Suluan assisted Ferdinand Magellan’s crew when they landed on Homonhon Island after months of crossing the Pacific.
Commemorative programs will be held simultaneously on March 16 at the Suluan Marker in Suluan Island and at the Samar Marker in Calicoan.
Additionally, there will be a groundbreaking ceremony for the circumferential road in Homonhon Island from Barangay Bitaugon down to Casuguran, led by 4Ps party-list representative and House Minority leader Marcelino Libanan.
A dental and medical mission is scheduled from March 16 to 17 in the villages of Casuguran and Pagbabangnan, all in Homonhon Island.
On March 17, municipal and provincial government officials will gather at Magellan’s Landing site in Homonhon for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Quincentennial Marker and a commemorative program. Expected attendees include Governor Ben Evardone, members of the provincial board, Rep. Fe Abunda, and Guiuan town officials led by Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan.
Guiuan commemorates annually the “humanity” displayed by early residents of Suluan towards foreign guests led by Magellan, who, along with his crew, were seeking a new route to Moluccas for the Spice trade.
On March 16, 1521, they sighted mainland Samar but did not dock due to rough sea conditions. They then encountered the islands of Suluan and Homonhon, where on March 18, they disembarked to search for food and attend to their sick crew.
It was on this day that residents of Suluan met them and promised to provide food, which they did the next day. Magellan’s crew stayed in Homonhon for several days before sailing south to the area of Limasawa, where the first Easter Mass was held. | With RTA
