453rd Fiesta Señor tells us one thing
I had to wait until this year's feast of the Santo Niño was over before I had to bring this up, for fear of ruffling some sacred feathers. But here, in case you have not noticed, this year's fiesta was described in all official advertisements and announcements as the "453rd Fiesta Señor." So, if it is the 453rd fiesta, then the counting must have started in 1565. And if the counting started in 1565, then the 500th fiesta should be in 2065.
The reason I am bringing this up is because there is a move, instigated by some influential bishops, to celebrate the 5th Centennial of the Christianization of the Philippines in 2021 instead of 2065. A 5th Centennial in 2021 only commemorates the coming of Magellan 500 years ago in 1521. A 5th centennial in 2065 commemorates the coming of Legazpi 500 years ago in 1565.
And what is the difference between the two dates? When Magellan came in 1521, he did not come to Christianize the Philippines. In fact, he did not even know if a Philippines existence. Christianization was farthest from the mind of Magellan when he came. He was on a voyage of discovery. He was on a mission to find a way west. All history books credit Magellan, or what remained of his expedition, as being the first to circumnavigate the world.
In fact, all mention of Magellan in history books in relation to the Philippines is that he was killed there by a local chieftain named Lapulapu. True he had the king and queen of Cebu and a few of their followers baptized. But that hardly made them Christians in the real sense of the word. That is because Magellan got killed and the rest of his men left soon after to resume their journey westward.
In other words, and for all intents and purposes, the natives they left behind could not have fully led Christian lives without anyone to nurture a faith that, before the strangers came, was totally alien to them. Other than undergoing the rite of baptism, they had nothing to cling to as a matter of faith. There was no one to teach them any Catechism or whatever it takes to make them learn the basic rudiments and expectations of being a Christian.
Sure, Magellan gifted them with the image of the Santo Niño. But without even the most elemental knowledge about the faith, it is not farfetched to imagine what must have become of the icon. And true enough, it was not in some exalted place but in a burnt nipa hut that the soldiers of Legazpi found the Santo Niño, bare to the core, when finally the Spaniards came back in 1565.
And when Legazpi came back, it was no longer an expedition of discovery or exploration that he headed. It was a mission of Christianization and colonization. They were here to stay and claim the Philippines for the King of Spain. Proof of the Christianization aspect of the mission was the retinue of nearly 10 priests that Legazpi had with him. When Magellan came, he only had one, and not only to serve the religious needs of the crew but mainly to act as chronicler of the voyage.
So clearly, the real Christianization of the Philippines started with the arrival of Legazpi in 1565. That is the date where all centennial celebrations begun. That is why the counting of the 453rd Fiesta Señor started from there. In 1965, I was already in Grade 5 and was actively involved in the 4th Centennial celebration as a Boy Scout at the Colegio del Santo Niño. I therefore cannot understand why, all of a sudden, some bishops would like to change the 5th Centennial from 2065 to 2021.
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