1521 is a contentious, divisive number

There is so much controversy surrounding the number 1521. It is at the very heart of a power struggle in the Philippine House of Representatives between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco. Both had contended for the speakership earlier on but gave way to a term-sharing "gentleman's agreement" brokered by President Duterte.

Under the agreement, Cayetano was to serve as speaker first, but for a shorter period of 15 months. There is a premium to pay for first class after all. Velasco is to serve for a longer 21 months for coming in next. But with the end of his 15 months breathing down his neck, Cayetano does not appear willing to give up the speakership, to the consternation of Velasco. Now there is turmoil again on account of this 1521 deal/non-deal.

But way before this very loud and open controversy descended upon the land, there had been, and maybe still is, a much more subdued and less open 1521 controversy involving the much more secretive institution called the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. It appears that a powerful cabal of bishops are insisting on holding the 5th centennial celebration of the Christianization of the Philippines in 2021 instead of 2065.

The insistence to celebrate the 5th Centennial in 2021 is anchored on the belief that the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in Cebu in 1521 and his baptism of a few natives into the Christian faith represented the start of the Christianization of the Philippines, hence counting from 1521, the 5th Centennial should, according to these bishops, be next year, 2021.

But this is an incorrect interpretation of historical facts. Magellan did not come to Christianize. His was a voyage of exploration, to find a way west. All voyages from Europe at the time had been toward the east. The world was square in the minds of many, that to head west was to fall off at the square's edge. Magellan, a Portuguese, took the job of finding a safe way west for the Spanish crown. Spreading the faith had nothing to do with it.

That Magellan did baptize a number of natives had nothing to do with religion. It was to avoid getting slaughtered. The Spaniards had to show they came in peace. It was a matter of simple expediency. When Magellan was eventually killed, his men hastily left, leaving no prayer or rite with which to strengthen what faith or understanding of it the natives may have imbibed in just a few weeks. Bisdaks habla no Español, si?

It was not until 1565 that Miguel Lopez de Legazpi came, this time with a retinue of priests accompanying a whole garrison of soldiers. They found the Santo Niño left by Magellan naked in a box, unused. But this time Legazpi came to stay, to colonize, to spread the faith. The Christianization of the Philippines started in 1565 not 1521. This time the Spaniards had the tools, the means, and the time to Christianize the natives.

There is a historically incontrovertible reason why the Philippines celebrated the 4th Centennial in April 1965. Because it correctly counted 400 years from 1565. The Vatican recognized it by sending a papal legate to the rite. To this day, there continues a display of pictures of the April 1965 4th Centennial at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. The 5th Centennial is in 2065 yet, not 2021. If some bishops cannot make it to 2065, that is the will of God.