Rama, commission bat for Humabon commemoration

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama and the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission are pushing for the passing of a measure commemorating Rajah Humabon, the ruler of Cebu, every 7th of April.

April 7 marks the arrival of the Magellan-Elcano fleet in the shores of Cebu where Humabon welcomed the Spanish conquistadores, including Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

It was also on the same day that Humabon made a blood compact with Magellan as a symbol of their newfound friendship.

To commemorate such event, the wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of Rajah Humabon Monument at Plaza Hamabar on Mabini Street in Cebu City was held yesterday.

During the program, Rama paid homage to Humabon.

He said it was the first time that a wreath-laying activity was done for Humabon.

Rama also noted that there are even streets named after those who were not from Cebu, but none for Humabon.

The vice mayor said Humabon played “a very important role in the country’s rich history” as he was instrumental in the conversion of Cebuano natives into Christians.

“Those who cannot forget, and those who will forget yesterday, you will contributors in the extinction of humanity. Today, we are bringing back victory of Lapulapu and we are bringing back the humanity because of Christianity,” he said.

Humabon was the first Filipino chieftain to embrace Christianity.

On April 14, 1521, Humabon, his wife, and around 400 Filipino natives were first baptized into Christianity, in a ceremony administered by Fr. Valderrama.

Magellan gifted an image of Sto. Niño to Humabon on account of their baptism. Sto. Niño de Cebu became the oldest Christian artifact in the Philippines.

On April 27, 1521, Magellan was killed during the Mactan battle led by Lapulapu.

14th Quincentennial marker unveiled

On the other hand, the 14th of the 34 quincentennial historical markers was unveiled yesterday at Plaza Sugbo, Cebu City commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Philippine part in the first circumnavigation of the world.

Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, who graced the event, said he is proud as a Cebuano that two of the biggest quincentennial events will take place here.

First, the 500 Years of Christianity on April 14, 2021 and second, the 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City on April 27, 2021.

 “It is with joy that I was given the honor to represent the National Quincentennial Committee or NQC on this occasion of unveiling the quincentennial historical marker commemorating the place of Cebu in the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world,” said Dino during the unveiling of the  quincentennial historical marker for Cebu yesterday.

The country commemorated the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world on March 16, 2021, beginning in Guiuan, Eastern Samar and closing on 28 October on Sarangani Island, town of Sarangani, Davao Occidental.

These milestone events are collectively known as the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines.

Dino said the NQC, in which OPAV is a sitting member, has installed 34 quincentennial historical markers along the Philippine route of the first circumnavigation of the world.

Thirty-four historical markers are to be unveiled within this celebratory period.

The first historical marker, the Suluan Quincentennial Marker in Suluan Island, Guiuan, was unveiled to mark the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world on March 16, 1521. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, KQD (FREEMAN)