500-Day Countdown To The 500th Anniversary of the Victory at Mactan
As the Philippines prepares for its part in the circumnavigation of the world, the National Quincentennial Committee has put together celebratory events leading to the 500th Anniversary of the Victory at Mactan on April of 2021. These events have begun in December 2018 and will last until September 2022.
One of these events is the 500-day countdown to the 500th Anniversary of the Victory at Mactan and other related events that will simultaneously happen on 14 December 2019 in Lapu-Lapu City, Davao City, and Manila.
“The first value that we will promote is Magnanimity. We will have activities and we will come up with some monuments that will promote the magnanimity of the Filipinos. The event that we will focus in order to promote magnanimity is the first encounter of the people of Homonhon with the members of the expedition. We will highlight the fact that when the Spaniards arrived in Homonhon, the people greeted them. They offered the visitors food, shelter and all other amenities that they have during this time.” National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chairperson and National Quincentennial Committee (NQC) Vice Chairperson Rene R. Escalante said during the stakeholders’ meeting in San Fernando, Pampanga last October 15, 2019.
The committee opted for a countdown to raise awareness and emphasize our ancestors’ roles and how they saved the almost dying crew during the first circumnavigation of the world; as we advocate for a more Filipino-centric point of view, putting a spotlight on our ancestors’ magnanimity and humanity during the expedition.
“The second value is Sovereignty. We will show to the world and to our countrymen that we Filipinos we love freedom, we love independence. We are magnanimous to foreigners but if they will colonize us or intervene in our domestic affairs, we will assert our sovereignty,” Escalante added.
The 500th anniversary of Lapulapu’s victory against foreign influence during the Battle of Mactan, the main event, served as an inspiration to our leaders, heroes, martyrs, and succeeding generations that led to the formation of who we are today – the Filipino nation.
“The Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines remains true to the vision of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, to highlight the heroism of Filipinos through the centuries. This is evident in the victory of Lapulapu and his men. May this event be one of the most celebrated moments in our nation’s history, inspiring the future generations to love our country above other interests”, said Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping III. With these great milestones, the NQC aims to take full advantage of various disciplines and media to showcase the unity, magnanimity, sovereignty, and identity of the Filipino nation through an upbeat, diverse, engaging, and meaningful Quincentennial Commemoration in the Philippines. The nationwide simultaneous landmark lighting in 21 different cultural and heritage sites plus a grand cultural show in Lapu- Lapu City will be some of the highlights of this event, wherein a total of 25 groups and about 235 performers from different parts of the country are said to participate.
