TACLOBAN CITY- Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan was elected as the vice chair for Asia as part of the preparation of the 500th year anniversary of explorer Ferdinand Magellan navigation around the world.
The Catbalogan city mayor was elected during the gathering of mayors where Magellan navigated 500 years ago in a meeting held in Lisbon, Portugal dubbed as the Red Mundial de Ciudades Magallanicas o Global Network of Magellan Cities (GNMC).
Magellan was a Portuguese but worked under Spanish flag when he conducted the navigation in 1519 to 1522.
“Our commitment for the promotion of Magellan’s route as the first circumnavigation of the world along with the preparation of the 500th anniversary of the said feat scheduled in 2019-2022 is few of the tasks of the network along with the coordination between countries for updating and partnerships,” Uy-Tan said in a statement.
Although Magellan only landed in Homonhon Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Catbalogan was invited to be part of the network being a former capital of the Samar Island.
The Global Network of Magellan Cities is a network of all the cities that Magellan travelled to on the first ever journey around the world, promoting collaborative participation and cooperation among the different cities that share the history of Magellan’s first journey.
This network of cities will celebrate the 5th century of Magellan’s journey that took place from 1519 to 1522 this coming 2019 to 2022.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
