NHCP places marker at Suluan Island which symbolizes Filipinos being giving and compassion people
GUIUAN, Eastern Samar – It was on March 16, 1521 when the fleet of Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator working under Spanish flag, saw the island of Suluan, hungry and suffering from illnesses after three months of voyage.
None of them, however, did not set foot on this island and only stayed inside their ship.
But it was the residents of this small island who helped Magellan and his men by giving them food and provisions.
On Wednesday (March 17), the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) unveiled a marker to commemorate said historical event, a beautiful gesture of humility and compassion toward fellowmen.
The unveiling of the marker kicked off of the year-long celebration of the Quincentennial Celebration of the Philippines.
“Let the Quincentennial remind all Filipinos that we are triumphant and compassionate people just like our ancestors recorded in 1521,” Rene Escalate, NHCP chairman, said.
Escalante added that opening the quincentennial celebration in Suluan aims to lay the foundation for future studies and to ignite interest of young historians and scholars.
At least 34 historical markers in relation to the quincentennial celebration were erected by the NHCP in Palawan, Visayas and Mindanao along the historic route of the first circumnavigation.
“We want our countrymen to appreciate this achievement of humanity as part of the history of a Filipino, part of what they have been taught in school back then in the beginning of Philippine history, “Escalante added.
That simple act of kindness of the early residents of Suluan would later result to a legacy that every resident of the island, and of Guiuan town to always remember and be proud of, according to Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan.
“We need to remember this lessons from 500 years ago or else this monument of humanity will remain as cold as the stone it is made of,” Mayor Kwan said.
“Because we are kindhearted people, we show courage to meet the foreigners who arrived in our land. We are proud of being friendly, and because of this friendliness, the early residents of Suluan are able to save lives of Magellan’s fleet who were able to tell and prove that the globe is round,”she added.
The marker in Suluan is one of the three markers erected by the NHCP in Guiuan for the Quincentennial commemoration.
Another marker is located in Homonhon Island where Magellan and his men stayed for several weeks, and in Calicoan Island that represents the enter island of Samar.
Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Jorge Sanchez in his message said that this event 500 years ago should always be remembered by all as it provided not only knowledge useful to navigation but also the paved way for a forging of friendship of two nations.
“That spirit of humanity, generosity, and kindness that define the people of the Philippines, especially Eastern Samar, this region. So with the same spirit, I would like to look forward and to look for the future and try to inspire us for the next 500 years,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez added that the present generation should know why this commemoration is being celebrated as it help shape the beginning of the common history between Spain and the Philippines.
“This should be known by the youth because it is the beginning of the interconnection in many fields, humanistic fields, spiritual, trade, navigation,” he said
“Everything that is happening now is interconnected to what had happened 500 years ago,”he added.
A certificate of transfer was signed between the NHCP to the local government unit of Guiuan and village of Suluan was held after the unveiling.
Coinciding with the unveiling of the marker and the event that happened 500 years ago was the arrival of Spanish Navy Training Ship Juan Sebastian Elcano that reenacted the first circumnavigation of the globe.
The ship arrived in the coast of Suluan from Guam around 10:00 on Wednesday (March 17).
In its arrival, an event was dubbed as “Encuentro” where Elcano was welcomed while anchoring by fishermen residents of Suluan with their fishing boat.
The event signified the welcoming gesture of Suluan people who were first to meet the Magellan’s fleet. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Homonhon priest asks Pres. Duterte to stop ‘desecrating’ the island from mining operations
In the wake of 500 years of Magellan landing
TACLOBAN CITY-The parish priest of Homonhon Island, off Guiuan town, Eastern Samar, has called on officials to include President Rodrigo Duterte to stop ‘desecrating the island.’
Fr. Christian Ofilan, parish priest of the St. John the Baptist Parish, was referring to the mining operations in Homonhon, the site of the landings of Portuguese-born Ferdinand Magellan 500 years ago which the country is commemorating.
“I would like to use my small voice to call on our government leaders, from the mayor of Guiuan to President Rodrigo Duterte, please stop desecrating our island, ”Ofilan said during his homily on Wednesday(March 17) as part of the Quincentennial celebration of the coming of Magellan and his fleet to the island.
On Thursday (March 18), President Duterte graced the event by leading in the unveiling of the quincentennial marker of the world’s first circumnavigation led by Magellan and Juan Sebastian Elcano on March 17,1521 located in Barangay Ngolos.
According to Fr. Ofilan, considering that Homonhon is where the first missionaries in the country has arrived 500 years ago, it is just right that its ‘blessedness and sacredness’ should be preserved and not desecrated.
“Our ancestors consider our island as sacred and blessed. But what we’ve done after 500 years? We have desecrated it.We lost its sacredness because of our irresponsibilities,” he said.
The island is rich with mineral deposits like nickel and chromite.
While at present, there is no active mining operations on the island, several mining companies have located in Homonhon.
Among these mining companies is Techiron Resources whose move to remove its ‘stockpile’ of chromite April of last year sparked protest from the villagers.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
Mayor Romualdez urges public to observe ‘self- discipline’.
TACLOBAN CITY- Amid the current threat of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) variants, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez urged the public to exercise self-discipline, as it is the key to win the battle against this pandemic.
“The bottom line is to not let our guard down, as self-discipline is the best solution to help the government in addressing this health crisis,” the local chief executive emphasized during an interview on Wednesday, March 17.
Mayor Romualdez continues to appeal to the public to strictly comply with all safety and health protocols such as wearing of face masks and face shields, and observance of social distancing, even as it streamlined and eased its COVID-19 guidelines.
To note, protocols in Tacloban City have been minimized, however mandatory isolation or quarantine of confirmed cases, close contacts, and those with flu-like symptoms are still required.
Meantime, though vaccines are now readily available, he advised residents “to not be complacent,” as he received reports that some have started to become ‘lax’ in following health protocols.
“It’s been a year and everyone was caught flat-footed. We had the chance to learn from it and now that we do, let’s use it…so that we can gradually go back to our lives before,” he said, noting that the virus is still around and can easily be transmitted.
To date, the city has 77 active cases, bringing it to a total of 2068 confirmed cases, with 1941 recoveries and 50 deaths.
(TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
Pres. Duterte confident ending of Reds by 2022
Calls the rebels as mere bandits
TACLOBAN CITY-President Rodrigo Duterte said that he is confident that the long -running communist insurgency problem of the country will soon come to its end or at least before he steps down next year.
The President made this assertion as he attended on Thursday (March 18) the national and regional task forces to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) held at the Summit Hotel, this city.
All the governors of the region, with the exception of Samar Governor Reynolds Michael Tan, were present during the event which was marked by a power failure just minutes before the President arrived at the venue.
In his presentation on the insurgency problem of the region, Social Welfare Sec. Rolando Joselito Bautista, who once served as the deputy commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, said that since the Duterte administration implemented its ‘whole-of-nation approach’ under Executive Order Number 70 in 2018, only four out of the region’s 11 communist fronts are remaining with around 1,000 regular members or New People’s Army have surrendered.
Also, 200 villages in the region have already been declared as insurgency-free with all the six provinces, seven cities and 137 towns declaring the armed group of the Communist Party of the Philippines as ‘persona non grata.’
“I know this problem could not be solved overnight that is why I am asking for the cooperation and the solidarity of all sectors in ending this conflict once and for all,” he said.
“With your support and patriotism, I am confident that we will triumph over the challenges ahead of us. Be assured that the entire force pf the Filipino people though the hands of the government os behind you as well to secure a genuine and lasting peace for our motherland,” the President added.
He also claimed that the communist party here in the Philippines have lost its ideology and what they are doing is plain banditry.
“The communist has not achieved anything at all, I have not seen any progress in their movement). Rather, it has become a group of bandits solely,” the President said.
During the meeting, the President reiterated his order to the military to kill armed rebels and said that not in the million years of fighting that the communist group will succeed in their fight against the government.
Duterte said his administration did its best to have a peace agreement with the Communist Party of the Philippines, but its founding chairperson, Jose Maria Sison, lacked sincerity.
“I cannot fathom the brain of Sison however you prick it, it’s gone. He has, I don’t know, if dementia or something. He keeps on transferring from one topic to another that finally I thought that peace through negotiation with them is impossible. So I gave up although I tried everything,” he added.
Duterte also expressed his sadness that communist rebels continue to stay in the mountains to fight the government troops.
Despite the continuing insurgency in the country, Duterte is happy that the government, through the NTF and RTF ELCAC, made big achievement in fighting the communists.
Duterte also promised that the government will continue to support the former rebels.
Eastern Visayas is one of the country’s poorest regions with the existence of armed insurgency cited as among its reasons.
During his more than one-hour speech, Duterte teased both Sen. Christopher ‘Bong’ Go and Labor Sec.Silvestre Bello III.
On Go, his long-time confidant, the President addressed as him ‘President’ while Bello as ‘senator.’
Go, in a separate interview here, insisted that he is not entertaining about the 2022 presidential elections saying that his visits around the country should not be misinterpreted that he is seeking the presidency.
“Pagkatapos ng proklamasyon ko bilang senador, pinuntahan ko ang ating mga kababayan na nasunugan, nabahaan, nalindol, naputukan ng bulkan. Hindi ko po matiis na maupo sa opisina at magpalamig lang doon. (Pinupunthan ko) an ating mga kababayaan na nangangailangan ng tulong,” he said, parrying the question.