Now on its 503rd year

TACLOBAN CITY – The town of Guiuan in Eastern Samar will mark this year’s 503rd Magellan’s Landing in Homonhon Island with a modest celebration, as announced by municipal tourism officer Janet Israel-Ramos.

The town has organized several activities commemorating the historical event, which will be attended by residents from Guiuan, as well as from the islands of Suluan and Homonhon, along with municipal and provincial government officials.

The commemoration activities, also dubbed as Philippine Part in the First Circumnavigation of the World, began on Tuesday (March 12) with the opening of the “Panagtawo” or the Kadiwa ng Pangulo at Guiuan’s Plaza, organized by the municipal government in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry.

On March 16, Dr. Rolando Borrinaga, one of the region’s foremost historians, will conduct a history lecture at the island village of Suluan.

According to Antonio Pigefetta’s chronicle, it was the residents of Suluan who assisted Ferdinand Magellan’s crew when they landed on Homonhon Island after months of crossing the Pacific.

Simultaneously on March 16, commemorative programs will be held at the Suluan Marker in Suluan Island and at the Samar Marker in Calicoan.

Additionally, there will be a groundbreaking ceremony for the circumferential road in Homonhon Island from Barangay Bitaugon down to Casuguran, led by 4Ps party-list representative and House Minority leader Marcelino Libanan.

A dental and medical mission is scheduled from the 16th to the 17th in the villages of Casuguran and Pagbabangnan, all in Homonhon Island.

On the 17th, municipal and provincial government officials will gather at Magellan’s Landing site in Homonhon for a wreath-laying ceremony at the Quincentennial Marker and a commemorative program.

Aside from Rep. Libanan, expected attendees at the commemorative program include Governor Ben Evardone, members of the provincial board, Rep. Fe Abunda, and Guiuan town officials led by Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan.

Guiuan commemorates annually the “humanity” displayed by early residents of Suluan towards foreign guests led by Magellan, who, along with his crew, were seeking a new route to Moluccas for the Spice trade.

On March 16, 1521, they sighted mainland Samar but did not dock due to rough sea conditions. They then encountered the islands of Suluan and Homonhon, where on March 18, they disembarked to search for food and attend to their sick crew.

It was on this day that residents of Suluan met them and promised to provide food, which they did the next day. Magellan’s crew stayed in Homonhon for several days before sailing south to the area of Limasawa, where the first Easter Mass was held.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

GOVERNMENT CENTER, PALO, Leyte – Bike lanes constructed on several major streets in Tacloban City are now open for public use.

This was disclosed by Engr. Edgar Tabacon, the regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

It was learned from Tabacon that the bike lanes in the city, which were put up in coordination with the Department of Transportations, were first established on August 15, 2023, and were completed in December of the same year.

The project was funded in the amount of P18.16 million stretching 9.51 kms covering Tabuan national highway at Barangay 79, Marasbaras, going to the DZR Airport in San Jose, via the Picas-San Jose DZR Airport Road.

These lanes can easily be spotted on the road as they are painted green.

This active transport infrastructure was built for people who engage in physical activity as their means of transport, such as walking, cycling, or using other forms of light mobility for transportation, Tabacon said.

The need and efficiency for this kind of project were first observed during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was a limit on public transportation in observance to social distancing measures.

Additionally, bicycle racks were also put up, especially those near GSIS Tacloban Branch Office in Fatima Village and Leyte Colleges in San Jose Tacloban City, as well as installations of regulatory signs, warning signs, solar studs, and reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings for extra safety that were all covered by the allocated budget in this project.
(JOYLIN MEDINO, STEFTI STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair has brought free government services closer to those who need them.

Launched on February 8, the initiative has benefited over 800 residents in the city by providing essential services ranging from free vaccinations to notary services, and even haircuts.

Free medical consultations, live birth registration, and assistance with other government paperwork are also being offered during the whole-day program.

Conducted by the City Mayor’s Office through the Barangay Affairs Office (BAO) and the Liga ng mga Barangay Tacloban Chapter, the fair aims to bring government services closer to different barangays across the city.

Previously known as the I Love Tacloban Barangayan, over 800 residents have been impacted since the program resumed last month.

Food packs were also distributed, with senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and solo parents given priority.

Officials from various government agencies will be rotating through various areas of Tacloban to promote the accessibility of these services.

The target is to cover all areas of the city before the end of June. Area 3, comprising barangays in Marasbaras and San Jose, has already been visited by government officials.
Four barangayans in total have already been conducted, with 13 more tentatively set for this year. The most recent barangayan was hosted in the Barangay 109 gym in V&G Subdivision, with the Barangay Affairs Office estimating over 300 beneficiaries.

Arlene Ibañez, an administrator for the Liga ng mga Barangay, hopes that those who choose to attend future barangayans will try to avail as many services as possible.

She observed that some residents immediately left after availing food stamps.

The next barangayan is scheduled on March 23 in Barangay 64, Bliss, Sagkahan district. The program is anticipated to benefit thousands of other residents in the months ahead.
(WILBEN SEBASTIAN A. ONG, STEFTI STUDENT INTERN)