DUMAGUETE CITY, May 5 (PIA) -- Another historical marker commemorating the Philippines’ contribution to the first circumnavigation of the world which took place 500 years ago was unveiled yesterday in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles together with National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Commissioner Dr. Earl Jude Cleope, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Usec. Atty. Marvin Gatpayat, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director-General Usec. Ramon Cualoping III, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-7) Regional Director Leocadio Trovela, and Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo unveiled the Panilongon Historical Marker at Rizal Boulevard.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles delivers his keynote speech during the unveiling of the Panilongon Historical Marker held May 4, 2021 at Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete City. (KAT/PIA7-NegOr)
Other officials who joined the unveiling were Atty. Lessandro Maraon of the Office of the Presidential Assitant for the Visayas, Philippine National Police Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in the Visayas PBGen. Herminio Tadeo Jr., and Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.
This is the 17th marker unveiled by the government led by the National Quincentennial Commemorations (NQC) Committee in areas that are included in the Magellan-Elcano expedition route.
A total of 34 historical markers were installed in key places in the Visayas, Palawan, and Mindanao.
The unveiling of these markers will be completed in October.
The Panilongon Historical Marker in the Rizal Boulevard consists of a pedestal and a globe motif on top.
One side of the pedestal features engraved text that explain the contribution of the place in this historic feat 500 years ago.
The other side contains a relief statue depicting a select moment in the Magellan voyage.
The historical marker also stands between a replica of a tip and rear of a galleon ship which was used by explorer Ferdinand Magellan in his quest for Moluccas of Spice Islands which eventually led him to the Philippines.
A post from the NQC’s official Facebook page explained that after the defeat of Magellan in Mactan, the surviving crew of the fleet continued to sail towards the south and passed by an island near Cebu and Bohol which they called “Panilongon.”
The NQC added that Magellan’s chronicler Antonio Pigafetta and pilot Francisco Alba were certain that “Panilongon” was located across the southernmost cape of Cebu.
The palce is now called the municipality of Santander, while the island opposite it is Negros Island.
The people in Panilongon were described to have a complexion similar to the people of Ethiopia.
The NQC further said that “the context clues left to us by Pigafetta and Albo prompted the NCHP to choose Negros as the approximate Panilongon from 500 years ago. On why Dumaguete, it is because it is the capital City of the side of the island that was historically relevant to the Magellan-Elcano Expedition.”
Nograles, who was the keynote speaker of the event, congratulated the City Government of Dumaguete for its contribution to this breakthrough achievement in the field of science and humanity.
“These markers depict the events of the expedition from our point of view as Filipino. More importantly, kining maong marker mas ma-enhance pa ug maayo tungod sa Dumaguete’s own interpretation (this marker is enhanced with Dumaguete’s own interpretation),” Nograles said.
“It is in solidarity with the international project of tracing the route of the unprecedented achievement of humanity and science which proved that the world is indeed round and not flat. One of this we now have and celebrate here in our midst. Now we will have this historical landmark added to the many reasons why everyone should get to visit and discover Dumaguete in the new normal,” he added.
Cleope, on the other hand, noted that the choice of spot of the marker is logical since it highlights the connection of early Filipinos to the sea.
“The choice of the spot is quite logical. Our ancestors were seafaring people. Our identity, our world view are partly based on the seas. Our history with the circumnavigation of the planet is proof that water and the seas connect us Filipinos to our rich, distant world of our ancestors. We have always been part of the world because of the seas surrounding us,” Cleope said.
Meanwhile, Cualoping believes the landmark will also help deepen the public’s appreciation and understanding of history.
“Ang purpose man gud sa historical marker (is) for the future generations adtuan ang marker, mabasa nila unsa ang nakasulat, makasabot sila sa unsa nahitabo sa una. Kani interpretation nice kaayo. Moanhi ang tawo dire (The purpose of the historical markers is to help future generations understand what happened before. People can come here and read the texts. Your interpretation is very nice. People would definitely come here)," Cualoping told members of the media in an interview after the event.
Meanwhile, Remollo dedicated the historic landmark to Dumagueteños and NegOrenses because different groups in the city collaborated in erecting the said structure.
“To all of you, we dedicate this historic landmark. Without the 17th marker, the expedition of Ferdinand Magellan and Sebastian Elcano would not been complete. Each marker is important singularly and as a whole,” Remollo emphasized in his speech.
Another highlight of the program was the signing of the certificate of transfer signifying the formal turnover of the historical marker from the NHCP to the City Government of Dumaguete.
Cleope and Remollo signed the document in behalf of NHCP and the city government, respectively.
The signing was witnessed by the governor and and City Legal Officer Atty. Manuel Arbon. (ral/PIA7-NegOr)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
0 Comments