Mutual contact of two cultures happened, not a discovery, says NHCP chairperson

Published on: April 02, 2023

By Vee Tolentino-Gumban

BORONGAN CITY (PIA) -- "We were not discovered by Magellan, rather, it was a mutual contact between two peoples and cultures."

This was emphasized by Dr. Emmanuel Calairo, chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), in his speech during a wreath-laying ceremony in celebration of the 502nd Anniversary of the Philippine-Spanish Contact and the Humanity in Homonhon held at Cantelado, Brgy. Pagbabangnan, Homonhon Island on March 18.

Calairo said that our ancestors showed the world a Filipino culture of compassion and magnanimity by saving the crew of Magellan from hunger, thirst, undernourishment, and hopelessness 502nd years ago on March 16, 1521, in Sulu-an Island.

He further revealed that the people of Homonhon did not attack nor harass Magellan but instead offered food and drinks upon knowing the condition of Magellan and his crew on March 18, 1521, and their cordiality extended for the next seven days until the Magellan-El Cano expedition continued its journey to Moluccas, or the present day Indonesia.

"We need to highlight our own selves whenever we reminisce or study our shared past ... gone are the days when our ancestors were portrayed as barbaric, uncivilized, and exotic," he added, saying that we should reset our mindset that we are discovered by the Spaniards and that what happened was a story of Spain in the country but a story of kindness and humanity of our ancestors.

The wreath-laying was the third and the last in a series of wreath-laying ceremonies in the municipality of Guiuan. The first was held on March 16 in Ngolos, Guiuan; the second was on March 17 in Sulu-an, where the first sighting of the Philippines by Magellan happened 502 years ago; and finally Magellan’s landing on March 18 on Homonhon Island.

Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone and Calairo were the guests of honor at the ceremony.

Also present were BGen. Lenart Lelina of the Philippine Army, Vice Governor Maricar Sison-Goteesan, Board Members Pol Gonzales and Evet Bandoy Gaylon, Provincial Administrator Nelson Cortez, national agencies and the prov'l government department heads, LGU Guiuan led by Mayor Annaliz Kwan, Vice Mayor Veronica Ramirez, Kinna Kwan, Sangguniang Bayan members, barangay chairpersons of the eight island barangays and their constituents. (MMP/VTG/PIA E. Samar)