The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) recognize four sites in Palawan as historical landmarks in relation to the route of Ferdinand Magellan galleon ship after the Battle of Mactan in 1521.
The NHCP Board of Commissioners headed by Chairman Dr. Rene Escalante approved this historical recognition last July 15 while the Department of Interior and Local Government is in charge of coordinating with the Provincial Government of Palawan in scheduling the placing of the markers, targeted before 2020 ends.
The four black metal with coat and arms of the republic historical markers will be placed in Sitio Tagusao in Brgy. Barong-Barong in the municipality of Brookes Point; Buliluyan port in Bataraza; in Balabac, while the location of the fourth marker has yet to be decided. Placing it in Aborlan is seen as a possibility.
According to Ian Christopher Alfonso, Senior History Researcher of NHCP, the said historical event is based on the 2019 paper submitted by Prof. Michael Doblado, head of Palawan Studies Center from Palawan State University, as committed to them through local historical committee network for National Quincentennial Committee.
“Next year kasi ay 500 anniversary ng Philippine’s part on the first circumnavigation of the world, ito ‘yong Magellan expedition, instead of celebrating Magellan, we are celebrating with the world, with humanity, his achievement in circumnavigating the planet for the first time, so achievement of human kind and science yung ating sini-celebrate, not Magellan. Ang Palawan po ay may malaking parte doon sa Philippines itinerary ng circumnavigation in 1521,” Alfonso said during the exclusive interview with Palawan Daily.
In the research paper submitted by the Palawan Studies Center, Alfonso pointed out many important events occurred in Palawan during those times, such as the account coming from an Asian Portuguese stating that the remaining crew of Magellan met in Tagusao that helped them ask approval from a Sultan ruler to allow them to trade. There is a blood compact or “sanduguan” happened as well, and the chronicles about “Sabong” or cockfighting that was considered the first data in Philippine history.
“Nagkataon kasi na after the battle of Mactan di na natin alam ano nangyari, sa’n na napunta ang remaining crew ni Magellan, ano na nangyari sa kanila, basta nabalitaan na lang natin nakauwi sila ng Spain at naikot ang mundo for the first time, with these effort of tracing the itinerary of first circumnavigation of the world in the Philippines, na babalikan natin ano ba nangyari after, so andaming kuwento na dapat nating malaman,” Alfonso explain.
For historians, the said development is not new as per Alfonso, it could be we overlook the image of Magellan as a colonizer but this is an important information everyone should know since it gives a good impression that can be used for tourism promotion, too.
“Yung pagdating ng natitirang crew ni Magellan, gutom na gutom na sila, kaya ang description sa Palawan ay the promise land, kasi nga parang kulang na lang abandonahin nila mga barko nila sa sobrang gutom, yung generosity and compassion ng mga taga Palawan lumitaw, anti-climactic kasi sa Mactan pinagpapatay sila kasi nga siguro di nila nabalitaan sa Palawan yung nangyari sa Mactan, so yung kagandahang loob ng mga ninuno natin sa Palawan ay nai-display, ito yung magagandang bagay na dapat natin malaman, doon makikita natin na andami na palang activity sa Palawan,” Alfonso added.
The placing of markers in the mentioned sites according to Alfonso is part of the bigger plan, as the country lobby to declare the said route of Magellan voyage as UNESCO heritage site, Spain and Portugal are already campaigning for it.
“Mayroon kasing effort ngayon sa UNESCO na i-candidate yung ruta ng navigation of the world as World Heritage site, so malaking bagay ‘to sa Pilipinas na ma-inscribe, na masama tayo sa pag-iinscribe ng world heritage site, so lumalabas na aside from Tubbataha and Underground River meron na kayong possible UNESCO world heritage site sa apat na lugar na to sa Palawan, ‘yan ay kung maaprubahan ng UNESCO,” Alfonso said in closing.
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