Photo courtesy of Bataraza Public Information

Feature

Bataraza unveils Magellan-Elcano marker

By Angelene Low

November 09, 2021

The Municipality of Bataraza unveils today, November 9, a historical marker in the Magellan-Elcano expedition, the First Circumnavigation of the World.

According to history, the southern most tip of the Province of Palawan was part of the route in the Magellan-Elcano Expedition.

The expedition was said to have headed north after a few months, July up to September 1521, in Brunei and has reached the Southern tip of Palawan currently known as Buliluyan in Bataraza.

The leader of the island province, Tuan Mahamud, was captured and was traded for food on September 30, 1521.

On October 1, 1521, Mahamud was released and made an agreement with the voyagers to treat each other as friends. He then provided them with necessary goods for their travel and in return was given various ingredients from Europe and gave back their weapons.

The expedition then continued and travelled to Sulu to search more information about Maluku (now known as Indonesia), an island well-known for its spices.

The historical marker is part of the 500th anniversary celebration of the First Circumnavigation of the World and will serve as a reminder of the historical significance of Bataraza.