THREE years before the quincentennial celebration of Lapu-Lapu's victory against Spanish colonial rule, President Rodrigo Duterte has formed a steering committee tasked to organize commemorative activities intended to strengthen the Filipino people's patriotism and reverence for the country's heroes.
Duterte's Executive Order 55 created the National Quincentennial Committee, which will prepare a comprehensive plan for the quincentennial commemoration of the arrival of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the Philippines, the victory of Lapu-Lapu in the Battle of Mactan, and other historic events from 1519 to 1522.
To recall, tribal men led by Lapu-Lapu fought and won against Spanish invaders led by Magellan on April 27, 1521.
The comprehensive plan for the 500th anniversary celebration of Magellan's arrival, Lapu-Lapu's victory, the celebration of the first mass in the Philippines, among others, must be submitted to Duterte within six months.
The committee will be chaired by an appointee of Duterte and vice chaired by the National Historical Commission of the Philipines (NHCP).
Other members include the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism, Department of Budget and Management, and other members from the government and the private sector as may be designated by the President.
Under EO 55 inked last May 8, the National Quincentennial Committee was directed to conduct a study, conceptualization and implementation of programs and project relevant to the quincentennial commemoration of the historic events in the country.
"There is a need to systematically organize, coordinate and synchronize the commemoration of the quincentennial of the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in the Philippines and other historic events that happened from 1519 to 1522 in different localities and in other countries where Magellan's voyage made landfall," the EO read.
"The staging of commemorative activities in the Philippines for the quincentennial celebration will promote tourism and highlight our rich cultural and religious heritage as a nation," it added.
The panel was also mandated to act as the principal coordinator for all commemorative activities and the clearing house for information dissemination.
It was also instructed to prioritize the refurbishment of historical sites and structures associated with the quincentennial.
The committee was given an initial budget of P10 million that be drawn from the Contingency Fund. Appropriations for succeeding years will be taken from the NHCP.
The National Quincentennial Committee will be an ad hoc body and its existence will be terminated in September 2022. (VoxPop Philippines)
