Homonhon set for quincentenary of Magellan’s landing

MARKER The site where Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan was believed to have first set foot on Homonhon Island on March 16, 1521, is an important historical landmark on the island. —PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL QUIAMBAO

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Philippines — For the first time, all eight villages on Homonhom Island have been working together to ensure the success of the celebration to commemorate the time when Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan first set up on the island 500 years ago, on March 16, 1521.

“The people of Homonhon are so excited since this is the first time that all the eight barangays are working together in cooperation with the national, provincial, and local government for the success of this very historic event for our country and for our faith,” said Fr. Christian Ofilan, parish priest of St. John the Baptist church in Barangay Casuguran on the island.

Magellan and his crew dropped anchor off the uninhabited Homonhon Island, then known as Humumu, on March 16, 1521, where they stayed for eight days before proceeding with their journey to what is now known as Philippines.

The activities set on the island on Tuesday included the unveiling of the National Quincentennial Historical Marker at the Magellan Landing site, which forms part of the 500th Year of Christianity in the Philippines celebrations.

President Duterte was expected to lead the unveiling of the marker and the switch-on ceremony of the island’s electricity but he might just stay in Guiuan town proper due to health protocols and security reasons. Homonhon is part of Guiuan in the province of Eastern Samar.