Homonhon Folks Remember 498th Magellan Landing

Islanders of Homonhon, (Guiuan, Eastern Samar) where Magellan landed centuries ago, remembered Magellan in a simple celebration on March 16.

Some islanders from the eight Homonhon barangays and nearby Suluan gathered at Sitio Cantilado to hear a mass celebrated by Fr. Christian Ofilan and witness the commemorative program that followed.

Homonhon National High School students then staged the reenactment of the time Ferdinand Magellan and his men first set foot in the Philippines in this 20 kilometer-long island.

Magellan was the Portuguese explorer hailed as the discoverer of the Philippines on March 16, 1521.

Every year, Guiuan folks especially those at the local government and the provincial government of Eastern Samar would prepare a commemorative program to mark that day in history.

Residents from the mainland would sail for two to three hours, mostly in rough seas to reach the historic site to commune with Homonhon folks for the annual celebration.

During the program held at Cantilado, Homonhon, Governor Marcelo Ferdinand Picardal told the revelers that his administration will enhance its tourism program to include historical Homonhon.

“Your provincial government is committed to support tourism as it is part of my administration’s Proyekto 25,” Picardal told the more than 500 islanders gathered.

Picardal’s Proyekto 25, a program to reduce poverty from 46 percent to 25 percent during his term, includes tourism and good governance.

He added that he has allocated funds to repair the provincial roads around the eight barangays in the island.

Picardal also announced that the Borongan Airport will be receiving flights from Clark, Pampanga in April 2019, that the flights from Cebu and Clark will be bringing in tourists for Eastern Samar’ s historical places like Homonhon, Suluan, Guiuan and Balangiga.

He also distributed desktops, grasscutters, infant weighing scales and solar panels to the eight barangays and Suluan.

Suluan another smaller island near Homonhon also figures in Philippine history as it played a vital role during the World War 11.

It is said that the US forces’ strategy, led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur started their successful campaign against Japanese forces in October, 1944 in Suluan Island and in Guiuan town.

The event ushered Leyte Landing.

The Borongan Diocese is also looking forward to the 500th Magellan Landing, as the event also ushered Catholicism in the country with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores. (NBQ/PIA-8, E. Samar)