"[Last] April 12, 2021 was the 41st anniversary of the inauguration of this monument behind us in honor of the Italian Antonio Pigafetta, the chronicler of the Magellan-Elcano expedition, 500 years ago. That is why we scheduled this simple occasion closer to this date. It is also a monument to Filipino-Italian friendship, as it was donated to the City Government of Cebu by the Philippine-Italian Association. No less than National Artist Abdul Mari Imao sculpted this monument, making it an automatic Important Cultural Property by definition under the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009. More than a month ago, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines sent its team of conservators to conserve the monument. The commission sees the value of the monument to the Filipino people as it is the only memorial we have for an equally significant world figure.
"The NHCP Board of Commissioners saw the need to rewrite the text of the previous historical marker about Pigafetta installed on the pedestal of this monument in 1980. Actually, one of the original functions of the NHCP since its establishment in 1933 is to mark historic sites, events, personages, and structures significant to the Filipino people. Most of our markers honor local personages. Seldom are times we pay homage to a foreigner, thus, this historical marker we just unveiled is a rare one. The Board wanted to highlight in the new historical marker the saysay or value of Pigafetta to a Filipino: and that is the fact that this Italian contributed immensely to our understanding of the world of our ancestors, especially our pre-colonial ancestors from the Visayas, Palawan, and Mindanao.
"Eminent Philippine historian William Henry Scott taught the Filipino how to see themselves in each and every prejudicial foreign account in his method he called “cracks in the parchment curtain.” It only means we should not treat these records at face value but draw from them the essence beneficial in the reconstruction of our early history. But to make it clear, there are Chinese and Portuguese records that describe our pre-colonial ancestors as barbaric and savages, too. But the way he wrote his account of the first circumnavigation of the world, we can conclude that Pigafetta regarded our ancestors with the utmost respect. He described them as fellow human beings, not as inferior because he was a European.
"Jose Rizal, when he began writing Philippine history from the point of view and voice of the Filipino, used Pigafetta in combatting the Western misconceptions and racist remarks about the Filipino. Among these were that our ancestors were barbaric, savages, lazy, and ignorant. In one of his writings in La Solidaridad in 1899, Rizal remarked that “The first thing noticed by Pigafetta, who came with Magellan in 1521, on arriving [in] the Philippines... was the courtesy and kindness of the inhabitants and their commerce.” Pigafetta indeed helped Rizal in teaching us, Filipinos, how history can boost the morale of a people and make us honorable.
"Fellow Filipinos, the National Quincentennial Committee is consistent in echoing to the nation and to the whole world that this 2021, the quincentennial milestones will be commemorated in our own voice and lens. We will not celebrate the coming of the Spaniards nor Magellan nor the Eurocentric thing called 'discovery of the Philippines' nor colonization. We will use these milestones as our platforms to correct the misconceptions about us by the world. We will instead celebrate the world of our ancestors.
"Before he was executed by the Spaniards for trumped-up charges in 1872, Fr. Jose Burgos requested those who visited in his cell in Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila. And I quote, “Get educated... Learn from our older men what they know... See in the museums… what the ancient Filipinos really were. Be a Filipino always but an educated Filipino.”
"On behalf of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Chairperson of the National Quincentennial Committee, may I take this opportunity in expressing my utmost gratitude to the City Government of Cebu, especially to our good father of Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella and to Vice-Mayor Mike Rama for readying the city for the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines. I also extend the same acknowledgment to the Embassy of Italy in the Philippines and the Philippine-Italian Association for joining the Filipino people on this occasion. I would also like to thank the Office of the Presidential Assistant in the Visayas headed by Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino and my fellow NQC member Usec. Anthony Gerard Gonzales for taking over the functions of the NQC in the Visayas while the National Capital Region is under enhanced community quarantine. Special thanks to our food historian and champion of Philippine history and heritage Ms. Felice Prudent Sta. Maria wrote a book about Pigafetta which will be launching later.
"May we all take good care of ourselves as the country needs us more. Daghang salamat ug maayong hapon sa tanan."
-Dr. Rene R. Escalante
Chairperson, National Historical Commission of the Philippines &
Executive Director, National Quincentennial Committee
The message read for the unveiling of the historical marker for Antonio Pigafetta, Plaza Independencia, Cebu City, 13 April 2021
National Historical Commission of the Philippines | Jovan Soriano
. . . . .
Seeing this post? Curious what this is about? This 2021, we will commemorate the Philippine part in the achievement of science and humankind in circumnavigating the planet for the first time. Central in this commemoration is the 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan on 27 April 2021. These and more are collectively known as the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines by virtue of Executive Order No. 103 (2020). Know more about the event here:
About us
[https://nqc.gov.ph/en/about]
Watch our promotional video
[https://youtu.be/ptgU1ZUgFZc]
Listen to Quincentennial Soundtrack
[https://spoti.fi/3cAUIrl]
Watch our lectures [https://portal.nqc.gov.ph/]
Quincentennial activities and materials here [https://bit.ly/3dHrnKF]
#VictoryAndHumanity
#Ph500
*Work from HOME and launch your own Wordpress blog, business or personal website, or online store at
www.dreamhost.com Yes, FREE Wordpress migration from your existing web host.
START your OWN blog site, business or personal website, or e-commerce store at
www.bluehost.com - FREE website transfer..
Latest
Tubag Bohol TopicsLinkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=121067.0
