By Marie Tonette Marticio  TACLOBAN City – The provincial government of Eastern Samar has canceled all activities for the 499th anniversary of the Philippine Part in the First Circumnavigation of the World (Magellan's Landing in Homonhon) on March 17 in Homonhon Island and in Guiuan town proper. Provincial Tourism Officer Neil Pinarok said they were indefinitely postponing the activities based on the directive of President Duterte suspending all big activities due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat. He added that this was also confirmed by the National Historical Council of the Philippines (NHCP) despite their year-long preparation for the launching of the quincentennial anniversary. "We all know that Homonhon is an island and it is not contaminated, so even if a single person enters who is affected by the virus, the people would suffer. We can no longer celebrate the quincentennial anniversary next year," he explained. One of the highlights of the celebration should have been the simultaneous ringing of church bells on March 17 at noon after the praying of the Angelus spearheaded by the Diocese of Borongan. The activity would have signified the formal launch of the diocese’s countdown to the quincentennial of the arrival of the Christian Faith to the Philippines. Bishop Crispin Varquez was also supposed to lead a mass at the St. John the Baptist Parish, in Brgy. Casuguran, Homonhon Island. Earlier, Guiuan town acting mayor Veronica Ramirez also announced the cancellation of their activities, including the lecture series of historian Ambeth Ocampo on Magellan's landing in Homonhon. The provincial government of Eastern Samar has already imposed a transportation curfew, effective March 15, from 12 a.m. until 4 a.m. for all inbound vehicles in Bulusao, Lawaan; San Rafael, Taft; and Catumsan, Arteche as a precautionary measure against the spread of the virus in the province.