For Cebu 2nd District Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa, March 16, which marks the first circumnavigation of the world, and the birth of Christianity in the Philippines is a “fortuitous day” and should be declared a special non-working holiday in the entire country.
He filed House Bill No. 7458 seeking to declare March 16, 2021 a special non-working holiday to commemorate the quincentennial anniversary of the Philippine’s victory against Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan’s conquest and the arrival of Christianity in the country.
“March 16, 1521 marked a remarkable day not only for Cebu, but for the entire nation. On this day, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, leading the Spanish expedition on a search for a westward route to the Maluku Islands, landed on Homonhon Island. His arrival, and the subsequent completion of the team’s expedition, resulted in the ‘discovery’ of the Philippines by other civilisations,” he said in his bill’s explanatory note.
“The same expedition has also resulted in the first Filipinos being baptized into Christianity,” he added.
Under HB 7458, March 16, 2021 is declared a special non-working holiday in the entire country to celebrate the 500th anniversary of of Magellan’s “foray on the Philippine soil and the founding of Christianity in the country.”
The bill provides that proposed Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or at least two newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.
On May 8, 2018, President Duterte issued Executive Order No. 5, which constitutes a steering committee for the commemoration of the Quincentennial of the arrival of Magellan in the Philippines, the victory of Lapu-Lapu in the Battle of Mactan and other historical events that happened from 1519 to 1522.
“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,” the EO No. 5 read.
The Committee, under the EO, shall be funded with an initial budget of P10 billion from the contingent fund and its appropriations for succeeding year shall be incorporated in the budget proposal of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).