Eastern Samar observes
Magellan landing at Homonhon
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
March
14, 2008
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– The entire
province of
Eastern Samar
will celebrate the Magellan Landing at
Homonhon Island
in the municipality of Guiuan on March 16, 2008 with a mass, a
re-enactment and program, Guiuan Mayor Analiza Kwan disclosed.
Mayor Kwan said that
the commemorative program will be held at the Landing site with all
the 8 barangays in
Homonhon Island
and 1 barangay of Suluan participating. A Barrio Fiesta will follow,
Mayor Kwan said.
The observance of the
anniversary of Magellan Landing started Thursday, March 13, Mayor Kwan
said, with the opening of Exhibits at the
Guiuan
Plaza.
The exhibit is an array of the best products of Guiuan and the various
municipalities of Eastern Samar.
On March 15, a Medical
and Dental Mission will be conducted at Homonhon, Mayor Kwan quipped.
Other activities are the Search for Miss Homonhon and other cultural
activities.
Finally, on March 16,
the activities will start with the offering of the Holy Mass and will
be followed by a re-enactment of Magellan Landing and the
commemorative program.
Eastern Samar had been
a significant backdrop of the country’s rich colonial history through
the island of Homonhon, where Ferdinand Magellan first set foot on
Philippine soil in 1521 on his way to conquer the Philippines for the
western world.
In his account,
Pigafetta, the chronicler aboard Magellan’s ship, describes the island
of Humumu, now Homonhon, as so: "We found two fountains of very clear
water, we called it the `Waters of Good Signs,’ having found the first
sign of gold in the said island. There also can be found much white
coral and tall trees that bear fruits smaller than an almond and look
like pines. There were also many palm trees, some of the good kind,
some of the bad. Thereabouts are many neighboring islands. Hence, we
called them the St. Lazarus Archipelago because we stayed there on the
day and feast of St. Lazarus."
