2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines

The 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines (2021 QCP) is a series of observances organized to mark the 500th anniversary of various events in the Philippines, notably the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines, the role of the country in the Magellan–Elcano circumnavigation, and the victory of Lapu-Lapu in the Battle of Mactan.

2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines
Date2021
LocationPhilippines
TypeSeries of commemorations
Theme"Victory and Humanity"
Organized byNational Quincentennial Committee
Websitenqc.gov.ph

Background
Mactan Shrine in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

The Philippine national government aims to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Filipinos' first contact with the Spanish in 1521 from a Filipino-centric point of view in 2021. The National Quincentennial Committee (NQC) was formed for this purpose in May 2018, when President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order (EO) No. 55.[1]President Duterte issued EO 103 on January 28, 2019 formalizing the intent for the commemorations to be "Filipino-centric" and expanded the membership and scope of the NQC.[2]

The 2021 QCP is meant to commemorate three main events.[1] The NQC has also released official names for the quincentennial for the three events.[3]

  • 500th anniversary of the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines – Due to the arrival of the Spanish marking the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines, which became the dominant religion in the country.
  • 500th anniversary of the Philippine part in the first circumnavigation of the world – Commemorates the stopover of the Magellan–Elcano circumnavigation in the Philippines. The NQC specifically advises against naming the event as the "arrival of Magellan" in the Philippines or the Western characterization of the event as the "discovery" of the Philippines.
  • 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan – Which commemorates the victory of Lapu-Lapu in the Philippines in the Battle of Mactan. While the NQC recognizes that Lapu-Lapu and his cotemporaries were not technically Filipinos, its position is that they are still worthy of recognition since modern-day Filipinos are their descendants. The NQC commemorates their "ideals, their sacrifices, their struggles" and holds them as a sources of inspirations.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has involvement in events related to the quincentennial related to the Christianity in the Philippines.[4] Bishop Pablo Virgilio David representing the CBCP, reject the notion that celebrating the 500th anniversary of the introduction of the Philippines as also celebrating the Spanish colonization of the islands citing continued prevalence of the religion long after colinization and asserts that Filipino ancestors were "intelligent enough" to accept what is good and reject what is evil among the introductions made by the Spanish in the Philippines.[5]

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 QCP will still be held albeit modified to comply with protocols imposed in response to the health crisis.[6] Although about 50 projects related to the quincentennial were either canceled or indefinitely postponed.[7]

Marketing

The logo for the 2021 QCP was adopted on August 14, 2019. The theme for the event is "Victory and Humanity". A brand manual has been released which tackles branding guidelines for the event which is intended to serve as a reference for participating local government units.[8] In official communications in relation to the event, the NQC refers to Lapu-Lapu as "Lapulapu" without the hyphen, which is the preferred spelling for the native leader by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. The main basis for the spelling choice was Antonio Pigafetta's chronicle of the Magellan-Elcano circumnavigation which referred to the Mactan leader as "Cilapulapu" where "Ci" is believed to be the local honorific "Si" derived from the Indic honorific "Sri".[9]

Events

Introduction of Christianity
Artistic depiciton of the Mass at Limasawa by Botong Francisco.

The commemoration of the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines was suppose to culminate in April 2021 but was changed to be the kickoff month of the observances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result some events will be held in 2022.[10]

  • September 26, 2020 – Social media launch of the 500 Years of Christianity (YOC) event.[10]
  • January 5, 2021 – A temporary artwork made from solar-powered light bulbs will be installed encompassing the Agrifina Circle and Relief Map at the Rizal Park. The artwork made under the non-profit Liter of Light is in a form of a rosary and the bulbs will be donated after the event.[11]
  • April 14, 2021 – Commemoration of the first Christian baptisms in the Philippines. Rajah Humabon and 50 others agreed to get baptized 500 years ago. A re-enactment of the event will see 500 people with special needs get baptized.[4]
  • April 17, 2021 – Commemoration of the first Easter Sunday mass in the Philippines. The date itself also falls on a Easter Sunday, will also mark the official kickoff of the 500 Years of Christianity (YOC) event.[10]
  • April 2025 – International Mission Congress (IMC) and the 2nd National Mission Congress will be held which was postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

First circumnavigation and Victory at Mactan
  • January 17, 2021 – The Philippine flag at the Mactan Shrine will be permanently hoisted starting from this date becoming one of the few sites in the country required to do so. The date also marks the 100-day countdown for the 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan to be held on April 27, 2021.[12]
  • April 27, 2021

Canceled
  • August 4–6, 2021 – National Retreat for the Clergy.[10]

Competitions

Art competition

The Quincentennial Art Competition was launched in July 2020. The competition was made open to Philippine-based Filipino citizens of at least 18-years of age. The competition had four categories with separate themes. A grand winner and two winners of minor awards will be conferred for each of the four themes.[16]

Themes
  • Sovereignty – Commemoration of the Victory of Mactan
  • Magnanimity – Depiction of the compassion of Filipino ancestors to members of the Magellan–Elcano expedition
  • Unity – Blood compact between the rajah of Mazaua and Ferdinand Magellan
  • Legacy – First Baptism, Presentation of the Santo Niño in Cebu.

Monument competition

The Lapulapu Monument Design Competition was launched by the NHCP on September 14, 2020 to determine the design of a Lapu-Lapu monument to be erected as the centerpiece of the Lapu-Lapu Memorial Shrine and Museum.[17][18][19] The shrine and museum structure itself will be built along the shore of the Mactan Shrine and the monument itself will be distinct from the existing bronze statue of Lapu-Lapu.[20]

Official sites
Resources

References
  1. Medenilla, Samuel P. (December 21, 2018). "National Quincentennial Committee announces plan to celebrate 500th anniversary of Magellan's expedition to PHL". BusinessMirror. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  2. Parrocha, Azer (February 6, 2020). "Duterte calls for 'Filipino-centric' view on PH quincentennial". Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  3. "The National Quincentennial Committee". Facebook. National Quincentennial Committee. November 2, 2018. Archived from the original on January 10, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  4. Semilla, Nestle (November 13, 2019). "CBCP: Preparations for 500th year of PH Christianization underway". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  5. David, Pablo Virgilio (September 24, 2019). "Why celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines? Was not Christianity a mere tool for colonial rule?". 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  6. Salaverria, Leila B. (January 10, 2021). "Battle of Mactan rites to push through despite pandemic". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  7. "NQC to artists: Join Quincentennial art, design competitions". Cebu Daily News. November 28, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  8. Saavedra, John Rey (December 14, 2019). "PCOO releases PH quincentennial brand manual". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  9. "NQC: Lapulapu (without the hyphen) is Mactan ruler's name". Cebu Daily News. November 14, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  10. "CBCP releases new schedule for quincentennial celebration". SunStar. September 26, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  11. Agoncillo, Jodee (January 4, 2021). "500 years of Christianity in PH: Rosary made of 3,000 solar-powered lights to take center stage". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  12. Inso, Futch Anthony (January 2, 2021). "Philippine flag to be displayed 24/7 at Mactan's Liberty Shrine starting Jan. 17". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  13. Eusebio, Aaron Brennt (January 5, 2021). "Here's why 2021 is a special year for the Philippines". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  14. Grana, Rhia (January 12, 2020). "25 years after shutdown, the Metropolitan Theater is reopening—here's what we can expect". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  15. "Metropolitan Theater set to open in April as part of quincentennial celebration". GMA News. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  16. "NQC launches art tilt". Sunstar. July 12, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  17. Abuan, Alehia (September 14, 2020). "NQC launches Lapulapu National Monument Design Competition". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  18. Erram, Morexette Marie (July 23, 2020). "Historians unveil Lapulapu Shrine and Museum project". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  19. Limos, Mario Alvaro (December 8, 2020). "The Lapulapu Monument Design Competition Has a P300,000 Cash Prize". Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  20. Dumaboc, Fe Marie (November 15, 2019). "Structures obstructing Lapu-Lapu Shrine to be demolished". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
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