In support to the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the world’s first circumnavigation, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-7 graced another unveiling ceremony of a historical marker in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
Members of the National Quincentennial Commemorations (NQC) Committee together with the national government, Dumaguete City LGU, the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental and DILG-7 mounted the Panilongon Historical Marker in Rizal Boulevard, which is the 17th of the 34 markers in the country that tagged as areas covered in the Magellan-Elcano expedition route, last May 4.
Spearheading the activity were Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, along with National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Commissioner Dr. Earl Jude Cleope, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Atty. Marvin Gatpayat, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director-General Undersecretary Ramon Cualoping III, DILG-7 Regional Director Leocadio Trovela and Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.
Other officials present during the unveiling rite were Atty. Lessandro Maraon of the Office of the Presidential Assitant for the Visayas, Philippine National Police Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in the Visayas PBGen. Herminio Tadeo Jr., and Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo.
The historical marker in Dumaguete City has a unique design as it stands between a replica of a tip and rear of a galleon ship used by explorer Ferdinand Magellan in his quest for Moluccas of Spice Islands which eventually led him to the Philippines.
With its design and perfect location, Secretary Nograles believes that the marker will become one of the tourist attractions in the city once tourism industry operation goes full swing.
“It is in solidarity with the international project of tracing the route of the unprecedented achievement of humanity and science which proved that the world is indeed round and not flat. One of this we now have and celebrate here in our midst. Now we will have this historical landmark added to the many reasons why everyone should get to visit and discover Dumaguete in the new normal,” he added.
Mayor Remollo, for his part, underscored that the marker was a total community effort as different groups in the city worked together to bring the project to fruition.
“To all of you, we dedicate this historic landmark. Without the 17th marker, the expedition of Ferdinand Magellan and Sebastian Elcano would not been complete. Each marker is important singularly and as a whole,” Remollo said in his speech.
A total of 34 historical markers were installed in key places in the Visayas, Palawan and Mindanao. The unveiling of all these markers is penciled to be completed by October this year.
DILG-7 also graced the unveiling of historical markers in Camotes Island, and other activities related to the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in Lapu-Lapu City and Cebu City.