500-Day Countdown to 500th Anniversary of the Victory at Mactan Commemoration is Tribute to Native Ancestors

Photos by Vince Carusca

The countdown to the country’s 1521 victory celebrates with the theme “MANGAYAW: Handog sa mga Ninuno” with several features such as simultaneous historic landmark lighting nationwide, concurrent programs in Manila and Davao City and a multimedia historical and cultural show in Hoopsdome, Lapu-Lapu City Cebu.

Prior to the main event, esteemed historian Professor Xiao Chua was interviewed live by the Presidential Communications as he recount a brief outline of native Philippine history and the importance of the quincentennial commemoration to the Filipinos.

The program officially started with the singing of the National Anthem led by choirs from different parts of the country and the Cebu Philharmonic Orchestra.

Albert Dioso, a Grade 12 student of Ramon Torres Sagasa National High School in Negros Occidental moved the audience with his spoken word poetry entitled “Handog sa mga Ninuno” as he poetically incorporated the snippets of the revolution and the sacrifices of the heroes particularly Lapu-Lapu. His poem also delivers the theme of appreciation for history and the reminder of the price of the freedom that Filipino people are enjoying today.

It was then followed by the portrayal and introduction of the 21 heritage sites all over the Philippines which was heightened up by the 3D virtual mapping. Blue lines sweep virtually on the court, marking up some parts in the court where a dancer would perform a short creative dance presentation on his respective landmark. The audience was blown away as blue lines started to form a virtual Philippine map with yellow points signifying the said heritage sites.

The theme song for the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines entitled Bagani was also introduced and was given a powerful rendition by the  Cebu ‘s World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA)  medalists: Vingenr Tan, Ronna Jenn Lofranco-Canete, John Willace Tubalde, and Erneville Vinculado together with Mandaue Children and Youth Chorus  and  the  Philharmonic Orchestra.

In behalf of the Luzon Island, Manila City Administrator Flexiberto Espiritu delivered Manila Mayor Francisco Moreno Domagoso’s speech in behalf of the mayor’s absence via live feed. Likewise, Davao Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte delivered his address as the representative of the Mindanao region on screen. In person, Lapu-Lapu Mayor Junard Chan became the voice of the Visayas region.

“ We, the people of Lapu-Lapu are honoured, to host and play a major part of a once in a lifetime celebration, the 2021 Quincentennial commemoration in the Philippines,” said Mayor Chan

The three respected officials marvelled at the upcoming celebration and highlighted some points of Philippine and circumnavigation history as the context for the event. They encouraged everyone to look forward and join the commemoration as everyone would remember the remarkable account that brought Christianity in this country and the significance of one of the earliest heroic acts for our freedom as Filipinos.

In behalf of the absence of President Rodrigo Duterte in the countdown, the final quincentennial address was delivered by the Department of Tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. Like the aforementioned speakers, she recounts historical facts that led to one of the greatest development of the Philippine history. She recalled the President’s executive order regarding the beloved hero and laid down the activities set for the night. She also emphasized how a lot of information has been known about Magellan but too little details in contrast with the people’s knowledge about Lapu-Lapu.

“I think we can agree that this indigenous tribal leader deserves a place in our history,” Romulo-Puyat remarked.

Other esteemed personalities present in the occasion were National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chair Dr. Rene R. Escalante and Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping III  among others.

After the inspiring addresses, the main highlight of the countdown which was the cultural show commenced and showcased the main theme Mangayaw: Handog sa mga Ninuno  through creative dances, soulful songs and impressive stage sets and props.

The cultural show has 260 performers belonging to 25 cultural groups from Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Ilo-ilo, Capiz, Leyte and Antique. The cultural play was staged on the dome’s 50-meter by 100-meter centercourt, while guests and spectators on the bleachers watched.  A  3D projection mapping was flashed on the floor, that served as their backdrop, courtesy of the National Quincentennial committee. Projection  mapping uses technology to project objects onto a surface. So audience see performers dance on grass, roll on sand, and sail through waves.

The show follows four students who teamed up for a research with Lapu-Lapu and the world of the ancestors before the colonization of the foreigners as the subject. Waray, Bisaya, Ilonggo and Filipino has been utilized by the students in their dialogues respectively to prove that the event was not limited to the Cebuanos alone but to every citizen that enjoys the present day freedom in the Philippines.

The production has been orchestrated in a way that people could enjoy the crafts of the artists and at the same time, plunge deeper into the history that was not really known to everyone particularly the adults who have been way past their history lessons in their elementary years. Some of the notable acts include a elder’s soulful tale of a blue bird searching for a land with a man performing similar to a dragon dance while holding a pole with a giant blue bird on top, natives portraying the traditional way of living such as fishing, hunting, farming and harvesting, introduction of the social classes in the native society, the barter with neighboring countries in Asia, the rifts of the two tribes that led to the famous blood compact, the interpretative dance of the arts such as weaving, writing, literature, houses, music, gold, blacksmithing, boatcraft, beliefs, statues, foreign influence and pottery, the acknowledgement of the spirit and power in almost everything that surrounds the natives, the rituals for the sick, and the journey of the dead in accordance to their tradition.

The play concluded with the babaylan or the native priestess’ prophecy of a coming tragedy that will bring change and destruction which most likely refers to the Spanish arrival. She calls everyone to not allow such thing to happen and everyone from all classes and tribes should band together in such cause. Everyone united in the final dance number under the leadership of Lapu-Lapu who finally shouted “Andam!,” leaving the natives in a fighting stance as they prepare for the ones yet to come.

The beautiful score of the play was made possible by the Cebu Philharmonic Orchestra, Regla Percussionista, National Commission for Filipinos, Mandaue Youth and Children Chorus, Loboc Children Choir of Bohol, Troubadours of Iloilo, and from Palo, Leyte.

After the Mangayaw performers performed their final encore in the centerstage, the audience went out to enjoy the outdoor fireworks in the starry sky. This finally concludes the 500-Day Countdown Celebration for the night and opens the way to the approaching commemoration of the grand 2021 festivity.