500-Day Countdown to the 500th Anniversary of the Victory At Mactan to Kick-Off on December 14

To commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the Victory at Mactan on April 2021, the National Quincentennial Committee (NQC) will launch the 500-Day Countdown in the Philippines on December 14, 2019, with a simultaneous landmark lighting in the cities of Manila, Davao City, and Lapu-Lapu City.

Aside from the landmark lighting, the Lapu-Lapu City will be taking the center stage and leading the other landmarks and 21 different cultural and heritage sites as they host a grand cultural show by 5:00 pm at the Hoops Dome participated by more than 300 performers from all over the country.

“We started planning last September and now it’s just one day before we finally reveal what the creatives have been doing for the public, and of course not just for Lapu-Lapu City but also for the nation and to the world,” said the 500-Day Countdown to 2021 QCP Program creative director Eric Divinagracia during a press conference on December 13, 2019, together with Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan, National Quincentennial Committee (NQC) member Asec. Ramon Cualoping III and NQC Vice-Chair Dr. Rene R. Escalante.

Divinagracia added that director Floy Quintos, behind the opening ceremony of the 2019 SEA Games last November 30, is the playwright of the historical and cultural show of the 500-day countdown to 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines (2021 QCP). 

The title of the production is “Mangayaw: The World of Our Ancestors”. The said show will use video-mapping technology to aid the choreography retelling Philippine history before the Spanish occupation. 

Aside from retelling early Philippine history, the Lapu-Lapu City show is also unique, for it is the biggest gathering of various performing groups across the Visayas.

Meanwhile, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chairperson and NQC Vice-Chairperson Rene R. Escalante said that during the stakeholders’ meeting in San Fernando, Pampanga last October 15, 2019,  they have discussed the first value that the Filipinos should promote is magnanimity. 

“We will have activities and we will come up with some monuments that will promote the magnanimity of the Filipinos. The event that we will focus on in order to promote magnanimity is the first encounter of the people of Homonhon with the members of the expedition. We will highlight the fact that when the Spaniards arrived in Homonhon, the people greeted them. They offered the visitors food, shelter and all other amenities that they had during this time,” said Escalante.

The committee opted for a countdown to raise awareness and emphasize of the Filipino ancestors’ roles and how they saved the almost dying crew during the first circumnavigation of the world; as the Filipinos advocate for a more Filipino-centric point of view, putting a spotlight on the Filipino ancestors’ magnanimity and humanity during the expedition.

“The second value is sovereignty. We will show to the world and to our countrymen that we Filipinos we have freedom, we love independence. We are magnanimous to foreigners but if they will colonize us or intervene in our domestic affairs, we will assert our sovereignty,” Escalante added.

The 500th anniversary of Lapu-Lapu’s victory against foreign influence during the Battle of Mactan, the main event, served as an inspiration to our leaders, heroes, martyrs, and succeeding generations that led to the formation of who we are today – the Filipino nation.

“The Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines remains true to the vision of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, to highlight the heroism of Filipinos through the centuries. This is evident in the victory of Lapu-Lapu and his men. 

May this event be one of the most celebrated moments in our nation’s history, inspiring the future generations to love our country above other interests”, said Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping III.

With these great milestones, the NQC aims to take full advantage of various disciplines and media to showcase the unity, magnanimity, sovereignty, and identity of the Filipino nation through an upbeat, diverse, engaging, and meaningful Quincentennial Commemoration in the Philippines.