PH Commemorates 500 years circumnavigation of the world

 By:  Jocelyn P. Alvarez

ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Oct. 21 (PIA) - October 20 marks the opening salvo of what is recognized as the biggest, most attended and longest virtual convention in the history of the Philippines- the Philippine International Quincentennial Conference (PIQC) which runs from Oct. 20 to Dec. 17, 2021.

 

The convention which is expected to gather a total of more than 39 thousand zoom participants for all of its sessions, is the highlight of the country’s commemoration of the 500th  year anniversary of circumnavigation of the world .

 

Spearheaded by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the activity is an official project in line with the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines, in solidarity with the Year of Filipino Pre-Colonial Ancestors and the Philippine International Quincentennial Conference.

 

The conference is in collaboration of more than 15 different institutions with the goal of highlighting and expanding the knowledge of the Filipinos about the events of the Philippine part in the first circumnavigation of the world, the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines, and the Victory at the Battle of Mactan. 

 

Around 100 Filipinos and foreign scholars, diplomats, officials, artists, and scientists will deliver their insights and researches in 13 different Conference Sessions encapsulating the theme “Situating the Filipino and the Philippines in 1521.”

 

For the Inaugural Session that runs on Oct. 20 to 22, the core theme is "Viewing the Quincentennial" with primary focus on the diplomatic engagements highlighted by this once-in-a-lifetime event, the contributions of the various commemorating countries to the world-wide commemoration, and the reimagining of the events of 1521 towards a Filipino-centric perspective.

 

“This is the year in which we commemorate the 500 years of the Philippine part in circumnavigation and it was no small part and this is also the year in which we commemorate the 75 years of our diplomatic relations,” said Mr. Emanuel Bernades Joaquim , Portuguese Embassy in Jakarta . (EDT/JPA/PIA9-Zamboanga Sibugay)