Press Release
Camp Lapulapu, Cebu City — March 20, 2021
Central Command, AFP led by LtGen. Roberto T. Ancan, in solidarity with the Cebu City Government, National Quincentennial Committee and Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, welcome the arrival of Spanish Navy’s Buque Escuela de la Armada Española Juan Sebastián Elcano during its goodwill port call at Cebu International Port on March 20, 2021, as part of the commemorative rites of the 500-year Quincentennial Commemoration of Christianity in the Philippines.
The ceremony was attended by Spanish VIP attendees, Mrs. Amaya Fuentes-Milani, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Spain; Colonel Ricardo Pardo López-Fando, Defense Attache, Embassy of Spain and his spouse Mrs. Maria de las Mercedes Merino; Mr. David Terrôn González, Chancellor, Consulate General of Spain; Mstr Alonso Terrón Fuentes, son of the Mrs. Fuentes Milani and Mr. Terrón González and Mr. Antón Perdices, Honorary Consul of Spain in Cebu.
Said activity was also joined by Commo Ernesto Baldovino, Commander, NAVFORCEN; Cebu City Mayor, Hon. Edgardo Labella and Vice-Mayor, Hon. Michael Rama; Lapu-Lapu City Mayor, Hon Junard Chan; Mandaue City Mayor, Hon. Jonas Cortes; Sec. Michael Lloyd Dino from the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas and Asec. Anthony Gerard Jonji Gonzales; Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia; Radm Jose William Isaga PCG, Commander, Coast Guard District Central Visayas; Regional Director of DOT 7, DILG 7 and PRO 7; Chairman of the Tourism, Cultural and Historical Affairs, Commission of Lapu-Lapu City and Consular Corp in Cebu.
The Spanish Navy Ship Juan Sebastián Elcano was said to arrive in the Philippines since March 16, as it set foot at Suluan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar as part of the 500th anniversary of the world’s first circumnavigation.
In commemoration of the Magellan-Elcano expedition, we looked back on the discovery of the Philippines during the Spanish expedition of Fernando de Magallanes, known as Ferdinand Magellan in quest for Spice Islands in the western route to the Indies.
In 1519, Magellan commanded five vessels, with Trinidad as the lead ship. After the transpired Battle of Mactan where Magellan was killed, his Spanish navigator Juan Sebastián Elcano simultaneously led the expedition to the Spice Islands and across the Indian Ocean, up to the Atlantic ocean back to Spain, resulting to the world’s first circumnavigation in 1521. 500 years later, the third tallest ship in the world, with 113-meters long four-mast Brigschooner is finally in the waters of Cebu.
As we mark our 500 years of Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines this year, we should continue to navigate and pursue our ideals on building bilateral relations, keeping our implicit faith and on strengthening bonds through shared cultures.
LtGen. Roberto T. Ancan, Commander, Central Command AFP expressed his warm welcome of the arrival of Spanish Navy training ship saying, “aside from the historic circumnavigation and the quincentenary of Christianity, the Philippines is also celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Victory of Mactan this year. Indeed, we are truly blessed for these triple celebration which significantly defines the journey between two countries that strengthen deeper bonds and friendship paved on the battlefield since 1521.”
“With both the traditional and new challenges that we are facing, it is with optimism that we manifest our resiliency to commune with God Almighty, as the true source of strength and courage in accomplishing our mission in a sustained joint air, sea and land operations in the Visayas. I warmly welcome everyone to this arrival ceremony of Spanish Navy Training Ship, Juan Sebastián Elcano”, LtGen. Ancan added.
