President Rodrigo R. Duterte led the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the globe in Eastern Samar on Thursday.
In the Quincentennial celebration of the event, President Duterte pointed out how the ancestors of Filipino “exemplified unique generosity” in helping the Spaniards expedition upon their arrival.
He stated that the event was marked as an “opportunity for our forebearers to show their unity, magnanimity, and sovereignty”.
“I therefore call on our kababayans to appreciate our rich history and learn from the experience of those who came before us so that we may never again allow any other tribe to compromise our sovereignty, invaders who would come and would stay here and contribute to the richness of our culture,” the Chief Executive encouraged.
He asserted that the coming of foreigners to the Philippines has borne fruitful results and helped in nation-building.
“This is a historic event. Though they may somehow, we may differ in our interpretation, but the fact is that they were here and that contributed something that was good for our country. They conquered history, and until now, we are also celebrating because it was the first time that we saw foreigners in our native land. That alone speaks a volume of stories. But we are also conscious to the fact that it was the reality of the moment at that time.”
Pres. Duterte urged the Filipinos to “reinvigorate” their historical and social civil consciousness particularly among the new generation. He concluded that the said event will further “fortify” the Philippine-Spain relations. –NGS, PTV News Online
