“Enriching the 500 Years Discourse” with Dr. Jose Victor Z. Torres (Did Magellan Discover the Philippines?), Ambassador Celia Anna Feria (500 Years Programs of the Philippine Embassy in Lisbon), Vice-Consul Raisa Mabayo (500 Years Programs of the Philippine Embassy in Madrid), Pilar Cuadra (500 Years Programs of the Embassy of Spain in Manila), Prof. Xiao Chua (The Quincentennial Theme “Victory and Humanity”), Felice Prudente Sta. Maria (Food of Our Ancestors); moderated by Usec. Ernesto C. Abella (Department of Foreign Affairs) and Stacy Danika Garcia (Philippine Embasy in London)

This was the alternative activity in lieu of the 1-year countdown to the main event of the 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines (2021 QCP)—500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan—due to COVID-19 pandemic. Various stakeholders of the 2021 QCP will come together to keep the public abreast about the milestones in 2021 through “Countdown to 500 Special.” The public joined in the discussion primarily on the official Facebook page of the National Quincentennial Committee.