COVID-19-Affected Quincentennial Activities Now 30

Posted on 23 April 2020
By NQC Admin

The
attention of humanity is now focused on discovering the cure for the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). As a solidarity, various national and international institutions preparing for the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world and allied events have canceled, rescheduled or postponed indefinitely slated activities from March 2020 to March 2021 to prevent the potential spread of the virus.

The National Quincentennial Committee (NQC), tasked by the Office of the President of the Philippines to prepare the country in the aforesaid milestone, announced on 15 March 2020 that there were sixteen (16) activities scheduled in March and April 2020 needed to be canceled. This, as the national government placed Luzon under community quarantine beginning 13 March 2020 (extended until 30 April 2020). This included the supposed start of the one-year countdown to the 500th anniversary of the Philippine part in the first circumnavigation of the world in Guiuan, Eastern Samar on 17 March 2020 and the one-year countdown to the 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan on 27 April 2020, respectively.

The most recent rescheduled event was the opening of the Bangkota: The Philippine Pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai on 20 October 2020. This as per an update from the Philippine Secretariat of the Expo 2020 Dubai informed the NQC Secretariat on 21 April 2020. On the same day, the Secretariat General of the Expo 2020 Dubai announced the same. The new date of the expo is between 1 October 2021 and 31 March 2022.

As of 23 April 2020, there are now thirty (30) quincentennial activities affected by the pandemic. These include two international conferences in Cebu City and London, meetings of local chief executives from various local government units along the Magellan-Elcano expedition, and cultural events. Follow the link for the list of COVID-19-affected quincentennial activities.

On 27 April 2020, the Presidential Communications Operations Office and the National Historical Commission of the Philippine will inform the nation through radio, television, and social media on the status of the quincentennial through the Countdown to 500 Special. It will be led by PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar and NHCP Chair Rene Escalante. Among the confirmed participants to the special are Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella, Philippine Ambassador to Lisbon Celia Anna Feria, and National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab. Kindly follow the link for the program.