Ferdinand Magellan Crosses The Pacific

Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan with three ships under his command, entered "The Sea of the South" on November 28, 1520. 

He sailed the Atlantic Ocean earlier, through the   dangerous straits below South America which is now known as the Straight of Magellan. 

This earned for him as the first European to reach the Pacific from the Atlantic. 

This was the first westward crossing from the Pacific. Magellan and his fleet arrived at the island of Guam on March 6, 1521.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.com

The Feast of the Señor Sto. Niño of Cebu

As one visits Cebu this time of year, expect both local and foreign tourists flocking the city just to join the celebration of the Feast of the Señor Sto. Niño of Cebu.

The Sto. Niño (Holy Child Jesus) was Ferdinand Magellan's gift to Queen Juana, the wife of Rajah Humabon of Cebu on April 14, 1521 after their baptism to Christianity. Years later, the image was found inside a wooden chest in one of the burned huts of the natives by Juan de Camus, a Spanish soldier under Miguel Lopez de Legaspi's expedition on April 28, 1565. This discovery was mentioned by Legaspi to the Spanish king Philip II in one of his letters.

From that time on, the devotion to the Sto. Niño spread from Cebu to all parts of the Philippines. The image is housed at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño.

This year's celebration is filled with religious and cultural activities. A daily novena started from January 7 to 15. A fluvial procession took place on January 16 where a re-enactment of the arrival of the image to the Philippines and the Mass and baptism of the natives took place.

His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal of Cebu officiates the Pontifical Mass on January 17. The Thanksgiving Mass will be held tomorrow January 18 followed by the traditional Hubo on January 22. The Hubo is a ceremony where the Sto. Niño's garments are replaced with a new one.

Along with the religious celebration is the Cebu City government's Sinulog 2010 activities that highlights the grand parade today. Millions of people are expected to join the revelry.

The Philippine stamp above features the Señor Sto. Niño of Cebu and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño released on June 4, 1985.

The First Circumnavigation of the World

January is synonymous to the feast of the Santo Niño of Cebu. When we talk about the child Jesus, we cannot take out Ferdinand Magellan, the person responsible for bringing the sacred image to Philippine shores in 1521.

Magellan, a Portuguese, led the first circumnavigation of the world after convincing King Charles I of Spain to grant him funds for his expedition on March 22, 1518. He obtained five ships and named them Trinidad, San Antonio, Concepcion, Victoria and Santiago. With 270 men, he set sail in September. On March 16, 1521, Magellan arrived in the Philippines and the rest is history.

Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian crewmember kept a diary that chronicled Magellan's voyage. After Magellan's death in Mactan, Juan Sebastian Elcano took over the remaining three ships along with 115 survivors and left the Philippines for the Moluccas (Spice Islands). They arrived back to Spain in 1522.

This historical event is beautifully captured on Philippine stamps released by the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) on November 11, 2002. The four stamps feature Antonio Pigafetta, Ferdinand Magellan, King Charles I of Spain, and Juan Sebastian Elcano. A souvenir sheet is also issued that shows King Charles I and a world map.