ARRIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES

Philippines is the second largest archipelago in the world. It is made of approximately 7.000 islands, 300.000 sq km. It is an island nation, so boats and canoes play a major role in many people’s lives. Majority Roman Catholic, ethnically, Philippines is a melting pot. Islands are mountainous and seismically active. Earthquakes and  volcanic eruption are common. Climate is tropical and monsoonal.

Fort SAN PEDRO, proof of Hispanic and Catholic
occupation in the Philippines

But, before arriving here, we known very little about the country, e.g., the fact that Philippines is the place where the captain of first circumnavigation voyage was killed by natives on 1521. This history was written by Pigafetta, a italian crew member of the expedition financed by Spain and leaded by Ferdinand Magellan (Fernando Magalhães), the Portuguese who's decapitation was celebrated in Mactan Island.

Part of a big panel on the site where Magellan was
killed by Mactan's people 

Also, Back into childhood, a memory about Corazon Aquino, a Philippines' Democratic President who was been acclaimed by her People after a long period of dictatorship.

But arriving here, after a 40+ days cruise in a sailboat from Solomon Islands - almost 3 thousand nautical miles - the captain tried to approach the city of Cebu, in a bay where "should have a marina". It was around 3 am, in a very dark and foggy night and reefs were shown by the charts there. We waited - drifting - for the first daylight shimmer. Completely worn out after being driven the boat for a lot of hours (we can even remember how many), we didn't notice the bay we were was the "Magellan's bay". We actually arrived in Philippines right on the spot were, literally, he lost his head fighting the Mactan's Island chief, Lapu-Lapu, now reckon in Philippines as the first nation's hero. 

Lapu-Lapu statue, in Mactan Island

Fist Philippinean Hero plaque

Magellan's Death plaque.

"1866 - REINANDO YSABEL II" 

The above obelisc is located in the same site where LapuLapu is honored as the first Philippine's Hero. Seem to be without maintenance for long period and will be probably worn out by the weather.


Later, Raquel visited San Carlos University's Library where there's a original volume Pigafetta's 1st circumnavigation voyage diary, publication from XVI century.


This is a little about the history of this country that first had repelled european invasion, even though have had it's culture and resources later spoiled by invaders.


Praises, comments, adds and/or criticism are always welcome!


dfE team