THE 93-year-old Spanish Navy training ship Juan Sebastian de Elcano arrived in Cebu on March 20, 2021, the fifth day of the quincentennial commemoration of the historic circumnavigation.
The ship docked at the Cebu International Port (CIP) on March 20 and a short ceremony was held to welcome the officers and crew of the ship.
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella, Vice Mayor Michael Rama, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard "Ahong" Chan, and Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) Undersecretary Jonji Gonzales attended the ceremony.
Tourism director Shalimar Tamano and Interior and Local Government director Leocadio Trovela also attended the ceremony.
Lumad Basakanon, showcased a Sinulog performance to the Spanish visitors.
Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of Spain in Manila Amaya Fuentes Milani and defense attaché Col. Ricardo Pardo represented Spain in Saturday's event.
Undersecretary Jonji Gonzales, who is also part of the National Quincentennial Committee (NQC), said during his speech that the quincentennial commemoration is the platform to bring forth the Filipinos' view and voice of what happened 500 years ago.
