Philippine exhibit commemorates 500 years since first trip around the world

Manila, March 21 (EFE).- The Philippines National Museum inaugurated Monday an exhibition showcasing historical pieces and artifacts to commemorate 500 years since the first circumnavigation of the globe by Juan Sebastian Elcano, in which Magellan perished on the Philippine island of Mactan.

“One of the greatest milestones in the history of mankind is being celebrated,” Museum General Director Jeremy Barnes said at a press conference, adding that he thanked the collaboration of the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines in the project.

Barnes also spoke about “the unique opportunity” to appreciate the trip from a “personal perspective,” since “The longest trip: the first trip around the world,” exhibition, open to the public from Thursday, will also feature pieces and objects from that time in the Philippines.

In chronological order, “The Longest Journey” explains the different phases of the journey Magellan led with the aim of reaching the spice islands (the current Moluccas Islands, in Indonesia) along a previously unexplored path, and that Elcano completed by an unknown route.

The collection includes some of the main original documents and chronicles of that historical journey that confirmed the roundness of the earth for the first time and that ended in Spain on Sep. 6, 1522.

Among the exhibits, are some of the main original documents and chronicles of that first circumnavigation of the planet, belonging to different Portuguese and Spanish institutions, and especially to the General Archive of the Indies.

This exhibition also has, in its Philippine adaptation, several natural pieces and replicas of the objects that Magellan, Elcano, or the Italian chronicler Pigafetta could find on board the Victoria Ship upon arrival in the Philippine archipelago after crossing the Pacific Ocean for the first time.

The exhibition was exhibited for the first time in 2019 at the Archivo General de Indias in Seville by Accion Cultural Espanola and the Culture Ministry on the anniversary of the start of the Magellan and Elcano expedition.

After the death of Magellan during the battle of Mactan, in the Philippines, Elcano took command of the expedition and decided to continue the journey through the Indian Ocean that had begun two years earlier across the Atlantic, making the first circumnavigation of the world. EFE

fsg/lds