500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines explained

The 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines (500 YOC) was a quincentennial observed in the Philippines. It was held from April 4, 2021, to April 22, 2022, to commemorate the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines in 1521 when the Magellan expedition made a stopover in the islands.

Background

See main article: 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines.

The 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines celebrations was part of the larger 2021 Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines (2021 QCP) event organized by the Philippine government. The Philippine national government aims to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Filipinos' first contact with the Spanish in 1521 from a Filipino-centric point of view in 2021. The National Quincentennial Committee (NQC) was formed for this purpose in May 2018, when President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order (EO) No. 55.^[1] On January 28, 2019, President Duterte issued EO 103 formalizing the intent for the commemorations to be "Filipino-centric" and expanded the membership and scope of the NQC.^[2]

The full name of the event commemorating the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines is "500th anniversary of the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines"^[3]

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) was the lead organizer of the quincentennial of the introduction of the Christianity in the Philippines.^{[4] [5]} CBCP President Bishop Pablo Virgilio David rejects the notion that celebrating the 500th anniversary of the introduction of the Philippines as also celebrating the Spanish colonization of the islands citing continued prevalence of the religion long after colonization and asserts that Filipino ancestors were "intelligent enough" to accept what is good and reject what is evil among the introductions made by the Spanish in the Philippines.^[6]

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the commemorations were still held albeit modified to comply with protocols imposed in response to the health crisis.^[7] Although about 50 projects related to the quincentennial were either canceled or indefinitely postponed.^[8]

Marketing

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) adopted the event's theme and logo on September 18, 2019. The theme is "Gifted to Give" was derived from Matthew 10:8. The logo used various elements such as a cross, a ship, the sun, a rosary. The logo depicts a ship with a cross as its mast with the central figure derived from First Baptism in the Philippines painting of Fernando Amorsolo.^[9] The logo was designed by Edilberto Dionio, a theology student.^[10]

Events

The commemoration of the introduction of Christianity in the Philippines was supposed to culminate in April 2021 but was changed to be the kickoff month of the observances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result some events were held in 2022.^[11]

• December 1, 2019 – 500-day countdown to the 500 Years of Christianity (YOC) event starts.
• September 26, 2020 – Social media launch of the 500 Years of Christianity (YOC) event.^[11]
• January 5, 2021 – A temporary artwork made from solar-powered light bulbs was installed encompassing the Agrifina Circle and Relief Map at the Rizal Park. The artwork made under the non-profit Liter of Light is in a form of a rosary and the bulbs will be donated after the event.^[12]
• February 25, 2021 – Pope Francis granted until April 22, 2022, plenary indulgences to pilgrims visiting the 537 churches in the Philippines designated as Jubilee Churches.^[13]
• March 14, 2021 – Pope Francis presided a mass at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City as part of the quincentennial.^[14]
• March 31, 2021 – Commemoration of the first Mass in the Philippines.^[15]
• April 4, 2021 – Official kickoff of the quincentennial celebrations, coinciding with Easter Sunday.^[16]
• April 14, 2021 – Commemoration of the first Christian baptism in the Philippines in Cebu City.^[17] A re-enactment of the event saw 500 people with special needs baptized.^[5]

• August 3, 2021 – The Philippine Catholic Church signed two joint statements with the Philippine Independent Church (Iglesia Filipina Independiente or IFI) "for a more ecumenical cooperation amidst diversity", with the first statement as "Celebrating the Gift of Faith, Learning from the Past, and Journeying Together" and the second as a "Mutual Recognition of Baptisms between the IFI and the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines". The liturgical launching of the two documents was held at the Iglesia Filipina Independiente National Cathedral.^{[18] [19] [20] [21]}
• April 24, 2022 – Conclusion of the quincentennial celebrations, coinciding with Divine Mercy Sunday.^[22]

Canceled

• August 4–6, 2021 – National Retreat for the Clergy.^[11]

See also

• Philippine Centennial
• Iglesia ni Cristo Centennial
• 2016 International Eucharistic Congress

Notes and References

1. News: Medenilla . Samuel P. . National Quincentennial Committee announces plan to celebrate 500th anniversary of Magellan's expedition to PHL . January 10, 2021 . . December 21, 2018.
2. News: Parrocha . Azer . Duterte calls for 'Filipino-centric' view on PH quincentennial . January 10, 2021 . February 6, 2020 . en . Philippine News Agency.
3. Web site: The National Quincentennial Committee . https://web.archive.org/web/20210110150958if_/https://www.facebook.com/notes/2169082283411590/ . January 10, 2021 . Facebook . National Quincentennial Committee . January 10, 2021 . November 2, 2018.
4. News: Medenilla . Samuel P. . National Quincentennial Committee announces plan to celebrate 500th anniversary of Magellan's expedition to PHL Samuel P. Medenilla . September 10, 2021 . . December 21, 2018 . As for the celebration of the introduction in the country, Escalante said it will be CBCP which will take the lead. "They have their own committee and I understand the CBCP will have its plenary session in the middle of Jan. and this commemoration is one of the agenda of this discussion," Escalante said..
5. News: Semilla. Nestle. November 13, 2019. CBCP: Preparations for 500th year of PH Christianization underway. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191113120050/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1189409/cbcp-preparations-for-500th-year-of-ph-christianization-underway . November 13, 2019 . January 16, 2021. Philippine Daily Inquirer. en.
6. News: David . Pablo Virgilio . Why celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines? Was not Christianity a mere tool for colonial rule? . January 16, 2021 . 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines . September 24, 2019.
7. News: Salaverria . Leila B. . Battle of Mactan rites to push through despite pandemic . January 10, 2021 . . January 10, 2021 . en.
8. Web site: November 28, 2020. NQC to artists: Join Quincentennial art, design competitions. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201128121513/https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/352819/nqc-to-artists-join-quincentennial-art-design-competitions . November 28, 2020 . January 16, 2021. Cebu Daily News. en.
9. News: Philippine Church releases logo for 500 years of Christianity - Vatican News . September 10, 2021 . Vatican News . September 23, 2019 . en.
10. News: CBCP releases official logo for 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the country . September 10, 2021 . . September 23, 2019.
11. Web site: September 26, 2020. CBCP releases new schedule for quincentennial celebration. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200928163803/https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1871515/Cebu/Local-News/CBCP-releases-new-schedule-for-quincentennial-celebration . September 28, 2020 . January 16, 2021. SunStar.
12. News: Agoncillo. Jodee. January 4, 2021. 500 years of Christianity in PH: Rosary made of 3,000 solar-powered lights to take center stage. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210104120456/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1379349/500-years-of-christianity-in-ph-rosary-made-of-3000-solar-powered-lights-to-take-center-stage . January 4, 2021 . January 16, 2021. Philippine Daily Inquirer. en.
13. News: List of Jubilee Churches as PH marks 500 years of Christianity . September 9, 2021 . . March 6, 2021 . en.
14. News: Galvez. Daphne. March 3, 2021. Pope Francis to preside Mass for 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. live. March 4, 2021. Philippine Daily Inquirer. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210303135217/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1402699/pope-francis-to-preside-mass-for-500-years-of-christianity-in-the-philippines . March 3, 2021 .
15. News: First Easter Mass in PH commemorated on Limasawa Island . Joey . Gabieta . . March 31, 2021 . April 29, 2023.
16. News: Bishops open Jubilee Doors to mark 500 years of Christianity in PH . April 4, 2021 . Paterno II . Esmaquel . . April 29, 2023.
17. News: Cebu holds reenactment of First Baptism with face shields and masks . Morexette Marie . Erram . Cebu Daily News . April 14, 2021 . April 29, 2023.
18. Web site: Philippine Catholic Church inks documents with nationalist Church for reconciliation, common baptism . August 5, 2021 . Torres . Jose Jr. . Catholic News Agency . August 5, 2021.
19. News: Catholic, Aglipayan churches issue statement on mutual recognition of baptism . August 3, 2021 . Aquino . Leslie Ann . . November 2, 2022.
20. Web site: Celebrating the gift of faith, learning from the past, and journeying together . August 4, 2021 . LICAS News . Latest Catholic News in Asia . November 14, 2022.
21. News: From separation to reconciliation . Ledesma . Antonio J. . Antonio Ledesma . July 25, 2021 . . November 14, 2022.
22. News: Papal Nuncio to be in Cebu for the closing of 500 YOC . Delta Dyrecka . Letigio . Cebu Daily News . April 22, 2022 . April 29, 2023.