WHEREAS, on May 8, 2018, President Rodrigo R. Duterte through Executive Order No.

55, created NQC

tasked to lead government preparations for the commemoration of the Philippine Quincentennial,
particularly to arrive at comprehensive plan of the government in celebrating the 500th anniversary of the
Victory at Mactan, the achievement of mankind in circumnavigating the world, and the introduction of
Christianity;

WHEREAS. Pursuant to Republic Act No. 10086 or the “Strengthening Peoples Nationalism Through
Philippines History Act “The state shall provide the means to strengthen people’s nationalism, love of
country, respect for this heroes and pride for the people’s accomplishment by reinforcing the
importance of Philippine National and local history in daily life with the end view of raising social
consciousness;

Landmark study establishes historical account of Magellan-led voyage to Palawan

The study, conducted in 2019 by Prof. Michael Angelo Doblado for the National Historical Commission of
the Philippines (NHCP), established that after Magellan’s death in Mactan his voyage had continued and
made several landfalls in Palawan.

WHEREAS, a recent development in research establishes historical account of Magellan-led voyage in

our Province, Palawan.

WHEREAS, as cited by a local newspaper, The Palawan News, Prof. Michael Angelo Doblado in 2019
conducted a study for the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), and subsequently
established that after Magellan’s death in Mactan his voyage had continued and made several landfalls
in Palawan.
WHEREAS, PSU’s Palawan Studies Center’s research paper entitled “The Palawan Landfall of the
Magellan-Elcano Voyage in the Philippines”, asserted that the voyage, which was at that point being led
by Juan Sebastian Elcano following Magellan’s death, first approached Old Aborlan and eventually made
repeated landfalls in the coasts of southern Palawan, particularly Brooke’s Point, Bataraza, Balabac, and
Sofronio Espanola.
WHEREAS, the study was submitted to the National Quincentennial Committee (NQC) which
commissioned the study in 2019 and that the NHCP had already validated parts of his findings,
particularly the landings in three towns-Brooke’s Point, Balabac and Bataraza.
 
No previous study
Doblado said that when he set out to do the research, there was no available historical literature on the
Magellan-Elcano voyage in Palawan.
“Akala ko ay meron na na-conduct na naka-focus para alamin kung saan specifically nag-land sa
Palawan, but wala. Binabanggit lang sa isang libro ni Nilo Ocampo, ang title ng libro niya ay Moro,
Katutubo, Kristyano (Katutubo, Muslim, Kristyano: Palawan). According to him, baka ang first landing
daw ay sa Aborlan o Puerto Princesa. Actually, nag-cite lang siya ng ibang source, at ang unang
nakasalamuha ay mga Tagbanua, Pero hanggang doon lang,” Doblado told Palawan News.
“Yong iba naman ay mga foreign na research pero hindi nila matukoy specifically [kung] saan sa
Palawan, dumaan lang,” he added.
He also pointed out that the secondary data that can be accessed on the internet would only
acknowledge that the voyage passed through Palawan.
“Hindi na-identify saan specific sa Palawan kaya mahirap din siya maging parte ng ating historical
consciousness dahil hindi natukoy,” he said.
 

A position paper and study from Palawan State University (PSU) Palawan Studies Center (PSC) proved
that almost 30 percent of the Magellan-Elcano expedition in the Philippines were spent in Palawan . ||
Image by Rachel Ganancial.
 
Aborted landing in Aborlan
Doblado asserted that Old Aborlan or the Aborlan-Narra was the first anchorage area, while Pulot or the
Sofronio Española area was the first landing site followed by Brooke’s Point, Balabac, and Bataraza.
His study showed that the expedition stayed for almost 66 days in Palawan out of the total number of
172 days on which the Magellan-Elcano voyage stayed in the Philippines.
Records show that following the death of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, Juan Sebastián Elcano took
command of the voyage with the remaining two ships named Victoria and Trinidad.
“Bumaba sila ng Bohol. From Bohol, bumaba sila ng Mindanao, specifically umikot pa sila ng Mindanao,
nakarating pa sila ng Zamboanga, wala na silang pagkain niyan, kakaunti na lang so survival mode sila. Sa
paningin namin, nakapagtanong na sila kung saan lugar ang may pagkain, ang itinuro pakanluran.
Tumawid sila from Zamboanga at nakarating sila ng Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi, Mapun ngayon,” he said.
He said that the indigenous people of the Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi directed Elcano’s group to go
westward. He added that it can be seen that people in Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi had already a connection
with those living in Palawan particularly in the southern part of the province through trades.
“So far, ang talagang 100 percent na masasabi natin na validated na ay Brooke’s Point, Balabac at
Bataraza pero doon sa paper ko ay lima. Aborlan ang first na anchorage, nagbaba ng angkla, huminto
ang barko, ‘yon ang Aborlan area. Sa first anchorage nila, nag-try sila mag-land sa Old Aborlan area,
padaong na sila, malapit na sila sa dalampasigan, sinibat sila, isang grupo ng mga katutubo,” he said.
 
Attacked by the Tagbanua tribes
Doblado asserted that Elcano’s group failed to land in Old Aborlan after Tagbanua tribe attacked them.
He said that the reason Elcano’s group reached Palawan was in hope of finding food resources after
their voyage when Magellan was defeated in the Mactan battle.
Doblado said it is yet to be determined why the Tagbanuas pushed away the Spaniards. He theorized
that the Tagbanuas may have suspected them for pirates out to capture slaves.
He proceeded with the narrative that after the failed attempt to dock their ships in Old Aborlan shore,
Elcano tried to go northward but was blocked by the harsh monsoon and discouraged by their dwindling
food supply.
“Umikot sila pa-South dahil kailangang-kailangan nila ng mapagkakanlungan dahil expose sila sa
elements. Sikat ang Palawan dahil maraming lugar na pwede ka mabahura lalo kung mataas ang alon.
Ang pinakamalapit na pwede nila pagtaguan ang Bahia de las Islas o Bay of Islands. Bay siya o cove tapos
may mga isla, apat o lima sa harap ng Pulot dati, Española ngayon. Dito nila ina-attempt ang first
landing,” he said.
One of the voyagers, Joam de Campos represented himself in an attempt to look for food sources in the
area. According to Antonio Pigafetta which Doblado cited, Campos was fed and entertained by villagers
and found out through sign language that the area was led by a Datu of Borneo. Campos offered a
barter trade to natives for pounded rice.
“Naglayag sila, lumipat sila sa isang area na may tinatawag na port. Sa research ay Port of Tegozzao,
kung titingnan mo, may barangay sa Brooke’s Point na barangay Barong-Barong na meron sitio na
Tagusao, sa tabi ng Tagusao river, bukana. Malamang ang Port of Tegozzao, na nilipatan nila from Pulot,
‘yon ang barangay Barong-Barong ngayon na nakakasakop sa barangay Tagusao, na nasa tabi ng ilog
Tagusao na ang bukana niya ay palabas na ng Sulu sea,” he said.
“From Borneo, nabahura sila sa Bibalon. Ang Bibalon ay lumang pangalan ng Balabac. Sa mga isla sa
pagitan ng Bibalon at Simbonbon, ang Bibalon siguro ‘yong malaking isla ng Balabac ngayon and ‘yong
Simbonbon na eight degrees north and seven minute na kung i-GPS mo siya, Bugsok. Sa pagitan ng
Bibalon at Bugsok ay maraming isla pa,” he said.
After they stayed to repair, the third landing was recorded in Balabac. Doblado said that due to
insufficient supply of materials needed for repair, they transferred at the southern tip of Palawan which
is the barangay Buliluyan in Bataraza as the fourth landing where they spent the remaining days before
going to Mindanao and down to the Moluccas, Indonesia for the spices.
 
Historical markers
The study was commission by the NHCP under Executive Order No. 55 tasking the Palawan Studies
Center to complete the study and submit a position paper Doblado said that based on the response of
NHCP in 2020, three landing areas in Palawan had validated which are Balabac, Brooke’s Point and
Bataraza.
He said he is currently coordinating with the local government units of three towns for the installation of
historical markers for the Palawan route of the Magellan-Elcano voyage.
“Ngayon ay nakikipag-coordinate na ako mismo sa local na pamahalaan ng tatlong munisipyo na ito and
na-forward ko na rin ‘yong letter ng National Historical Commission sa kanila, ‘yong design o layout sa
kanila. Magkakaroon ka ng historical marker, mapupunan mo ‘yong gap sa lokal na kasaysayan ng
Palawan as a whole at magiging mas mayaman ang lokal na kasaysayan,” he said.
Doblado said that all the countries which were part of the Magellan-Elcano expedition are now
processing their application to declare those sites World Heritage Sites. The Philippines has 34 landing
sites of the expedition wherein four of those are located in Palawan.
Doblado said he is still waiting for the validation of the two remaining towns included in his paper.
 
Continuing studies
Doblado said that they also plan to deepen the study and write a book about the expedition’s stay in
Palawan that could help in teaching the local history of the province.
“Ang PSC ay member ng Local Historical Committees Network ng NHCP. Kami ang gumagawa ng
research, at kami na rin ang local coordinator [ng NHCP]. Magko-coordinate kami sa mga LGU para sa
mga requirements para sa mga historical marker,” said Doblado.
He added that the PSC dreams that Palaweños would be active in studying its local history and stressed
that is better to have local researchers, historian and history enthusiast that would study about the
history from towns to the barangay level.
By virtue of Executive No. 55, the National Quincentennial Committee (“NQC”), was constituted to
spearhead the activities on the commemoration of the 500 th anniversary (Quincentenary) of the Victory
at Mactan and other historic events. The NQC is led by the National Historical Commission of the
Philippines.

One of NQC’s projects is the Marking of the Philippine Part of the Route of the First Circumnavigation of
the World where landmarks will be erected on the thirty-four (34) sites associated with the first
circumnavigation of the world.

These sites which are located in 28 cities and municipalities across the country have already been
identified by the NQC.

In this regard, the NQC, thru the Department, is requesting the cooperation of the said LGUs in this
momentous endeavor.

The project will commence this year. The turnover of the markers will be in 2021. This project is also in
support to the current application to the UNESCO to inscribe the site of the first circumnavigation of the
world as World Heritage Site. We are hoping that this project will boost he local tourism, as it is the first
time after 500 years that this route that changed world history will be identified altogether historic site
of the Filipino nation and eventually of humanity.

The 2021 Quincentennial Commemoration of the Philippines (QCP). The 2021 QCP is a historical event
that seeks to reinvigorate the sense of nationalism of every Filipino through the commemoration of our
ancestors’ heroism, humanity and significant contribution to the first circumnavigation of the world.