CEBU, Philippines – At least 100 youth leaders are gathered in Cebu to celebrate the 500 years of the death of Fray Andres de Urdaneta and the latter’s contributions to Philippine culture and history.
Urdaneta, who was born in Ordizia, Spain, is more famously known as the Spanish priest who accompanied Miguel Lopez de Legazpi when the latter landed in the Philippine shores.
The “Angat Kabataan! Urdaneta Cruise and Camp” will also trace Urdaneta’s footsteps to Bohol where the camp’s closing program will be held in Punta Cruz Tower in Maribojoc town.
“It is not the end of the year of Urdaneta, it is the beginning of our purpose and objective, for the coming years, to let everyone know what kind of person Fray Andres del Urdaneta was,” said Jose Miguel Santamaria, mayor of Ordizia City, Spain, in yesterday’s press conference of the “Angat Kabataan! Urdaneta Cruise and Camp.”
According to Fr. Harold Renturia, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Liaison Person for Cebu, Urdaneta’s knowledge and character are the “springboard” of the activities for the Urdaneta 500 celebration.
The “Angat Kabataan! Urdaneta Cruise and Camp,” which will be held on April 26 to 30, is being organized by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. in partnership with the Urdaneta 500 Philippine and Cebu Commissions, NCCA, and government agencies and private sectors.
The cruise and camp aims to inspire the Filipino youth with Urdaneta’s life and to strengthen and develop the youth’s leadership values for them to grow into values-oriented individuals.
Renturia said that despite being a Spaniard, Urdaneta left a legacy among the Filipinos that continues to affect their lives. An example of such is the historical story of how the image of the Sto. Niño was found and how this piece of Philippine history is intertwined with Urdaneta’s life.
Renturia said Urdaneta’s “historical impact on the Philippines” offers lessons of great importance.
“When we disconnect ourselves from history, it’s hard for us to move forward,” Renturia said.
Participants of the camp, mostly officers of the Sangguniang Kabataan, started tracing Urdaneta’s life during a boat trip from Manila to Cebu. On board, they viewed films on the life of Urdaneta and on the preservation of the country’s culture and heritage.
Yesterday, the group went on an “Urban Heritage Backpacking” that brought them to places significant to Urdaneta’s life, including the Magellan’s Cross, Basilica del Santo Niño, and Sto. Niño Museum. They also witnessed the 3rd Huniño Songwriting Competition last night at the Basilica grounds.
The Aboitiz “Leaders of Excellence” accompanied the camp participants during these activities. — Karen Grace H. Yasi (THE FREEMAN)