Cebu: Center of the 4th centennial celebration of the Christianization of the Philippines

In 1965, the Philippines celebrated the 4th Centennial of its Christianization. This was from April 27 to May 2, 1965. Cebu was the center of the celebration as it was in Cebu City where General Miguel Lopez de Legaspi docked his ships on April 27, 1565 and established the country’s first Spanish government center christened as Fort San Pedro.

On July 7, 1964, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Administrative Order No. 98, creating a committee for the Christianization of the Philippines on the participation of the government in its celebration.

Recognizing Cebu as the center of the celebration, President Macapagal declared the following holiday in Cebu:

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

PROCLAMATION NO. 391

DESIGNATING THE PERIOD FROM APRIL 26 TO 28, 1965, AS SPECIAL SCHOOL HOLIDAYS FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF CEBU.

WHEREAS, the fourth centennial of the Christianization of the Philippines will be celebrated from April 25 to May 2, 1965, in Cebu City; and

WHEREAS, students and school children should be afforded an opportunity to participate in the celebrations;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Diosdado Macapagal, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby designate the period from April 26 to 28, 1965, as special school holidays for public and private schools in the City of Cebu.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 21st day of April, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and sixty-five.

DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL

President of the Philippines

By the President: RAMON A. DIAZ

Executive Secretary

Recorded in the Official Gazette is the meetings between the President and Cebu City Mayor regarding the commemoration;

July 20,1964:

“—PRESIDENT Macapagal conferred this morning with Cebu Mayor Sergio Osmeña, Jr., on the celebration on the 400th anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines. The event, which is scheduled from April 28 to May 2 next year, will have Cebu City as the center.

Among the matters taken up were the proposed schedule activities and public improvements; such as, expansion of the water supply and widening of streets.”

August 26, 1964

“-Before meeting the Cabinet the Chief Executive received Cebu Mayor Sergio Osmeña, Jr., and Surigao del Sur Gov. Adela Serra Ty.

Mayor Osmeña sought the early release of public works fund for the construction of roads in his city in preparation for the 4th centennial celebration of the propagation of Christianity in the Philippines.”