500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines

{{Infobox event

| title = 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines

| image = 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines logo (vertical).png

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| date = {{start and end dates|2021|04|04|2022|04|22}}

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| location = Primarily in the Philippines {{small|(some events held outside the country)}}

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| type = Series of commemorations

| theme = "Gifted to Give"
(Matthew 10:8)

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|organizers= Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines

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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

File:FvfMuseum6691 21.JPG]]

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.{{cite news |last1=Medenilla |first1=Samuel P. |title=National Quincentennial Committee announces plan to celebrate 500th anniversary of Magellan's expedition to PHL |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/12/21/national-quincentennial-committee-announces-plan-to-celebrate-500th-anniversary-of-magellans-expedition-to-phl/ |access-date=January 10, 2021 |work=BusinessMirror |date=December 21, 2018}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Parrocha |first1=Azer |title=Duterte calls for 'Filipino-centric' view on PH quincentennial |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1093080 |access-date=January 10, 2021 |date=February 6, 2020 |language=en |agency=Philippine News Agency}}

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"{{cite web |title=The National Quincentennial Committee |url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/2169082283411590/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110150958if_/https://www.facebook.com/notes/2169082283411590/ |archive-date=January 10, 2021 |website=Facebook |publisher=National Quincentennial Committee |access-date=January 10, 2021 |date=November 2, 2018}}

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) was the lead organizer of the quincentennial of the introduction of the Christianity in the Philippines.{{cite news |last1=Medenilla |first1=Samuel P. |title=National Quincentennial Committee announces plan to celebrate 500th anniversary of Magellan's expedition to PHL {{!}} Samuel P. Medenilla |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/12/21/national-quincentennial-committee-announces-plan-to-celebrate-500th-anniversary-of-magellans-expedition-to-phl/ |access-date=September 10, 2021 |work=BusinessMirror |date=December 21, 2018 |quote=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.}}{{Cite news|last=Semilla|first=Nestle|date=November 13, 2019|title=CBCP: Preparations for 500th year of PH Christianization underway|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1189409/cbcp-preparations-for-500th-year-of-ph-christianization-underway|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113120050/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1189409/cbcp-preparations-for-500th-year-of-ph-christianization-underway |archive-date=November 13, 2019 |access-date=January 16, 2021|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|language=en}} 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.{{cite news |last1=David |first1=Pablo Virgilio |title=Why celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines? Was not Christianity a mere tool for colonial rule? |url=https://500yoc.com/why-celebrate-500-years-of-christianity-in-the-philippines-was-not-christianity-a-mere-tool-for-colonial-rule/ |access-date=January 16, 2021 |work=500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines |date=September 24, 2019}}

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the commemorations were still held albeit modified to comply with protocols imposed in response to the health crisis.{{cite news |last1=Salaverria |first1=Leila B. |title=Battle of Mactan rites to push through despite pandemic |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1381679/battle-of-mactan-rites-to-push-through-amid-pandemic |access-date=January 10, 2021 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=January 10, 2021 |language=en}} Although about 50 projects related to the quincentennial were either canceled or indefinitely postponed.{{Cite web|date=November 28, 2020|title=NQC to artists: Join Quincentennial art, design competitions|url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/352819/nqc-to-artists-join-quincentennial-art-design-competitions|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128121513/https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/352819/nqc-to-artists-join-quincentennial-art-design-competitions |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |access-date=January 16, 2021|website=Cebu Daily News|language=en}}

Marketing

File:Pilgrim's Passport.jpg]]

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.{{cite news |title=Philippine Church releases logo for 500 years of Christianity - Vatican News |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2019-09/philipines-church-500-anniversary-celebration-logo.html |access-date=September 10, 2021 |work=Vatican News |date=September 23, 2019 |language=en}} The logo was designed by Edilberto Dionio, a theology student.{{cite news |title=CBCP releases official logo for 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the country |url=https://mb.com.ph/2019/09/23/cbcp-releases-official-logo-for-500th-anniversary-of-the-arrival-of-christianity-in-the-country/ |access-date=September 10, 2021 |work=Manila Bulletin |date=September 23, 2019}}

Events

File:1521-2021 500 YEARS OF CHRISTIANITY ON THE PHILIPPINES.jpg

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.{{Cite web|date=September 26, 2020|title=CBCP releases new schedule for quincentennial celebration|url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1871515/Cebu/Local-News/CBCP-releases-new-schedule-for-quincentennial-celebration|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928163803/https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1871515/Cebu/Local-News/CBCP-releases-new-schedule-for-quincentennial-celebration |archive-date=September 28, 2020 |access-date=January 16, 2021|work=SunStar}}

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.
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.{{Cite news|last=Agoncillo|first=Jodee|date=January 4, 2021|title=500 years of Christianity in PH: Rosary made of 3,000 solar-powered lights to take center stage|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1379349/500-years-of-christianity-in-ph-rosary-made-of-3000-solar-powered-lights-to-take-center-stage|url-status=live|archive-url=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 |archive-date=January 4, 2021 |access-date=January 16, 2021|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|language=en}}
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.{{cite news |title=List of Jubilee Churches as PH marks 500 years of Christianity |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/list-jubilee-churches-philippines-celebration-500-years-christianity |access-date=September 9, 2021 |work=Rappler |date=March 6, 2021 |language=en}}
March 14, 2021 – Pope Francis presided a mass at the St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City as part of the quincentennial.{{Cite news|last=Galvez|first=Daphne|date=March 3, 2021|title=Pope Francis to preside Mass for 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1402699/pope-francis-to-preside-mass-for-500-years-of-christianity-in-the-philippines|url-status=live|access-date=March 4, 2021|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303135217/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1402699/pope-francis-to-preside-mass-for-500-years-of-christianity-in-the-philippines |archive-date=March 3, 2021 }}
March 31, 2021 – Commemoration of the first Mass in the Philippines.{{Cite news|title=First Easter Mass in PH commemorated on Limasawa Island |first=Joey |last=Gabieta |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=March 31, 2021 |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1413404/first-easter-mass-in-ph-commemorated-on-limasawa-island |access-date=April 29, 2023}}
April 4, 2021 – Official kickoff of the quincentennial celebrations, coinciding with Easter Sunday.{{Cite news|title=Bishops open Jubilee Doors to mark 500 years of Christianity in PH |date=April 4, 2021 |first=Paterno II |last=Esmaquel |url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/catholic-bishops-open-jubilee-doors-500-years-christianity-philippines/ |work=Rappler |access-date=April 29, 2023}}
April 14, 2021 – Commemoration of the first Christian baptism in the Philippines in Cebu City.{{Cite news|title=Cebu holds reenactment of First Baptism with face shields and masks |first=Morexette Marie |last=Erram |work=Cebu Daily News |url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/372865/cebu-holds-reenactment-of-first-baptism-with-face-shields-and-masks |date=April 14, 2021 |access-date=April 29, 2023}} A re-enactment of the event saw 500 people with special needs baptized.

File:IFI-CBCP-Agreement.jpg and Philippine Independent Church (IFI) during the signing of their mutual agreement and recognition amidst their diversity, as part of celebrating 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021, held at the IFI National Cathedral. Seen in the photo is then-Supreme Bishop Rhee Timbang presenting the IFI's liturgical book to CBCP representatives.]]

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.{{Cite web |title=Philippine Catholic Church inks documents with nationalist Church for reconciliation, common baptism |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248591/philippine-catholic-church-inks-documents-with-nationalist-church-for-reconciliation-common-baptism |date=August 5, 2021 |last=Torres |first=Jose Jr. |work=Catholic News Agency |access-date=August 5, 2021}}{{Cite news |title=Catholic, Aglipayan churches issue statement on mutual recognition of baptism |url=https://mb.com.ph/2021/08/03/catholic-aglipayan-churches-issue-statement-on-mutual-recognition-of-baptism/ |date=August 3, 2021 |last=Aquino |first=Leslie Ann |work=Manila Bulletin |access-date=November 2, 2022}}{{Cite web |title=Celebrating the gift of faith, learning from the past, and journeying together |url=https://philippines.licas.news/2021/08/04/celebrating-the-gift-of-faith-learning-from-the-past-and-journeying-together/ |date=August 4, 2021 |publisher=LICAS News |website=Latest Catholic News in Asia |access-date=November 14, 2022}}{{Cite news |title=From separation to reconciliation |url=https://opinion.inquirer.net/142412/from-separation-to-reconciliation |last=Ledesma |first=Antonio J. |author-link=Antonio Ledesma |date=July 25, 2021 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |access-date=November 14, 2022}}
April 24, 2022 – Conclusion of the quincentennial celebrations, coinciding with Divine Mercy Sunday.{{Cite news|title=Papal Nuncio to be in Cebu for the closing of 500 YOC |first=Delta Dyrecka |last=Letigio |work=Cebu Daily News |date=April 22, 2022 |url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/436911/papal-nuncio-to-be-in-cebu-for-the-closing-of-500-yoc |access-date=April 29, 2023}}