ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Nov 12 (PIA) – The 25th Historical Marker was unveiled in Isabela City de Basilan on Thursday (Nov.11) as part of the activities outlined in the 2021 Quincentennial Commemoration in the Philippines.

Mayor Sitti Djalia Hataman led the ceremonial unveiling of the Quincentennial Historical Marker which is the 25th among the 34 Historical Markers in the Philippines. This stands on the shoreline of Fuego-Fuego Beach and clearly visible to all vessels making their way in the Isabela Channel to the city's port. The area has been spruced up to be a pleasant seaside promenade for tourists and Isabeleños alike.

In her message, Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman said that the event is a piece of Tagimas history and an evidence to Tagima and its peoples' existence way before Spaniards came in the country.

"Isa po itong karangalan para sa atin, although nagkaroon ng konting issue kung bakit kailangan nating magpalagay ng marker ng mga dayuhan, ng mga colonizers. Ang atin pong appreciation dito ay doon po sa records ng first circumnavigation of the world nilagay po nila na nanggaling at napadaan sila (Magellan's fleet) sa Tagima at meron na pong mga tao at may sarili ng pamumuhay at sibilisasyon," she said.

The unveiling of the said marker also came with the signing of the certificate of transfer from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to the local government of Isabela de Basilan, which was signed by Mayor Sitti Djalia A. Turabin-Hataman.

In acceptance, Mayor Turabin-Hataman said that this is a proof that Basileños are not discovered by the foreigners.

"Gusto nating tanggapin ito bilang patunay na hindi po tayo nadiscover ng mga dayuhan. Bilang patunay na wala pa po sila andito na tayo. Kaya buong puso po nating ipinagmamalaki na meron po tayo nitong marker na ito," she stressed. 

The Quincentennial Historical Marker of Tagima commemorates the stop made by the Magellan-Elcano Expedition (1519-1522). Tagima which is the Basilan now is one of the identified places in the Philippines mentioned in the chronicles of Antonio Pigafetta, a writer who recorded the most important events in the history of expedition around the world.

The history said that in October, 500 years ago, the Magellan-Elcano expedition passed by the waters of the Sulu Archipelago in search of the route to their ultimate objective, the Maluku Archipelago in present-day Indonesia. The expedition began in September 1519. But owing to the death of their captain-general, Ferdinand Magellan, in the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521, the mission faced debacles. Magellan, according to Antonio Pigafetta, already knew where the Maluku was while in Cebu. But on May 1, 1521 the Cebuanos massacred several officials of the expedition and the rest flew for their lives. They left in Cebu their astronomer who had a crucial role in the navigation. Enrique de Malacca, their Malay translator, also deserted them, leaving the expedition astray in the Sulu Sea for several months.

After the encounter with the armada of the Sultanate of Brunei on July 27, 1521 the expedition returned to the Sulu Sea. Pigafetta, the chronicler of the expedition, recorded that they passed by Sulu and Tagima, the latter an alternative name for Basilan. The archipelago, which was ruled by the Sultan of Sulu, served as a landmark in searching the Maluku.

From Basilan, they went northward toward Zamboanga Peninsula. From there, they relied on coasting the Moro Gulf side of Mindanao, seeing from afar what Pigafetta described as the "citta grande" of the Sultanate of Maguindanao. On October 28, 1521, they left the Philippine waters via Sarangani Island. On November 8, 1521, they finally reached the Maluku.

History said that Tagima witnessed the said journey and proved that a civiization has been existing in this part of the world when earliest recorded circumnavigators voyaged this way. While the exact location cannot be established, Isabela City de Basilan accepts and cradles this historical marker on behalf of the island's freedom and peace loving people of Tagima, which is the present day Basilan.

This historical marker is expected to be one among the tourist destinations in Isabela City. Sustainable tourism is also one among the top priority agenda of the current administration here in the city.

The historical celebration was also witnessed by Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman, Vice Gov. Yusop Alano, Department of Tourism Undersecretary Myra Paz Valderossa-Abubakar, Provincial Administrator Mr. Manny Muarip representing Provincial Governor Jim Hataman- Salliman , Vice Mayor Kifli Salliman, Mayor Hanie Bud of Maluso Municipality and Mayor Arcam Istarul of Tipo-Tipo Municipality, and other local officials and stakeholders in Isabela City de Basilan. (RVC/NDR/PIA Basilan)