AS PART of the events celebrating the 500
th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world, Instituto Cervantes de Manila, the cultural arm of the Embassy of Spain, will hold the online debate “Magellan vs. Elcano” on Mar. 10, 6 p.m. The debate will seek to weigh their achievements for this endeavor, and try to establish who should deserve more credit for the final success. Magellan led the expedition from its beginning in Spain, around South America, and across the Pacific Ocean until his death in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Elcano took over and led the remaining ship and crew back to Spain, circumnavigating the world in the process. At the debate, Filipino historian Danilo Gerona will advocate for Magellan while Tomás Mazon will campaign for Elcano. Admission is free and open to all on a first come, first served basis. The link to access the event is
Simbang Gabi goes digital
FOR the last 15 years, it has been a tradition at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to hold
Simbang Gabi when the Christmas season comes. For the Center, holding the novena (nine) masses is no ordinary program, but a special event that needs careful and meticulous planning. The dawn masses would be held at the CCP Main Ramp, while the
Misa de Aguinaldo (Christmas Eve Mass) at the Main Theater, with performances from resident companies, would draw a capacity crowd, spilling over to the Main Theater Lobby. But as the pandemic made such large gatherings impossible, the CCP Simbang Gabi 2020 migrates to the digital platform. The virtual