Magellan’s hometown eyes Cebu sisterhood

CEBU, Philippines - The home town of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan has signified interest to establish a diplomatic relationship between Cebu City.

In a letter to Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Sabrosa Mayor José Manuel de Carvalho Marques proposed to formalize its ties in a form of sisterhood agreement.

"With the idea that we will strengthen this friendship and mutual understanding between the people of Sabrosa and Cebu, developing exchanges between the two cities, particularly in the areas of trade, tourism and education, I would like to propose you, as Mayor of Cebu, a twinning protocol between Sabrosa and Cebu City," read the letter of Marques addressed to Rama.

The letter was personally handed to Rama by Philippine Ambassador to Portugal, Philippe Lhuillier, during his visit yesterday at the Cebu mayor's office.

In his letter, Lhuillier favorably endorsed Portuguese mayor's proposal to Rama.

"The historical link between Cebu and Sabrosa via Magellan also makes the twinning arrangement significant, especially in terms of highlighting and promoting Philippine-Portugal relations," said Lhuillier.

Lhullier further described Sabrosa to be located in northern Portugal and a place of commercial and industrial value.

"The objective of this agreement is to exchange views and experiences so that we can offer our members, and our communities, the benefit of international collaboration, as we work toward the shared goals of developing leaders and fostering global understanding," the Portuguese mayor Marques added in his proposal.

Like Sabrosa, Marques wants Cebu to be considered as "Magellan City" where the great explorer died in 1521.

Sabrosa has this project of linking all the places that Magellan had reached in his expedition.

Part of the project is the naming of a street in Sabrosa called Ave. Cidade de Cebu.

A photo of Marques and Lhuiller at the street marker was even showed to Rama.

The Cebuano mayor welcomed the proposal and has designated consultant to the Protocol Office, Angel Espiritu, to prepare the requirements for the realization of the planned sisterhood agreement.—(FREEMAN)