Spanish ship to visit Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — A Spanish Navy training ship will visit the Philippines to mark the first circumnavigation of the world, considered as one of the most significant achievements in the history of mankind, the Spanish embassy in Manila announced yesterday.

Juan Sebastian Elcano will arrive in Guiuan, Eastern Samar on March 16. The Spanish flag ship will also visit Suluan and Homonhon Islands as well as Cebu.

The visit is part of the Spanish ship’s tour around the world to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Magellan-Elcano expedition route that made circumnavigation possible for the first time ever around the globe, the embassy said.

Initially, five ships and 238 men departed Spain as part of the expedition, but only 18 men and one ship made it back three years later.

The Elcano is a four-mast brig-schooner built in 1928. It is the third largest ship in the world.

Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan was killed in the Battle of Mactan in 1521. The voyage was completed by Spanish explorer Juan Sebastian Elcano, the ship’s namesake.