Rocks believed to have been carved out by Ferdinand Magellan in Homonhon Island have been defaced, according to authorities.
Historians said The Rocks which are believed to contain the carved initials of Ferdinand Magellan and other members of his expedition have been found to be vandalized and defaced.
TO PARAPHRASE MICHAEL Crichton, if you don't know the history of your place, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree.
That was true indeed, and to add George Orwell’s quote for good measure, the most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.
But unfortunately, it seems like several unknown visitors failed to simply appreciate the significance of historical marks that survived for hundreds of years, when they reportedly vandalized the markers at Magellan’s Rocks in Homonhon Island.
Historians said The Rocks which are believed to contain the carved initials of Ferdinand Magellan and other members of his expedition have been found to be vandalized and defaced.
UP professor and historian Rolando Borrinaga stated that they have found that cement partially covered the rock with Magellan's initials during his visit to the site were the historical rocks were located.
Another rock with the initials of Martin de Ayamonte and Cristobal Rabelo was also found to have been vandalized with the carved word “Calbayog”.
Alternative
According to Borrinaga, nothing could be done now for the vandalized rocks other than to make a cast replica of the old inscriptions.
The National Historical Commission of the Philippine (NHCP) also plans to install a new marker on the site where the original one was placed in 1952 but was later destroyed by treasure hunters sometime in 1970 who believed that the site holds a hidden treasure. (JKA)