WHEREAS, Fr. Andr s de Urdaneta was a Spanish Augustinian friar, sail-captain and explorer and known for discovering and plotting a path across the Pacific from the Philippines to Acapulco, Mexico (New Spain), which came to be known as Urdaneta's route;

WHEREAS, Fr. Andr s de Urdaneta was in the expedition that left Spain for the Philippines on November 21, 1564. Fr. Urdaneta was with Miguel Lopez de Legaspi on board the ship Capitana that sailed along with the galleons San Pablo and San Pedro and the tenders San Juan and San Lucas;

WHEREAS, Manila galleons later used Urdaneta's route for the next 250 years and brought Asian culture to Europe through Mexico;

WHEREAS, it was Fr. Andr s de Urdaneta together with Miguel Lopez de Legaspi who built monumental Basilica Minore del Sto. Ni o in Cebu and was also responsible for the Christianization of the Province;

WHEREAS, Fr. Andr s de Urdaneta's name is believed to be the etymological source of City of Urdaneta, Pangasinan;

WHEREAS, there is a need to recognize the achievements of Fr. Andr s de Urdaneta as well as his contributions to Philippine Culture and History;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL - ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, do hereby proclaim the recognition of Fr. ANDR ‰S De URDANETA'S 5TH CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION and in furtherance of such acknowledgment, a fifteen-man committee appointed by the President shall be formed to study and recommend to the President ways to augment the body of historical knowledge concerning Fr. Andr s de Urdaneta's exploits in the Philippines;

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 29th day of November, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Seven.


By the President:

(Sgd.) HON. EDUARDO R. ERMITA
Executive Secretary