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Fabled Cebu & the Cebu Aeromodeller's Association
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Zubu, was its original name and as far as 800 AD - was already an important trading port for Chinese, Siam, Islamic & Malayan goods.
Cebu is the first and oldest city in the Philippines. It is older than even Maynilad by at least seven years. In it, is the oldest school and oldest street in the country. It boasts of being the birthplace of Christianity in the Far East.
In many ways, Cebu has always been the Pioneer City. It is the land of many "historic firsts" & continues to pave the way for the rest of the country.
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April 17, 1521 - the Portugese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, leading a Spanish expidition landed on Mactan Island. Soon afterwards, Rajah Humabon - the ruler of Zubu and a group of 400 Zubuanos were baptized as Catholics. Along with their baptism came the subjugation of the Philippines to Spanish sovereignity.
Spanish reign in Zubu was short-lived. Ferdinand Magellan himself died in the Battle of Mactan - in the hands of a great warrior chieftain - Lapu lapu. The definite cause of the dispute is still a point of arguement among historians. But it is likely to be the world's first violent encounter between Europeans and Filipinos.
From the martial arts point of view, it has been suggested that Lapu lapu used Arnis (ancient Filipino martial art) against Magellan's fencing skills. All Portugese & Spanish officers were required to take fencing, Magellan being no exception. Arnis proved superior.
Although Magellan is credited with the first circumnavigation of the World, he died in & was buried in Mactan.
From 1521 to 1570, Cebu was the effective Capital of the Philippines, which in turn was a province of Mexico. The Spaniards left Cebu in 1570, after repeated attacks from Portugese pirates. Governor-General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi had heard of the existence of a thriving city with a massive bay far north, which was said to be easier to defend - Maynilad.
Modern Cebu is a wonder to behold. It is easily the most progressive city in the Philippines. In southern Cebu, one can find the wondrous "Seven Steps Waterfalls".
Cebu Aeromodeller's Association
Talk about "excellence in flying skills" and no other group of modellers in the Philippines undertakes this task as seriously as a Cebuano. From the beginning of R/C history in the Philippines, the Cebuano modeller has focused on competition and flying precision. The earliest competitors in fixed-wing Pattern Flying were Cebuanos. Even today, Cebu fields the largest number of competitors to different events abroad. Proudly, they excel at it.
The Cebu Aeromodeller's Association began in the 60's with control line & free flight flying at Lahug Airport. The Club was incorporated on December 20, 1989. Rene Avila was its president for 10 years. The group transferred from Lahug to the Cebu Reclamation area near SM Cebu, and the Liloan Golf Course. When the reclamation area became unavailable, the Club transferred to a lot near Sto Nino Village. Later, moving to the Mandaue Reclamation area - which remains active today.
Cebu Aeromodeller's Club boasts of the only Government-sponsored flying field in the country - justifying it as an effective tourist spot. In 2006, via the efforts of Councillor Jack Jakosalem - yet another flying field was created at the South Reclamation Project. Shakespeare Chan & JP Reyes helped considerably in the creation of this airfield.
Despite having many flying fields, there is only ONE CLUB in Cebu... a testament to Cebuano unity.
This year, Cebu acted as host for the Hirobo Cup Asia 2007 at the South Reclamation area where Alvin Alcantara surfaced as Champion for the F3C category. Cebu-grown talent Justin Neri placed 4th in the P3C Category.
Many visiting R/C modellers from Manila have fond memories of their trips to Cebu, and high praises for Cebuano hospitality - which has yet, to find a rival.
Members of the Cebu Aeromodeller's Association are:
John Wong (pres), Charlie Garcia (vice-pres), JJ Neri (sec), Rene Avila (treas), Jeoffre Reynes, Gregorio Segura, Rev. Joseph Watkins, Tony Go, Pablo Ilano Jr., Tomas Osmena, Julian Pongasi & Ciriaco Pongasi.
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