Magallanes, Sorsogon - The National Historical Institute officially declared an island here as the site of the shipyard which built ships, or galleons, during the Spanish period and erected a marker in recognition of such historic account.

        Emelita Almosora, Deputy Executive Director of the NHI, said the shipyard was known as the “Astillero de Bagatao” which was established in year 1610 under Governor-General Juan de Silva.

        It was the first ever site of Spanish shipyard officially recognized by the NHI, she said.

        Almosora represented the NHI during the unveiling of the marker constructed on a hill overlooking the South China Sea at barangay Behia at the Bagatao Island here. A cove could be seen at the foot of the hill which residents said was the area where the ships were kept during bad weather.

        She said ship-building activity at that time was so extensive that many Spanish galleons were constructed here, including the biggest galleon, Santisima Trinidad, which figured prominently in the Manila-Acapulco Trade.

        Based on historical records ship-building activities existed here for 140 years until it was forced to move to other place due to successive raids by moro bandits.

        Some residents said the shipyard was moved somewhere in the present towns of Pilar and Donsol due to the raids which claimed hundreds of lives, among them Spanish friars.

        Almosora said more anthropological and archaeological assessments will still be done in the island to establish more facts on the shipyard.

        The NHI official credited a son of this town, Rogelio Escobal, for initiating the research which led to the establishment of the marker after thorough verification by their office.

        This town was also claiming that the first mass in the entire Luzon island was held in one of its sitio called Gibalon in barangay Siuton sometime in 1600s but Almosora told Bicol Mail that such claim was still being verified by the NHI.

        Almosora urged other local governments to submit to their office claims of historical values so it could be verified and studied by the NHI.

        Mayor Roque L. Carranza said the unveiling of the marker was a confirmation of the rich culture and the colorful history of this town.

        He stressed that the recorgnition strengthens the claim of Magallanes as the site of the first mass in Luzon which was being commemorated during Kasanggayahan Festival in October, the province.