In preparation for the quincentennial anniversary of the first circumnavigation of Ferdinand Magellan and Sebastian Elcano in 2021, Filipinas Quincentenario invited Dr. Jose Maria Sanz Hermida, a professor at the Universidad de Salamanca to Butuan City, Philippines last January 30, 2019.

Dr. Hermida, one of Spain's most respected historians on cartography conducted a lecture about "Las Islas Del Poniente: The Cartographic Contraction of Image" at Father Saturnino Urios University.

The event led to a round table discussion which was of great importance to Butuan's historical claim of the First Catholic Mass in the Philippines at the Mazzua Island, which was also mentioned many times in the accounts of Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian explorer who sailed along with Magellan.

Among the attendees was Captain Nestor A. Almero, dean of the College of Maritime in Saint Joseph Institute of Technology.

His knowledge and skills as an experienced master mariner could help validate Butuan's claim about the long-debated venue of the First  Catholic Mass in the Philippines.

The lecture was one of the several events in queu with the Philippines 500th year anniversary of Magellan's voyage in 2021.