This inaugural and early sessions of the PIQC gather the countries the Philippines are connected with this quincentennial to discuss current and future thrusts in maintaining international comity all of us have been sharing together in the last 500 years. Through this international gathering, we position our country as a leader in the global commemoration. Alongside it, we proclaim to the world that we co-own the quincentennial with parity. Papers, messages, and statements from these sessions will form part of the proceedings of the PIQC so that the next generation will be guided how the Philippines and the world commemorated the milestones associated with the first circumnavigation of the earth.