The Philippines sits at the Western Pacific Ocean, it is a favorite target of typhoon and it also sits at the Pacific Ring of Fire making it prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. However, this location also serves as a strategic trading post due to its proximity to the rest of Asia. In fact, the Chinese, the Indians and the Arabs has been trading with the pre-Spanish kingdoms in the Philippines for centuries. Not surprisingly, when the Spanish came they sought to make use of this strategic location. Since it was impractical for the Spanish empire to ship goods from the Philippines to Spain regularly, they did the next best thing.
The Spanish established the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade. At that time, Mexico was also under the rule of the Spanish and it was also much nearer, so it only made sense to bring whatever provisions they need from Mexico instead of Spain. The Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade was the longest lasting trans-Pacific trade route in history with 250 years under its belt. So profitable was the galleon trade that a law was enacted to limit galleon trips to only a handful a year. This led to the construction of what were the world’s largest ships at that time. It was also because of this galleon trade that the Philippines has such an affinity with Mexican culture, in fact most of the Spaniards in the Philippines at that time came from Mexico. The galleon trade stopped when Mexico declared independence from Spain, making it last more than 250 years.
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Happy weekend! You might be interested in this. Trivia of the day: Mexicans gave Filipinos words like “tatay” and “nanay”, meaning father and mother. Filipinos gave them the words “palay” and “palapa.” Palapa is coconut frond in Filipino while in Mexico, “palapa” is a beach hut.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The International Community Unites for the Día del Galeón Festival
Philippines, Mexico and Spain look back at their cultural connection while the International Community supports the Día del Galeón Festival
August 17, 2010- On Tuesday, August 17, 2010, Senator Edgardo J. Angara presided over a meeting with representatives from fifteen Embassies at the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Summit Lounge. Vilma Labrador of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts spoke on the role of the arts and culture sectors in providing the spine and engine of cultural expressions for the Festival, while Día del Galeón Festival Director Cecile Guidote Alvarez shared a detailed update on the events being organized for the historical fete. Senator Angara also broke the wonderful news that plans are underway for the Spanish Galleon ,Andalucia, which is currently berthed at the Shanghai Expo, to dock in Manila and be a major centerpiece for the Philippine celebration of the first Día del Galeón Festival
Representatives from China, Chile, Brazil and Mexico among others were in attendance in the diplomatic briefing. Embassies have showed their support by pledging to send representatives to ARTES TALLERES: THE WORKSHOP which will take place from September 20–October 8. ARTES TALLERES is a three-week interdisciplinary festival of workshops, demonstrations, exhibits, and performances highlighting the impacts of the Galleon Trade—the good, the bad, and everything in between. A culminating activity will include a theatrical production of Mexican playwright, Miguel Sabido’s Juana la Loca . The play will involve workshop participants, local artists and a Spanish composer. It which will fuse Filipino and Spanish languages, and include indigenous art forms.
Hugo Lambrechts, Ambassador of South Africa, was ecstatic about the workshop’s scheduled events and relayed the African influence on the Trade. First Secretary of the Chinese Embassy, Wu Jianhra expressed enthusiasm and support while Miguel Angel George Third Secretary of the Mexican Embassy, announced collaborations with Museo Pambata for special events on October 8. The festival has reawakened the cultural connection between Mexico and the Philippines, which were the two ports of entry during the Galleon era. The Mexican Ministry of Education is now adding a chapter in all their schoolbooks on Philippine-Mexican ties during the Galleon Trade.
The festival will focus on the impacts of the Galleon and it will mirror the three concerns of the United Nations for the year 2010: the protection of biodiversity as impacted by climate change, the advancement of seafaring concerns, as well as Cultural Rapprochement. The Philippine festival will add a new dimension to the Galleon trade as it will highlight the role and impact of the Filipinos during the trade as well as emphasizing indigenous art forms.
Preparations are underway for the UNESCO-approved global observance of Día del Galeón scheduled for October 8 to remember its historic role as a trade route connecting continents and as a vessel of cultural exchange. For more information log onto http://www.ncca.gov.ph or e-mail [email protected]
this a refreshing piece of news. despite being center of trade for centuries and despite having millions of relatives working overseas, filipino culture tends to only look inwards. though not necessarily a bad thing but in this globalized society, the philipppines stands to gain so much from embracing other cultures. it is only through overseas filipinos who go back to their home land that they come into contact with other countries. indeed only look at tv one can immediately see what that we only look to america for our entertainment. although dashes of korean and spanish culture can be seen once in a while. i hope that with the continued penetration of the internet, filipinos can think more globally, though it is arguable that most think globally in terms of where to immigrate. events such as the one you mentioned go a long way towards making people more aware of these things beyond history lessons.