Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day is celebrated every June 30, commemorating the heroic defense of Baler in Quezon Province by a group of Spanish soldiers who refused to believe the war had ended. President Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed them heroes.
The observance has stretched to various areas, and one of these activities was held in Cebu on Oct. 6 to mark El Dia del Galeon. This is the second year it is held here. Actually the Day of the Galleon was a two-day affair, with a third one added for a heritage tour of Southern Cebu.
Opening ceremonies were held at the audiovisual room of the University of San Carlos (USC) main campus with a good number of registrants who were promptly on site at 8 a.m. Karl Poblador from the History Department of the University of the Philippines-Diliman hosted the program.
It started with a prayer by Fr. Aleksander Gaut SVD, followed by the national anthems of the Philippines, Spain and Mexico. Welcome remarks were delivered by USC president Fr. Dionisio Miranda SVD who stressed the historical importance of the occasion. Aside from English, he speaks fluent Spanish (learned in Paraguay) and French, mastered in Brussels.
Maria Serena Diokno, chair of the National Historical Commission, introduced this year’s theme: “A Return to our Hispanic Roots—Revisiting the Galleon Trade.” It linked the then far-flung Philippines with Mexico, and from there, to Spain.
Spanish Ambassador Jorge Domecq gave an eloquent message in which, among many important things, he said the galleon trade from Manila to Acapulco was the harbinger of world trade. Those goods originating from the Philippines crossed the Pacific, and later the Atlantic Ocean.
Ambassador Domecq acknowledged the presence of Captain Mariano Juan Ferragut who had come from Spain as one of the speakers of the first session, and that of Javier Ruescas and Javier Wrana from the Association Cultural Galeon de Manila in Madrid who were also speakers.
Also acknowledge was the presence of the Spanish Embassy’s education advisor Francisco Javier Menendez, who has established links with USC for the teaching of the Spanish language on the university level. A professor, Maria Jose Perez, has come from Spain for the purpose.
Of Filipino parent
Next speaker was Christian Clay Mendoza, deputy chief of mission of the Mexican Embassy as well as its Trade Mexican Ambassador Tomas Javier Calvillo Unna who had gone for Geleon Day in Acapulco.
Señor Mendoza reminded the audience that the Philippines had been ruled through the Spanish Viceroy resident in Mexico. This was so until Mexico became independent and Spain then directly ruled its Philippine colony for 80 years until 1898. He also said that the galleon trade initiated globalization centuries before the term was coined. He spoke some sentences in fluent Tagalog and Cebuano, and that is because his mother is a Filipina.
National Museum Director Jeremy Barns gave the closing remarks at the opening session. He invited everyone to view the exhibit they had set up in the USC campus, as well as the permanent expo of the university’s museum, open to all on this occasion.
Governor Gwendolyn Garcia was expected at the event but she was unable to make it. However, she did invite all the delegates to dinner that evening at the Province of Cebu’s Museo sa Sugbo.
Certificates of recognition were awarded to existing institutions in Cebu that harken back to Spanish times. These were USC itself, Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion, Seminario Mayor de San Carlos, the Order of Saint Augustine, which maintains Basilica del Santo Niño and Magellan’s Cross, and Casino Español de Cebu.
Snacks were served in the campus gloriette at the guadrangle. Everyone loved the sweet “sikwate” (rich Cebu chocolate), accompanied by banana-leaf wrapped “suman” of the “moron” type, laced with chocolate.
For Spanish Ambassador Domecq this was his second visit to Cebu, having been here last July for the Casino Español’s celebration of Dia de Santiago. This time he came with his lovely wife Rosa, for whom this was a memorable first sojourn.
After the opening program of Dia del Galeon they had time to do some touring. They went to see the Santo Niño at the Basilica, admired the church and its Baroque main altar, and touched the original blocks of coral stone used in the building centuries back. They also went to nearby Magellan’s cross where candle vendors dance the Sinulog.
Was there time to make a look see at the Casino Español? Sure enough, not only see it, but stop by the “bar mixto” for a cool drink and some tapas. The “gambas al ajillo” were delicious. So where the slices of “chorizo del norte.” Did it come from Spain? No, it is home made in Cebu by Margot and Manuel Larrañaga.
Ambassador and Mrs. Domecq promised to return some day for a more relaxed visit, perchance to enjoy the beaches, see the handicrafts shops, or visit more vestiges of Cebu’s Hispanic past.