Galleon conference a success
HE International Conference on the Galleon and the Making of the Pacific held recently at Fort Santiago was a big success.
The conference provided a rare opportunity to expand scholarship and existing knowledge and focused on the important economic infrastructure of Spanish colonial rule in the two continents.
Indeed, the annual Manila-Acapulco trade stimulated the growth and development of these port cities as premier markets for regional trade in Asia and the Americas.
On the welcome night of the conference, the traffic going to Fort Santiago was bumper to bumper because, as we were told, there was a motorcade proclaiming a political candidates that caused all the traffic. The guests managed to reach the Almnacenes Reales an hour or two later. In fact, some of the guests turned back for fear that they would get stuck in traffic. Oh, they missed a lot.
At the sprawling Fort Santiago gardens, those who braved the traffic were infor a treat. Elegantly dressed for the occasion, the guests were met with wine and a refreshing lambanog drink and canapés.
Out in the garden was the beautiful performance of the Ramon Obusan Dance Troupe in their authentic and colorful Filipino costumes. They paraded, acted, and sang – showing how the Filipinos were during the galleon trade.
Part of the performance was the "putungan" where some of the VIPs that evening were presented sweet-smelling sampaguita flowers to honor them.
After the 20-minute show, everyone was ushered to the Almacenes Reales, a newly restored air-conditioned hall where dinner was served.
Inside the Almacenes Reales, facing the door were musicians serenading the guests. The melodious music they played created a fine ambiance in the reception area.
Thankfully, welcome speeches before dinner were brief and concise. These gave the guests enough time to have fine conversations among themselves.
A buffet dinner was prepared by la Tasca to the delight of everyone.
The Intramuros Administration head, the gracious Bambi Harper, made sure that everyone was comfortable that evening.
Can you imagine, centuries later, the trans-Pacific trade through the galleon would one day be appreciated (as part of our history) and celebrated in this manner?
The galleon introduced and affirmed the uniqueness of local cultures within the Spanish empire. It strengthened the shared Ibero-Hispanic cultural identities of the colonies, and enriched their regional trading partners in Asia and the Americas.
We must keep in mind that, most importantly, the Manila-Acapulco trade was a foreshadowing of globalization.
The galleon was the link among these trans-continental Pacific Rim cultures with a shared economic-cultural heritage.