Role of Galleon Trade Route in Shaping PH-Mexico Ties Highlighted at International Day of the Galleon Symposium

Ambassador Lilybeth R. Deapera delivered her remarks during the opening ceremony of “International Dia Del Galeon Symposium 2023,” on 09 October 2023 held at the Institute of Historical Research of Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. 

MEXICO 10 November 2023 – The inaugural session of the International Day of the Galleon Symposium recorded one of the highest views among the streamed videos in the Youtube page (//www.youtube.com/@historicasunam">https://www.youtube.com/@historicasunam) of the Institute of Historical Research of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), the country 's premier public university. 

Thirty days since the stream, the video has hit over 1,600 views. Collectively, all four symposium videos have accumulated over 3,000 views. 

The said symposium is one of the activities under the Philippine-Mexico Studies Program based in UNAM organized by Dr. Ivan Valdez-Bubnov, point of contact and academic coordinator of the Philippine-Mexico Studies Program in UNAM; Third Secretary and Vice Consul Marisa R. Winkler of the Philippine Embassy in Mexico; Dr. Alberto Angulo of Universidad del Pais, Spain; and Dr. Kristyl Obispado of the University of the Philippines, Diliman. 

Attended by more than 100 participants mainly from the academe and Mexican government agencies as well as members of the Filipino and Mexican communities, the symposium held on 09-10 October 2023 at the Institute of Historical Research of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico underscored the sustained interest on the famed Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade route. 

Philippine Ambassador Lilybeth R. Deapera in her remarks emphasized the importance of the trade route that  played a significant role in shaping the historical and cultural ties between the Philippines and Mexico.

Senator Loren Legarda, whose congressional initiative made the Philippine-Mexico Studies Program possible, in her message through a PowerPoint presentation read by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Winkler, said that the Philippines´ relationship with Mexico is not just one of diplomacy but of shared cultural similarities and historical affinities that have defined both countries´ identities and enriched their societies. She likewise said that she is looking forward to more collaborative projects that will emerge from the partnership between the Philippines and UNAM.

The two-day symposium held during the 458th Anniversary of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade route focused on the administrative, organizational, social, material, financial and technological bases that made possible the maintenance of the transpacific route along its 250 years of service.

It featured twenty (20) resource speakers from the Philippines, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Australia and the United States of America, namely: Dr. Emmanuel Calairo, Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines; Dr. Jorge Ortiz Sotelo of Economic and Political Peruvian Institute; Dr. Cuauhtemoc Villamar, freelance researcher and former Mexican diplomat; Mr. Junald Ango, M.A. of the University of Queensland, Australia; Dr. Kristyl Obispado of the University of the Philippines Diliman; Dr. Guadalupe Pinzon Rios of the Institute of Historical Research, UNAM; Dr. Rafael Torres Sanchez of Universidad de Navarra; Dr. Maria Dolores Herrero Fernandez-Quesada of Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Dr. Eder Gallegos Ruiz of Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla; Dr. Maria Baudot Monroy of Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia; Dr. Alberto Angulo Morales of Universidad del Pais Vasco; Dr. Cheek Sangalang Fadriquela of University of Santo Tomas; Dr. John T. Wing of College of Staten Island; Dr. Ostwald Sales-Colin of UAM-Azcapotzalco; Dr. Manuel Diaz Ordoñez of Universidad de Sevilla; Director Bobby Orillaneda of National Museum of the Philippines; Dr. Jely Galang of University of the Philippines; Dr. Ivan Valdez-Bubnov of the Institute of Historical Research, UNAM; Dr. Carmen Yuste of the Institute of Historical Research, UNAM; and Dr. Javier Gomez Valero of Desperta Ferro Ediciones.

UNAM's YouTube can be accessed through this link:  https://www.youtube.com/@historicasunam. END

Ambassador Lilybeth R. Deapera posed for a photo with Dr. Emmanuel Calairo (4th from the left side), Chairperson of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the organizers and some of the resource speakers during the opening ceremony of “International Dia Del Galeon Symposium 2023,” on 09 October 2023 held at the Institute of Historical Research of Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.

Senator Loren Legarda´s message for the opening ceremony of “International Dia Del Galeon Symposium 2023,” held on 09-10 October 2023 at the Institute of Historical Research of Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, was read by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Marisa R. Winkler