Ecuador Turns Over Replica of Ancient Ceramic Bottle Linking Strong Cacao Cultures of Philippines and Ecuador
Left photo: Ambassador Fabian Valdivieso, the Ecuador MFA’s Director of Cultural Affairs, Heritage and Tourism, turns over a replica of the ceramic bottle to Ambassador Vinzon-Balatbat Top right photo: Ambassador Vinzon-Balatbat acknowledges her receipt of the valuable gift from the Ecuadorian Government Bottom
Right photo: The original ceramic cacao container (R) takes the spotlight at the Museo Nacional de Ecuador. (Santiago PE photos)
SANTIAGO 20 November 2023 – The Philippines and Ecuador were able to unearth a vital link to their past during the recent official visit of Ambassador Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat to Quito, to present her credentials as nonresident Ambassador of the Philippines to Ecuador on 14 November 2023.
In 2018, genomic research on a ceramic bottle dating back 5,500 years cemented Ecuador’s claim that the upper Amazon region (Ecuador’s Zamora Chinchipe province) is the oldest center of cacao cultivation.
On the other hand, the Philippines is arguably the first country in Asia to cultivate cacao, after it was first brought to its shores by the Spanish Empire aboard the Manila Galleon, which traversed the Acapulco-Manila route during the 17th century. The Philippines, Ecuador, and Mexico were all united under the Spanish Empire for centuries, with the Philippines and Mexico forming part of the Viceroyalty of Nueva España.
During the visit to the Museo Nacional de Ecuador, Ambassador Vinzon-Balatbat and Minister and Consul General Jim San Agustin were able to view the original ceramic bottle that dates back to the Precolombino period. The ceramic bottle was found in Santa Ana-La Florida, Ecuador, at the earliest known site of Mayo-Chinchipe culture.
As a strong gesture of goodwill, and in honor of the strong filial connections between the Philippines and Ecuador, Ambassador Fabian Valdivieso, Director of Cultural Affairs, Heritage, and Tourism, turned over a replica of the ceramic bottle to Ambassador Vinzon-Balatbat in a ceremony at the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For its part, the Embassy has commenced talks with the Philippines’s National Museum to find a suitable home for the valued relic.
The same replica is also on display in 30 museums around the world.
Aside from the turnover of the ceramic bottle, both sides discussed ways to promote Philippine-Ecuadorian cultural relations, including through the possible participation of the Philippines in Ecuador’s annual International Festival of Living Arts. The Embassy is banking on the support of the Filipino community in Ecuador to represent the Philippines. END
Ambassador Vinzon-Balatbat and Minister San Agustin visit the Museo Nacional de Chile to view the 5,500-year-old ceramic cacao container (L to R, Minister and Consul General Jim B. San Agustin, Minister Ramiro Hidalgo of the Ecuador MFA’s Culture Directorate, Ambassador Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat, Ms. Alexandra Cardenas of the Museo Nacional de Ecuador)
Ambassador Vinzon-Balatbat meets with the Ecuadorian MFA’s Culture and Asia and Oceania Directorates to discuss ways to promote and enhance the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Ecuador, which now span 76 years (L to R, ECU Minister Ramiro Hidalgo, Director Fabian Valdivieso, Ambassador Vinzon-Balatbat, Director Maritza Sanchez, Minister and Consul General Jim San Agustin)
For more information, visit https://www.santiagope.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinChile.