09 February 2015 – Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Catalino R. Dilem, Jr., opened the lecture series entitled “Reclaiming our Shared Heritage – The Cultural Route of the Manila Galleon Art and Culture Mexico-Philippines” held on February 04 at the Museo Regional Cuauhnahuac (Palacio de Cortes) in Cuarnevaca, State of Morelos. He was accompanied by Cultural Officer Rosabelle Q. Toledo.
The lecture series is about the shared cultural heritage of Mexico and the Philippines brought about by the Manila Galleon trade. It was organized and coordinated by Dr. Juan Antonio Siller Camacho, a professor and member of the Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia (INAH).
The lecture series is made significant by the fact that this year is the 450th anniversary of the return voyage of the Galleon from Manila to Acapulco.
In his message, Ambassador Dilem said that an entire year is dedicated to this event. He also emphasized the importance of the Manila Galleon in relation to the strong historical and cultural ties between the Philippines and Mexico.
Dr. Siller introduced and presented the theme of the lecture series as well as the shared cultural heritage between the Philippines and Mexico. He cited the significance of the Galleon Trade during the 16th and 17th centuries and its influence in the relations between the two countries.
The first of the lecture series was conducted by Mr. Adalberto Rio Szalay, a professor and professional photographer at Cuernavaca. He spoke on the topic “Las Costas del Pacifico en Norte America y Mexico” (The Pacific Coasts in North America and Mexico).
In his presentation, Mr. Rios underscored the key role that Mexico and the Philippines played, not only due to their strategic positions but also to their cultural importance that allowed them to be main actors in the Americas and Asia during the Galleon trade. He enumerated the various influences of the Philippines in Mexican culture such as the tuba making in Colima, the palapa (a thatched roof made of dried palm leaves) in Michoacan, the Manila paper, the Manila mango, the guayabera cloth in Yucatan, the process of lacquer painting, the rice varieties and techniques in growing rice.
The lecture series will run from February to December 2015. END