{"id":823,"date":"2010-08-11T10:09:39","date_gmt":"2010-08-11T02:09:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.getwet-asia.com\/philippines\/?p=823"},"modified":"2010-08-15T11:45:37","modified_gmt":"2010-08-15T03:45:37","slug":"dia-del-galeon-festival-%e2%80%93-manila-galleons-maritime-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.getwet-asia.com\/philippines\/dia-del-galeon-festival-%e2%80%93-manila-galleons-maritime-history\/","title":{"rendered":"D\u00eda del Gale\u00f3n Festival \u2013 Manila Galleons Maritime History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n
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\"Image:<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Image courtesy NCCA<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The D\u00eda del Gale\u00f3n Festival celebrates the unique journey of the Manila galleons and their place in maritime history – spanning the globe and linking the Philippines with Mexico and Spain. For 250 years (from 1565 \u2013 1815) the Manila galleons were a conduit for global trade and cultural exchange between Europe, the New World and Asia.<\/p>\n

In October 2009 UNESCO recognized the unique part the Manila galleons played in the globalization of trade and cultural exchange by declaring 8th October as the international \u201cD\u00eda del Gale\u00f3n\u201d (day of the galleon). Motivated by Senator Edgardo Angara, the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), in conjunction with the embassies of Spain and Mexico, spearheaded the creation of a month-long series of events that will span the traditional galleon trade route through the Philippines.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The D\u00eda del Gale\u00f3n festival runs from 15th September to 11th October and is expected to be an annual event that will entertain and educate Filipinos and rest of the World, and encourage a greater understanding of the impact the Philippines has had on the World of global trade. An international grand celebration is also slated for 12th October in Paris.<\/p>\n

The 8th October was chosen by UNESCO as the Dai del Galleon to commemorate the arrival of the first Manila galleon in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1565. The first Manila galleon, the \u201cSan Pablo\u201d, was piloted by Father Andres de Urdaneta, using nothing but a compass and his knowledge of wind & tide for navigation. To reach Acapulco, the San Pablo sailed North from Cebu, to approximately Latitude 38, then turned East towards the New World, and Mexico. Regrettably, due to the unexpectedly long journey (129 days) and inadequate provisioning by the then 15-year old Captain Felipe de Salcedo, most of the crew died before reaching their destination.<\/p>\n

It is uncertain exactly how may Manila Galleons were built \u2013 some authoritative sources say as few as 110 while others indicate many hundreds. The vast majority were built in the Philippines, using renowned Philippine hardwoods; at least eight are known to have been built in Acapulco, Mexico. Cavite, in Manila Bay, was the location of the largest shipyard building Manila Galleons: up to 2,000 tons and as long a 160-feet; others were built in shipyards in Marinduque, Masbate, Sorsogon and Camarines.<\/p>\n

The number of Manila Galleons that sank en route, in weather related mishaps or by force of arms from British and Dutch privateers, is also not clear but as many as 40 Manila Galleons are known to have sunk. Of the Manila Galleons that sank, most perished during their exit from the Philippine archipelago, with a handful being wrecked along the California coast upon arrival in the New World. Few wrecks have been found, partly because: of the deep and or treacherous waters in which they sank; and, Philippine law discourages active exploration of historic wrecks.<\/p>\n

Philippine D\u00eda del Gale\u00f3n events include:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Artes Talleres: The Workshop<\/h4>\n

15th September – 8th October<\/strong>
\nArtes Talleres: The Workshop is a three-week interdisciplinary festival of workshops, demonstrations, exhibits, and performances with participants from the Philippines and all
\nthe continents with the Galleon Trade experience
\n\u00b7 Workshops on arts and heritage
\n\u00b7 Collaborative workshops on cultural exchange
\n\u00b7 Theatrical production of Miguel Sabido\u00b9s Juana la Loca
\n\u00b7 Literary and visual art exhibits and broadcast features<\/p>\n

Juana La Loca<\/h4>\n

6th – 8th October<\/strong>
\nA play by Mexican playwright Miguel Sabido, Juana La Loca, depicts the romantic reign
\nof Spanish Queen Juana. The play will fuse Spanish and Filipino languages in
\na unique intercultural dialogue involving a multinational cast.<\/p>\n

Encuentro<\/h4>\n

8th October<\/strong>
\nEncuentro features an intercultural dialogue and culminating activity for workshop participants and guests; these will include presentations, creative industry exhibits, and declarations for a global and unified action for the preservation of cultural diversity and heritage, advancing the welfare of the seafarers, and climate change consciousness. It can serve as a public hearing for a legislative agenda on education and culture.<\/p>\n

Viaje Del Gale\u00f3n<\/h4>\n

8th – 11th October<\/strong>
\nViaje Del Gale\u00f3n is a four-day educational voyage aboard the Superferry 20, from Manila to Cebu (via Samar, Leyte, Bohol, Negros and Northern Mindanao) with on-board activities and tours around Cebu upon arrival. The conference and workshop participants will lead the activities, to be shared with youth passengers
\n\u00b7 On-board seminars
\n\u00b7 On-board interactive performances
\n\u00b7 On-board exhibits
\n\u00b7 On-land Galleon Trade significance reenactments protecting biodiversity and climate change
\n\u00b7 City and heritage site tours<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For more information about the D\u00eda del Gale\u00f3n Festival contact:<\/strong>
\nMs. Charisse Aquino-Tugade
\n6F NCCA Building, 633 General Luna St., Intramuros, Manila
\nTelephone: (632) 527 2192 local 616
\nEmail: diadelgaleon@yahoo.com<\/p>\n

Links:\n<\/p>\n

The D\u00eda del Gale\u00f3n Festival<\/a> webpage at NCCA<\/p>\n

View modern day Manila Bay<\/a> now, via webcam<\/p>\n

View modern day Cebu<\/a> now, via webcam<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The D\u00eda del Gale\u00f3n Festival from 15th September to 11th October celebrates the unique journey of the Manila galleons and their place in maritime history sailing initially from Cebu, Philippines, to Acapulco Mexico 1565 – 1815<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[99,386,51,46],"tags":[392,57,385,391,389,163,387,393,388,5,390],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.getwet-asia.com\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/823"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.getwet-asia.com\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.getwet-asia.com\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.getwet-asia.com\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.getwet-asia.com\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=823"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"http:\/\/www.getwet-asia.com\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":839,"href":"http:\/\/www.getwet-asia.com\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/823\/revisions\/839"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.getwet-asia.com\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.getwet-asia.com\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.getwet-asia.com\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}