In the know: Galleon trade


Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:58:00 10/07/2010

Filed Under: history, International (Foreign)Trade, Waterway & Maritime Transport, business

FOR 250 YEARS (1565-1815), the Manila galleons were the only regular fleet service across the Pacific. They made an annual journey—one galleon outgoing, one incoming—between Manila and Acapulco in Mexico, sometimes reaching as far as Callao in Peru.

Carried on the ships were the trade goods of the two countries. Each full trip lasted approximately two hundred days, with the return voyage taking 70 days.

The trade brought innumerable flora and fauna into the country, like avocado, guava, papaya, pineapple, horses and cattle. The image of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo also came from Mexico via the trans-Pacific trade.

The trade, however, benefited only a small group of privileged Spaniards—the Spanish governor, merchants with consular duties and rights, and Spanish residents in Manila.

Tempted by the lucrative trade, Chinese immigrants converged in Binondo in 1637. Retail and small credit business came under the control of Chinese mestizos.

Filipinos did dirty work

While the Spanish and the Chinese earned enough income from the trade to lead affluent lives, the Filipinos were left with the backbreaking work of constructing the galleons.

Philippine hardwood was cut and transported to the shipyards of Cavite, Mindoro, Marinduque, or Masbate. Sails were fashioned out of the Iloko-woven cotton blankets exacted as tribute payment.

Galleon construction conflicted with the planting and harvesting schedules and retarded the growth of Philippine agriculture. Trade declined in the 18th century, and led to an economic depression in the country. Inquirer Research

Source: History of the Filipino People by Teodoro A. Agoncillo

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