A Peek Into Spanish Ways
Philippines-Spanish Friendship Week celebration
A PEEK into the colonial Spanish life–this was how everyone felt as historians and cultural workers gathered to celebrate the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day at UP Visayas last September 17, 2010.
Republic Act 9187 in 2002 by Sen. Edgardo J. Angara declared every June 30 of the year as the Philippine – Spanish Friendship Day. This year, however, because of the inauguration of President Benigno Aquino III as the 15th President of the Philippine Republic which happened on the same date, the organizers moved this year’s celebration to September 17 and 18. According to Dr. Ma. Luisa DL. Bolinao, Chair of the Department of History of UP Diliman, June 30 was selected to commemorate the event as this was the date when Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo commended the besieged Spanish soldiers in the church of Baler for their loyalty and gallantry. The celebration aims at strengthening the relationship between the Philippines and countries with which it has shared history, values, and traditions.
The National Historical Council of the Philippines (NHCP) was designated to oversee the yearly celebration of this event with the assistance from other inter-agency committees. The event is simultaneously celebrated and organized in different locations of Spain, such as Madrid, Barcelona, Palencia, and Almonte.
Chancellor Minda J. Formacion of UP Visayas welcomed the participants mostly coming from Luzon and Western Visayas. An audio-visual presentation anchored by Dr. Vic Villan, showed the historical milestones of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines for more than three centuries. Despite the current adverse perception of the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, history traces the remarkable advancement of the country under the Spanish reign in terms of education, religion, the written language (publication), structures and culture. Iloilo, was a recipient of the Spanish benevolence as manifested by the presence of such magnificent churches and colonial houses that dot its landscape.
Two surviving 19th century institutions were given citations during the event. These are the La Panayana Printing Press, which produces Roman Catholic novenas and Almanaque and the Panaderia de Molo, which produces Ilonggo delicacies and pastries since 1860’s. The citations were given to La Panayana Printing Press owner Mrs. Milagros Perfecto Sanchez and Dr. Kristin Treñas of Panaderia de Molo.
Four papers were presented in the afternoon. These where “La Muy Leal y Noble Iloilo: Spain’s Last Capital in the Philippines” by Hon. Demy Sonza, local historian and Board Member of the 2nd District of Iloilo; “Visayans in 17th Century Marianas Islands: Their Role as Colonizers and Sowers of Christianity” by Dr. Augusto De Viana, Chair of the Department of History of the University of Santo Tomas; and From Tupas to Gaston Fornier: On the Nature of Land Ownership in the Visayas” by Dr. Jaime Veneracion, retired Professor of the Department of History in UP Diliman.
Mr. Rey Carlo T. Gonzales and Prof. Tomasito T. Talledo of the Division of Social Sciences of UP Visayas, and Mr. Jigger L. Latoza, Director of the University Coordinating Center for Research and Publication of the University of San Agustin served as discussants of the papers presented. The moderators of the open forums that followed the paper presentations and discussions were Dr. Ma. Luisa Mabunay of the UPV Division of Social Sciences and Director of the Graduate Program Office, and Prof. Kristoffer Esquejo of the Department of History of UP Diliman.
The book, “The Spain of Sancho Panza and the Don Quixote”, which was written by Dr. Jaime Veneracion was also launched after the paper presentations. Prof. Randy Madrid, Chair of the Steering Committee for UPV capped the day with his closing remarks. Prof. Raymundo Piccio and Prof. Robert Rodriguez served as Masters of the Ceremonies.
A tour of Spanish Heritage sites in the Iloilo Province’ Southern Stretch on the following day, September 18, was also one of the highlights of the celebration. The tour group visited the San Joaquin Church on the southern tip of the Iloilo province. The bas-relief on the façade of the church depicts the “Rendition de Tetuan” (Battle of Tetuan), which celebrates the victory of the Spanish forces under the spiritual leadership of Santiago Matamoros (St. James, the Moor-slayer) over the Moors in Tetuan, Morocco. The National Museum declared the church as one of the cultural treasures of the Philippines.
The group also passed by the Campo Santo, one of the surviving Mudejar–inspired cemeteries in Iloilo. On its way back, they dropped by the Miagao Church, the façade of which is a charming baroque explosion of botanical motifs that merged local plateresque elements (15th century Spanish Baroque architecture, done in very intricate manner) and Western iconography. The church was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. The tour group also passed by the Taytay Boni, which is one of the very few surviving Spanish stone bridges, and built in 1854; and the Sinamay House in Villa Arevalo, Iloilo City. The group learned that Arevalo was the 2nd capital of the Spanish colonial government in Panay after Oton. Along the way was the Mill Hill Missionary House, the site of the Colegio de Santa Ana – one of the first exclusive schools for girls in Western Visayas founded by the Avanceña sisters.
The afternoon route started at the University of San Agustin – the oldest Catholic University in Western Visayas. Their Museum and Archives boast of a historical collection that traced as far back as the Hispanic period. These are manuscripts and church collections of the Augustinians that include priestly vestments and vessels.
In Molo, Baluarte, the grouped visited the Mejica/Makinaugalingon Museum. The group also enjoyed the trip to the 17th century Spanish fortress; the ruins of Casino Español at Sto. Rosario, Muelle Loney, San Jose Placer Church, and Plaza Libertad – where the Spaniards peacefully surrendered to Ilonggo troops in December 25, 1898. The group then passed by the Elizalde/Ynchausti Building, the remnant of the Basque Enterprise and treaded the Calle Real – Iloilo City’s Central Business District. It then went through the Casa Real (the old capitol) and the Museo Iloilo.
In the District of Jaro, the group passed by the Lopez Boat House, the Nelly Garden, the Sanson – Montinola Antillan House, and Colegio de San Jose. They also went to the Jaro Cathedral and visited the miraculous statue of our Lady of Candles, passed along the old belfry, plaza, the Archbishop Palace and the St. Vincent Seminary while at the same time viewing the old houses of the prominent families of Jaro around the town square. The last stop was to Jaro’s aged-old tradition of Barquillos-making at the Deocampo’s Barquillos and the Biscocho House.
All throughout the two-day celebration, participants were treated to a gastronomic feast of Spanish food.
The Philippine – Spanish Week Celebration in UP Visayas was made possible through following working committees and partners: the Department of History, UP Diliman, UPV Center for West Visayn Studies, ADHIKA-Iloilo, Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council, Museo Iloilo and Iloilo City. The Technical Working Group for this event is composed of the Office of Senator Edgardo J. Angara, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Spanish Embassy in Manila, and the Instituto Cervantes. (With sources from Mr. Randy Madrid)
