Basques In The Philippines

by Marciano R. De Borja

The Basques, one of Spain’s most distinct ethnic minorities, played a remarkably influential role in the creation and maintenance of Spain’s vast colonial empire, including the Philippines. Basques were members of the Magellan expedition that discovered the Philippines in 1521, and a Basque-led expedition subsequently laid the foundation for Spain’s conquest and pacification of the archipelago. Despite the small population of their native provinces, the Basques’ unique skills as shipbuilders, navigators, businessmen, and scribes, their evangelical zeal, and their ethnic cohesion and work-oriented culture made them well suited to serve as explorers, colonial administrators, missionaries, settlers, merchants, and shippers in the trans-Pacific galleon trade between China, Manila, and Acapulco, Mexico. After the Wars of Independence deprived Spain of most of its American empire, many Basques settled in the Philippines, fleeing political persecution and increasingly limited opportunities in their homeland. Basque emigration from Spain to the Philippines continued through the first half of the twentieth century. Basques played prominent roles in the governance, defense, and cultivation of the Philippines until the end of Spanish sovereignty in 1898, and an active role in Filipino resistance to the Japanese occupation during World War II. They were leaders in the economic development of the hinterlands, as well as the advancement of industry, transportation, inter-island trade and shipping, and the establishment of Catholicism as a dominant national religion. Filipinos of Basque descent continue to contribute in significant ways to the culture and economy of the contemporary Philippines. This work breaks new ground with its study of the Basque diaspora in the Far East. It also addresses the long-unappreciated history of the Philippines as a vital part of the Spanish Empire, closely connected through trade and personal ties to the American colonies, and crucial to the European penetration of East Asia. Basques distinguished themselves in many areas of Filipino life, and their story, as told by Marciano de Borja, is rich in vivid characters and fascinating detail, while at the same time filling an important void in the scholarly literature about the Basque diaspora.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Clarice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting content! I had gone to elementary and high school with several Basque descendants in my province and they have always interested me. Mr. de Borja paints a glorious epic retelling of the Basques that helped create the Filipino in the 16th century: the stories of Legazpi, Urdaneta and Salcedo fuel the heart with awe. Over time, we also come to learn about the several influences they left in the land as well as prominent descendants who are very well-known in Philippine society. I recommend this to anyone who wishes to learn about the group under the Spanish crown that had been present since the formation and development of our Hispanic identity.