Marciano R. de Borja’s Basques in our islands

There was a time when the motto in the Spanish Royal arms was Ne Plus ultra, "thus far and no farther." It was an allusion to the Pillars of Hercules, the opposite rocks at the entrance of the Mediterranean, one in Spain, the other in Africa. Legend was that they were once together till Hercules broke them apart to get to Cadiz. For a long time, they symbolized the end of the world.

After Columbus discovered America, Spain acquired more territory in one generation than Rome had conquered in 500 years. This led to making Carlos V strike out ne and making plus ultra the official Spanish national motto, meaning that Spain could go further. And they certainly did get further when they discovered the Philippines, thus making the Spanish Empire the very first empire where the sun never sets. The phrase was first used in a book entitled Pastor Fido published in 1590 where the author referred to Philip II as "that proud monarch to whom when it grows dark (elsewhere), the sun never sets." The Philippines was named after him.

The two essential things of history are geography and chronology. Yesterday a book that will throw a lot of light on our Spanish past was launched. We are referring to Marciano R. de Borja’s Basques in the Philippines. It shows how one of Spain’s most distinct ethnic minorities played a relevant role in the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. During the Spanish times, Spaniards in the Philippines were all called Kastila, but the great majority did not come from Castille. And in the Philippines itself, the Spanish population classified themselves as either peninsulars, meaning born in the Iberian peninsula, the peninsula now comprising Spain and Portugal or insulars, meaning born in the Philippines. Basques in the Philippines is about one of Spain’s most distinct ethnic minorities. It is amazing to read about the Basques descendants who have thoroughly become part and parcel of Philippine society – Aboitiz, Ayala, Elizalde, Garchitorena and Ynchausti.

One of the distinguished Basque families that contributed so much to the progress of the nations were the Ynchaustis. As early as 1854, Jose Joaquin de Ynchausti founded the very first agro-industrial conglomerate in the Philippines – the Ynchausti y Cia with branches in Shanghai, Hong Kong, San Francisco and New York. The same company also founded the Distileria Tanduay in Manila and the YCO Paint. Both companies were later sold, but to this day, the Ynchausti family coat of arms is the logo of both firms. The first bridge crossing the Pasig, the Puente Colgante or suspension bridge was also the work of Jose Joaquin de Ynchausti.

We have had the privilege of being in contact with Don Antonio Maria Larrauri de Ynchausti and he has certainly maintained his noble descent. He obtained his Liberal Arts degree from the St. Francis Xavier School in Basque Country and was Honorary Consul of the Philippines in San Sebastian. He married the daughter of General Antonio Tamayo, Maria Teresa Tamayo. He is now president of Bishops Businessmen’s Conference Livelihood and treasurer of Gregorio Araneta University Foundation. He is a true gentleman of the old school.