January 10, 2008 | 12:00am
This year marks the 500th anniversary of the birth of Friar Andres de Urdaneta. To commemorate the event, a commission has been set up here in the Philippines and is headed by Father Pedro G. Galende, OSA and Don Antonio M. de Ynchausti. Parallel to this, the City Council of Ordizia is also preparing different events that will correspond to the activities being launched here.
The commemoration of the 500th anniversary of Friar Urdaneta allows us to learn about his life and his works as a seafarer, astronomer and friar. Friar Urdaneta was born in the small town of Ordizia in the Basque province of Guipuzcoa, Spain. He had studied Latin and philosophy, but having been left an orphan, he devoted himself to military life. In the Italian wars, he obtained the rank of captain. Upon his return to Spain, he studied mathematics and astronomy, which inspired him to pursue a sea-faring life. He accompanied Garcia Jofre de Loaisa in his ill-fated expedition to the Spice Islands in 1525.
Urdaneta was the main figure of an important discovery of scientific-technical nature: the complex route of return from the Philippines to America through the Pacific, or what had been called “el tornviaje.” This landmark achieved by Urdaneta in 1565, opened one of the most important trade routes of the world, the one that communicated the rest of the Pacific and Asia with America; the one that remained in use for 250 years; and the one that did not disappear until the implementation of motor navigation.
Because of the economic significance of Urdaneta’s achievement, the relevance of his discovery can be compared to the routes opened by Marco Polo or Colon. The vision of this distinguished seafarer to establish important center of population in strategic places of the Pacific, as origin and destination of the cheapest and fastest intercontinental transportation at that time, are the forerunners of the current worldwide economic revolution. This is now known as the Global Economy.
The commemoration of the 500th anniversary of Urdaneta’s birth is a perfect opportunity to boost his stature. The series of international activities that will be launched will surely give Urdaneta his outstanding place in history which he rightfully deserves. We are looking forward to the different events that will showcase the many important works and discoveries of this remarkable man.
