Editorial - Keeping history straight

The galleon Andalucia, which is currently in Cebu on a six-day visit, is a replica of the Spanish galleons that traded between the Philippines and the New World (Manila-Acapulco) between 1565 and 1815.

As such, the Andalucia provides a valuable physical tool for history lessons and is thus a must for a visit by students, as well as plain Cebuanos who want to touch base with their past, considering that it was from Cebu that Spanish colonization of the Philippines started to spread.

Many, however, are making the mistake of associating the galleons with the Spanish fleet of five ships led by Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer working for the Spanish crown who sought a westward route to the spice islands, that discovered the Philippines.

The five ships of Magellan were the Trinidad (flagship), Victoria (lone remaining ship to make the first circumnavigation of the world), Concepcion, Santiago, and San Antonio. All of the ships were carracks, except for the Trinidad, which was a caravel. They were not galleons.

There were no galleons at the time. Galleons evolved later from the carracks. And while galleons eventually assumed multiple roles for the seafaring nations at the time, most found more practical and profitable use as trading ships, as were used in the galleon trade.

That is how the Philippines, as far as its history is concerned, has come to know the galleon and became associated with one of the great moments of world commerce. And that is how it should remain. It is important that this aspect of our history does not get confused.

Some may consider factual accuracy in this regard to be hair-splitting. It is not. There is great importance in keeping these things in perspective because these facts are among our earliests links with the world, and it is important to keep our facts straight in this.

While there may be no great distinction between galleons and the ships in Magellan's time, it is wrong to treat the difference casually as if it is insignificant. We must not compromise accuracy, especially on a matter that earned us a favored place in world history.