MANILA, Philippines - As part of the “Dia del Galeon“ celebration, the Philippines will play host to the replica of the 17th century galleon ship Andalucia on Oct. 5-9 at the Manila Harbor. Known as the first ship to successfully circumnavigate the world, Andalucia was among the five ships that headed to the Spice Islands and landed in the Philippines. Guests are invited to board the galleon and walk through history.
Currently docked at the Shanghai Expo, the 51-meter replica makes use of ancient seafaring techniques with very minimal modern technology and virtually no fuel at its disposal.
The celebration will also trace the history of the galleons that plied the Manila-to-Acapulco route through the five-day educational trip “Viaje del Galeon” that will be launched on Oct. 8. Viaje del Galeon will pass by Manila on the way to Cebu with on-board activities and heritage tours upon docking, as well as interactive performances and galleon trade significant reenactments.
The Dia del Galeon Festival will focus on the impacts of the galleon and will mirror the three UN concerns for 2010 – the protection of biodiversity as impacted by climate change, the advancement of seafaring concerns as well as cultural rappro.chement. This celebration is aimed at adding a new dimension to the galleon trade through highlighting the role of Filipinos during the maritime trade period, as well as emphasizing indigenous art forms and heritage.