Mexico: An old friend across the Pacific (Part One)

Looking back at our partnership over the years

- WALA LANG DR. JAIME C. LAYA

The Philippines was a Spanish Colony for 333 years, from 1565 when Miguel López de Legaspi settled in Cebu until 1898 when Spain yielded us to the US under the Treaty of Paris.

We then became an American colony, governed by American Governors General. In 1935, we graduated and became a Commonwealth headed by a Filipino President. We finally won our independence in 1946, 79 years ago.

We were under the US for just 48 years, but we now speak American English; many government and business leaders are American-educated; our young people dream of traveling and studying, if not migrating, to the US; about half of overseas Filipino remittances come from the US.

Not many would think of Mexico when asked about our links across the wide Pacific.

In fact, out of the 333 years that we were under Spain, colonial officials reported to Madrid for only the final 77 years. For 256 years, the Philippines reported to Mexico. With Spain and the Philippines being two oceans apart, Madrid had, from the outset, delegated Philippine governance to the Mexican Viceroy. Ties with Mexico were severed after Mexico revolted against Spanish rule and became independent in 1821. Only then did Madrid take a direct hand in Philippine colonial affairs.

For 256 years, the Philippines reported to Mexico. With Spain and the Philippines being two oceans apart, Madrid had, from the outset, delegated Philippine governance to the Mexican Viceroy.