La extraordinaria influencia de los vascos en Filipinas

Al poco de iniciar nuestro proyecto About Basque Country, recogíamos en nuestra web un articulo publicado por el diario filipino Inquirer Global Nation que nos daba una espectacular perspectiva de la extraordinaria influencia de la comunidad vasca en la historia de este país asiático. Tanto en su etapa colonial, como en su existencia como nación independiente.

Hoy volvemos a visitar este país, del que por desgracia y a pesar de la fuerte presencia de vasco-descendientes, no hablamos mucho (y no por falta de ganas de hacerlo), gracia al blog Far Outliers que se dedica a escribir sobre emigrantes, expatriados y exiliados, en la zona Asia-pacífico.

Estos días ha dedicado dos tres entradas a los Vascos en Filipinas. Todas están basadas en “Basques in the Philippines”,  un libro clave para conocer y entender toda la extraordinaria influencia e importancia de los vascos en este archipiélago asiático, tal y como lo recoge Euskalkultura en su artículo sobre el libro y el autor, Marciano R. de Borja, publicado en 2005.

Nos parece una buena excusa y razón para recordar esta parte de la “Historia de los vascos”,  tan poco conocida, por casi todos nosotros. Una historia, y una realidad aun hoy en día (a pesar del desapego y falta de atención que la hemos prestado desde nuestro país) que merece ser atendida cuidada y alimentada.

Junto a los dos artículos a los que nos referimos, les dejamos la versión e-book (15,79€) y tradicional del libro (30,55€) “Basques in the Philippines”,

Far Outliers – 1/2/2014- Filipinas

Fate of Basque Ethnicity in the Philippines

Today most Filipinos are very familiar with two things related to Basque culture, though without knowing it—chorizo de Bilbao, a kind of sausage, and jai alai. At the same time, the Basque legacy in the Philippines is perhaps manifested most obvi­ously in the number of Basque place-names. Many of Manila’s streets still have Basque names, though many more have been erased and changed in recent years for the sake of modernization and nationalism. The most obvious example is Avenida Azcárraga, which was renamed Claro M. Recto Avenue in honor of the great Filipino nationalist and senator. Among the surviving Basque street names are Ayala, Arlegui, Barrengoa, Bilbao, Gaztambide, Ozcariz, Elizondo, Guernica, Durango, Echague, Goiti, and Mendiola. In Makati, the posh residential and business enclaves are called Legazpi, Salcedo, and Urdaneta.

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Far Outliers – 1/2/2014- Filipinas

Basque Pioneers in the Philippines

Discussions of the outstanding Basque missionaries in the Philippines commonly start with reference to the apostolic work of Saint Francis Xavier, a Navarrese and a famous Jesuit missionary, on the island of Mindanao. Standard Philippine history books, however, do not contain any reference to Saint Francis Xavier’s exploits, since the veracity of his travel and missionary work in Mindanao has yet to be confirmed.

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Far Outliers -2/2/2014 – Filipinas

Philippine Basques and World War II

On March 31, 1937, Franco launched the military offensive against Bizkaia. The air force—whose core group was composed of German and Italian pilots—pounded the cities of Eibat, Durango, Gernika, Zornotza, Mungia, and Bilbao, causing hundreds of deaths. As depicted in the famous painting of Pablo Picasso, Gernika was razed. In fact, the town had no military installations and was not sheltering combatants. It became a prime target because it was the place where the fueros of the Basques were traditionally renewed by the Spanish monarchs. It was therefore a symbol of Basque autonomy. The destruction of Gernika was meant to crush the Basque spirit of resistance. The Basque residents in the Philippines were divided. Those from Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa loathed Franco, while those from Navarre backed him. In fact, Navarre was the first province in Spain to throw its support to Franco and supplied troops to the nationalist cause. One of Franco’s able military commanders, General Emilio Mola, was Navarrese.

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Last Updated on Dic 3, 2014 by About Basque Country