MANILA, Sept. 4 – The Philippines is spearheading the commemorative activities under the first International Día del Galeón Festival, scheduled from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, 2010 in Manila and Paris, France, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) announced on Saturday.
NCCA said culminating with a grand celebration in Paris on Oct. 12, this festival will further push the Philippines into the international festival scene.
At last year’s UNESCO General Conference in Paris, Oct. 8 of every year was proclaimed as Día del Galeón (Day of the Galleon) in commemoration of the Galleon Trade, which took place between 1565 and 1815.
The Philippines played a significant role in one of the most important trade routes in history and has thus taken the task of organizing a monumental festival in tribute to the Galleon Trade.
Also called the Manila–Acapulco Galleon, this trade route bridged Asia with Europe, the Americas, and Africa.
It had brought a wide variety of Mexican influence to the Philippines, introducing Philippine culinary favorites such as the "sampaloc," "achuete" and, of course, "tsokolate de batirol." In Mexico, chocolate was mixed with cinnamon and pepper. (PNA) scs/JCA