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Galleon promotes history of Spanish navigation
By Bong Pedalino
Maasin City (Nov. 2 2010) -- As the Spanish past was rekindled with the presence of "Andalucia" galleon here, the purpose of the global sea-based expedition was to do just that: to promote the history of Spanish navigators.

At a press briefing at the Kinamot sa Abgao restaurant here last night shortly after the 28-member "Andalucia" crew, including two ladies, had dinner and had rested, the Spaniards, speaking in fluent English, recounted their voyage and gave a sense of perspective of it all.

Enrique Torres Barragan, head of the ship's logistics department, narrated that since the year 2000 or early 2001, the Spanish government with the support of sponsors from the private sector and through the Nao Victoria foundation, has been engaging in re-tracing the sea routes of the Spanish navigators during those exciting years of discovery travels across the globe.

The latest in these series of relating with the past, particularly using vantage 17th century look-alike vessels equipped with 21st century gadgets, was the creation of "Andalucia" -- so named because it was built in that place, a southern region in Spain, for a year and a half sometime halfway in this decade, at a construction cost of six million euro.

Barragan said that even while the construction of the ship was in progress, people had been going to see Andalucia, with the thought in mind that somehow the output would promote Spanish skills in conquering the high seas worldwide.

An earlier Galleon, named "Victoria", had looped around Europe and parts of Asia, but unfortunately the Philippines was not included then in its port of destination, Barragan said.

This time around, the Philippines was on their list, with Manila as the entry point alone, if not for the intercession of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Spanish Embassy, in which they had to accommodate, weather permitting, the requests to be in Cebu, Bohol, and Maasin City, Southern Leyte.

They found out, to their pleasant surprise, that the side trips were worth it, as their arrival were routinely embraced with warm reception complete with offerings of native songs and dances.

But they can't be going on side trips for long, because they have a timeline to be met, so they would be in Singapore sooner and be back at Spain soon.

It was the same route when they embarked on this present journey seven months ago from Seville, Spain, clearing the coast of Malta off the Mideteranean Sea, the Suez Canal, and following the Indian coast, to Singapore, until they arrived at Shanghai, China, just in time for their participation at World Expo 2010.

Then they proceeded to Taiwan, Hongkong, and Manila, Philippines, by October 6th.

Along the way they had called on certain ports, coordinating with local officials, and putting on the needed supplies and provisions, said Miguel Talegon Zaira, the in-house Journalist, or the Antonio Pigafetta of Magellan's trip then.

Were they not afraid of Pirates poaching the seas?

Not at all, but they were concerned, anyway, confessed logistics officer Barragan.

And that is another skill -- avoiding the Pirates, or perhaps befriending them -- that somehow the modern maritime world can learn. (PIA-Southern Leyte)

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