The Manila Galleon as harbinger of globalization

A little-regarded monument fronting Manila Hotel honors two maritime explorers of the 16th century, one of whom, Friar Andrés de Urdaneta, achieved the “second” world navigation in 1536, 15 years after Ferdinand Magellan’s historic feat.

His partner in the monument, Miguel López de Legazpi, had captained the expedition ordered by King Philip II of Spain, to sail westward from Mexico across the Pacific to the Philippine Islands “discovered” earlier by Magellan, thence to find a suitable route back. Urdaneta charted that route that would consequently be used for the galleon trade.