To further strengthen the Mexico-Philippines ties, the Mexican embassy will be bringing the well-known Mariachi festival to the Philippines on September.
Mariachi is a traditional band which combines traditional Mexican musical styles using five-string guitars, violins, trumpets, and even harps.
In Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city, the International Mariachi Festival is celebrated every year at the opening of Mexico’s el mes de la patria (homeland month) where party-goers will hear some of the art’s most famous players, as well as participate in tequila tastings, gala nights, and a Mariachi-inspired art show.
Mexican ambassador to the Philippines Julio Camarena disclosed last week in a press briefing that aside from exploring potential investment areas in the Philippines especially in Mindanao, the embassy is also working cultural engagements with their Philippine counterparts.
Last week, Camarena donated the book, “El Galleon de Manila” or Manila Galleon during his visit at Malagos Chocolate Museum.
The book about the Galleon Trade which brought cacao beans to the Philippines now serves as one of the highlights of the museum located in Malagos Garden Resort, Davao City. It is the first chocolate museum in the country owned and operated by the Puentespina family.
“The Malagos Chocolate farm represents the friendship that has existed between Mexico and the Philippines. It really represents our old ties,” the ambassador said in an interview.
According to the ambassador, the countries’ bilateral ties could be traced back 500 years ago when Philippines was under the Spanish rule and Mexico was once the vice kingdom of Spain which prompted the operation of Galleon Trade also known as Manila-Acapulco Trade.
This period not only paved way to the exchange of agricultural products between the two countries but also to the influence of Mexico on Philippine culture in terms of language, culture, and tradition.
Camarena also said these influences even retained their Mexican names such Semana Santa or the observance of the Holy Week, misa de gallo, Noche Buena, and fiesta.
