Historical Marker Commemorating Mexico’s 201st Fighter Squadron Unveiled at Galleon Day

MANILA, Philippines — The Embassy of Mexico in the Philippines, Intramuros Administration, National Historical Commission of the Philippines and the University of the Philippines Los Baños unveiled a historical marker commemorating Mexico’s 201st Fighter Squadron (Escuadro Aerea de Pelea 201), a unit of the Mexican Expeditionary Forces that helped the Philippines during the World War II, at Plaza Hidalgo in Intramuros Friday, Oct. 8.

The ceremony was headed by Gerardo Lozano Arredondo, Ambassador of Mexico to the Philippines; Rene Escalante, Chairman of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines; and Guiller Asido, Administrator of the Intramuros Administration. The Mexican ambassador expressed the importance of young people knowing the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade route, not only as the main link that connected Mexico with the Philippines but also its broader impact, in other aspects particularly history, diplomacy, economy, culture, religion and more, according to the Mexican embassy’s news release.

He also recognized that at some point, it marked the “consolidation of the first process and early manifestation of globalization having influenced the politics, philosophy, commerce, and trade of the entire world.”

Aside from unveiling the historical marker, the Mexican embassy, University of the Philippines Los Baños and CEMEX Holdings, Inc. also inaugurated a botanical garden with flora that traveled to the Philippines through the Galleon route.

In October 2009, UNESCO declared Oct. 8 as the international Day of the Galleon (“Día del Galeón”), recognizing the “unique” role that the galleons that navigated between Manila and Acapulco played in the “globalization of trade and cultural exchange.”

In a statement, the Mexican embassy said it “recognizes the importance of the said galleon trade route, in connecting three continents: Asia, Europe, and the Americas as a key instrument that contributed to the growth and development of trade and to the valuable exchange of culture, traditions, practices, knowledge, and peoples.”