Food Insight: Influences on Filipino Food

When the Spaniards came to the Philippines in 1521, the Filipinos were already trading with China, Japan, Siam, India, Cambodia, Borneo and the Moluccas. The Spanish government continued trade relations with these countries, and the Manila became the center of commerce in the East. The Spaniards closed the ports of Manila to all countries except Mexico. Thus, the "Galleon Trade" was born. The Galleon Trade was a government monopoly. Only two galleons were used: One sailed from Acapulco to Manila with some 500,000 pesos worth of goods, spending 120 days at sea; the other sailed from Manila to Acapulco with some 250,000 pesos worth of goods spending 90 days at sea. This might explain why Filipino food was fluenced by these countries. Pancit from the Chinese, Mechado and Morcon from Spain, Estofado from Mexico, etc.