It was 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan, with the support of the Spanish royal family, embarked on his voyage to the east, crossing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to arrive at one of the central islands of the Philippine archipelago. Several expeditions were then launched by the royal family following Magellan’s discovery. The Spanish conquistador, Juan de Salcedo, was then sent to the north of the country, where Manila is located, in order to establish an overseas colony and, as a result, created the city of Villa Fernandina – the Vigan of today. Prior to the country’s subjugation to the Spanish Empire, Vigan was a port city, geographically located in close proximity to China. It was utilized as a trading hub between the indigenous peoples of the Philippines and Chinese merchants frequenting the region due to its position at the mouth of the Mestizo River. This geographical setting resulted in Vigan developing into a trade city that would later become the primary port city supplying goods during the Galleon Trade.
The grid plan of the city itself, along with its architecture, differs from the cities constructed during the Spanish colonial rule. In particular, Vigan’s architecture integrates unique traits derived from Spain and China, as well as traditional aspects of the Philippines. The architecture that stands today originates from the mid-18th to late-19th century. The structures were comprised of a first floor made up of stone and brick, serving as the foundation for a second floor built entirely from lumber. First floors typically functioned as a shop or work office, while second floors were used as family housing. Materials for construction, including stone, lumber, clay and shells, were primarily gathered from the surrounding area.
Mestizo, the name of the river cutting through the city of Vigan, brought together a number of ethnicities that included locals and natives of China and Spain. The heart of the historic city of Vigan is home to Plaza Salcedo and Plaza Burgos, which lie adjacent to one another in close proximity, dramatically portraying the cultural inclusiveness of the Philippines. The name Plaza Salcedo derives from the Spanish conquistador, Juan De Salcedo, while Plaza Burgos originates from Jose Burgos, a Filipino Catholic priest and Vigan native born of mixed descent who fought against the unfair treatment of his people.
Yak-jeon Jeong’s Pyohaesimal (lit. The Records of Sea Drifting), the first record of culture from the Philippines that became known among Koreans, depicts the story of Sun-deuk Moon, who stayed for several months in the Philippines, known at the time as Lusongguo (present-day Luzon), after happening upon the islands following a storm in 1801. The region in which he stayed was then known as Illomi, otherwise known in the present day as Ilocos Sur, the very province home to the capital city of Vigan. Historical records describe in detail the Chinese natives from Fujian, the distinctive clothing of Spanish priests, the lifestyles of locals, and the different architectural structures. Essentially, the Philippines served as a global plaza that welcomed Chinese migrants, Spanish conquistadors and even Koreans that happened to arrive on the shores of the Philippines after being adrift at sea.
Written by Professor Dong-yeob Kim (Busan University of Foreign Studies)
KOREA FOUNDATION
