Local gourmands will be treated to a gustatory exploration on November 24 when the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, the Instituto Cervantes de Manila and the National Museum launch at the Old Session Hall the exhibit Flavors that Sail across the Seas, which illustrates the impact of the arrival of the Spaniards in the Philippines on worldwide radical change in food consumption and eating habits as a result of ever-increasing growth in the exchange between Asia, the Americas and Europe brought about by the Galleon Trade.
 Chef Chele González | On display are quality reproductions of facsimiles which are primary sources chosen from the huge and exceptional documentary heritage kept at the Archivo General de Indias in Seville which includes an extensive collection of first-hand accounts of the arrival of the Spaniards to the Philippines, the evolution of sailing and the exchange of goods. Exhibit visitors will have the opportunity to experience the exposition with the five senses. The exhibit is divided into four thematic areas. The first deals with the exploration of food that demonstrates the desire of Europeans to get their hands on the spices of the East, prompting them to search for the direct route to the so-called Spice Islands and later even try to cultivate in the New World the coveted Asian aromatic plants with not much success. |
| The next area focuses on the discovery of the Philippines and the Moluccas, an entirely different world for the Europeans, introducing them to a diversity of people, cultures and food as well as trading possibilities; and with the settlement of the Spaniards in Manila a new link with the Chinese, Malaysians and Indonesians opened up. The third area showcases Manila as a meeting and exchange point and traces the connection between the galleon trade and the globalization of tastes. The final area of the exhibit highlights the amalgamation of flavors from three continents in cooking, serving as present-day inspiration in creating new tastes, markets and recipes based on traditional ingredients. |  Accounts of the food acquired for the expedition of Ferdinand Magellan. 1519. Provided by Archivo General de Indias. Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. |
Spanish historian and archivist Antonio Sánchez de Mora is the curator of this exposition, which allows for participatory, sensory and gustatory experience on the part of exhibit goers. Sánchez de Mora has also curated an exhibit jointly organized by the National Museum and the Archivo General de Indias called Pacific. Spain and the Adventure of the South Sea. Most recently, he took part in Madrid Fusión Manila 2016 as the keynote speaker of this international gastronomical congress and food and beverage fair.
The multi-disciplinary nature of this exhibition requires sharing of expertise among technical experts. Thus, the collaboration of a group of historians from different fields lends a scientific perspective to this exhibit. These experts, led by Drs. Bethany Aram and José Luis Gash, will analyze the globalization of commodities in the Modern Age, among which are food products from Asia, the Americas and Europe.
The experience of Filipino food historian Felice P. Santamaria entails a specialized contribution that complements the section of the exhibit on past and present food consumption and eating habits.
Armed with a rich variety of Spanish and Filipino terms, Spanish professor and researcher Dr. Yolanda Congosto analyzes linguistic contributions and their evolution on the back of navigation in Modern Times.
Spanish chef Chele González and his team at his restaurant Gallery Vask in Manila participate by analyzing, describing and preparing traditional Spanish and Philippine-Spanish recipes, a point of departure that seeks to encourage culinary innovation and contribute new original recipes.
The multi-disciplinary nature of this exhibition requires sharing of expertise among technical experts. Thus, the collaboration of a group of historians from different fields lends a scientific perspective to this exhibit. These experts, led by Drs. Bethany Aram and José Luis Gash, will analyze the globalization of commodities in the Modern Age, among which are food products from Asia, the Americas and Europe.
The experience of Filipino food historian Felice P. Santamaria entails a specialized contribution that complements the section of the exhibit on past and present food consumption and eating habits.
Armed with a rich variety of Spanish and Filipino terms, Spanish professor and researcher Dr. Yolanda Congosto analyzes linguistic contributions and their evolution on the back of navigation in Modern Times.
Spanish chef Chele González and his team at his restaurant Gallery Vask in Manila participate by analyzing, describing and preparing traditional Spanish and Philippine-Spanish recipes, a point of departure that seeks to encourage culinary innovation and contribute new original recipes.
Filipino artist Martha Atienza contributes with her work Fair Isle 59o 41 ́20.0”N 2o36 ́23.0”W, 63-minute slow motion loop of the Atlantic Ocean (courtesy of Silverlens Gallery Manila).
Funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the exhibit has also the collaboration of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain (MECD), the Spanish Tourism Office in Singapore, Turespaña, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, Manila-based restaurant Gallerly Vask, the association of traders Mercado del Carmen in Huelva, Spain and Ficolumé, S.L.
Some of the documents, photographs and objects of the exposition are provided by the National Museum of the Philippines, the Archivo General de Indias, the National Archives of the Philippines, the Spanish National Library, the National Museum of Decorative Art of Spain, the Royal Botanical Garden (National Council for Research – CSIC) and the Archivo Franciscano Ibero-Oriental.
The exhibit is made possible through the sponsorship of the Puregold, SM Supermalls, SySu International, Turkish Airlines and the architectural studio One Zero Design Co. Multimedia projectors provided by Canon.
Flavors that Sail across the Seas will run for three months until February 5, 2017.
Funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the exhibit has also the collaboration of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain (MECD), the Spanish Tourism Office in Singapore, Turespaña, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, Manila-based restaurant Gallerly Vask, the association of traders Mercado del Carmen in Huelva, Spain and Ficolumé, S.L.
Some of the documents, photographs and objects of the exposition are provided by the National Museum of the Philippines, the Archivo General de Indias, the National Archives of the Philippines, the Spanish National Library, the National Museum of Decorative Art of Spain, the Royal Botanical Garden (National Council for Research – CSIC) and the Archivo Franciscano Ibero-Oriental.
The exhibit is made possible through the sponsorship of the Puregold, SM Supermalls, SySu International, Turkish Airlines and the architectural studio One Zero Design Co. Multimedia projectors provided by Canon.
Flavors that Sail across the Seas will run for three months until February 5, 2017.
