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Manilamen and seafaring: engaging the maritime world beyond the Spanish realm*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2012

Filomeno V. Aguilar
Filomeno V. Aguilar*
Affiliation:
Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, 1108 Philippines E-mail: fvaguilar@ateneo.edu
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Abstract

Although the Philippines is hardly known for sending out migrants prior to the twentieth century, and even among seafarers only the galleon age is remembered, this article provides evidence of transcontinental maritime movements from the late eighteenth century until the early twentieth century. These migrants were known in the English-speaking world as Manilamen. Most were seafarers, but some became involved in pearl-shell fishing, while others engaged in mercenary activities. They settled in key ports around the world, their numbers in any one location fluctuating in response to changing circumstances. Despite relocation to distant places, the difficulties of communication, and the impetus toward naturalization, Manilamen seem to have retained some form of identification with the Philippines as homeland, no matter how inchoately imagined.

Keywords

Manilamigrant labourPhilippinesseafaringwhaling and pearling
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Global History , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , November 2012 , pp. 364 - 388
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012 

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Footnotes

*

I would like to thank two anonymous referees who gave very valuable comments, criticisms, and suggestions. I am truly indebted to William Clarence-Smith for his friendship and editorial interventions that gave this article its final shape. For excellent assistance I owe much to Pauline Khng. I have benefited from comments made by Paul Kramer, Caroline Sy Hau, and Benedict Anderson on my other papers of a related theme, and I would like to register my gratitude to them here. The reduction in teaching load granted by the School of Social Sciences, Ateneo de Manila University, in 2011–12; the support from the Oscar R. Ledesma Endowed Fund; and the Visiting Research Fellowship in 2010 at the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, are also gratefully acknowledged.

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