Philippines Mexico Connection

Even though Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo are two different places, it is synonymous with one another. They are located on the west of Mexico by the Pacific Ocean, 250 km (4 hour drive) northwest of Acapulco. Zihuatanejo (zee-wha-tan-EH-ho) was a resort for the Mexican nobility before the colonial Spaniards arrived. Retaining most of its original Mexican atmosphere, it's a quiet fishing village with beautiful views of the ocean. Ixtapa (eesh-tah-pa), originally spelled Iztapa, is a 10-minute drive to the south of Zihuatanejo, and is a fairly new development that was created in the 1970s with the sole purpose of attracting tourists. That said, Ixtapa's beaches are lined with resorts that front the Pacific Ocean, and numerous shopping areas and restaurants right behind.

A Spanish Galleon trade route was established in 1527 that connected Zihuatanejo to the Philippines. The first coconut/nipa-palm trees in Mexico were planted in Zihuatanejo, which originally came from the Philippines. With the coconut/nipa-palm trees, the Filipinos also introduced their many uses to the inhabitants of Mexico.

Palapa

Today, numerous "nipa" thatched roof umbrellas dot the resorts' sandy beaches, and the "nipa" thatched roof shacks accomodate the resorts' "watering holes" for libation purposes. The Filipinos who brought the coconut/nipa-palm trees to this area back in the 16th century named these nipa huts "palapa," a term which the Mexicans have retained to this day. In my research, the word palapa has its roots in Javanese from the word "kelapa," meaning coconut. Palapa, referring to nipa/coconut fronds, was the term used by the inhabitants of the Philippines during that time.

tuba tub´a' n. native drink, palm sap, palm wine

Tuba, an alcoholic drink made from palm flower sap, may be native to the Philippines, but it is sold everyday in the streets of Zihuatanejo (and other parts of Mexico, such as Acapulco, Colima, Manzanillo, etc...) by men called "Tuberos." The Filipinos have passed down the art of making tuba, much to the chagrin of the Spanish colonists, to the native (Mexican) Indians back in the 16th century. Tuba is considered a traditional beverage in Mexico. The Mexican Tuberos peddle their concoction on the streets, calling out its name in an elongated, "tuuuuba!" much like the street vendors in the Philippines who yell out, "baaalut" or "taaaaho." The traditional Mexican version of the tuba is often served with beet juice (which accounts for its red appearance), tiny bits of tropical fruit, and crushed peanuts on top. While the origin of the coconut tree and the tuba is not a secret to the Mexican historians, it is a surprising discovery to most Filipinos.

Besides the coconut/nipa-palm trees, the Filipinos also brought with them to Mexico their expertise in ship-building, cock fighting, ceviche recipe (escabeche; raw seafood kinilaw), the Philippine mango, tamarind (sampalok), rambutan, acacia, peppers (labuyo?), and papaya among many other things. Thousands of Filipinos immigrated to different areas of Mexico during the Manila Galleon trade, either as slaves or sailors who had decided that the inhuman treatment and difficult sea voyage was not for them.

The Philippines also benefitted from this alliance. From Mexico and South America, we got the avocado, cacao, pineapple, calabaza, caimito, arrowroot, peanuts, lima beans, balimbing, cassava, chico, zapote (sayote), tomato, squash, camachile, sensitive mimosa (makahiya), and achuete among others. The native barong Tagalog could have originated from Mexico, since the Mexicans and Cubans do sport a similar design but with a different material. The Filipinos have also adopted some Mexican words, such as tiangui, palenque, nana(y), tata(y), etc...

There is still much to be learned about the Philippine connection to Mexico. Unfortunately, not enough research can be found about the Philippines' impact on the Mexican culture. This subject has certainly peaked my curiosity, and I hope to uncover more during our visit to Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo.

I recommend the following website links below for further reading.

Bibliography notes:

• Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo 1 - 2

• Philippine / Mexican connection 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6

• Tuba 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6