PHILIP II, KING OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL, AND THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND TIMOR

This article explores the historical origins of the deep-seated cultural and religious ties between the Philippines and East Timor, as observed during the United Nations peacekeeping missions in the early 21st century. Beginning with the contemporary presence of Filipino military personnel and clerg...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Review of Culture
Main Author: Ivo Carneiro de Sousa
Format: Articles
Published: Instituto Cultural de Macau July 2003
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Online Access:https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40007/3890
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Summary:This article explores the historical origins of the deep-seated cultural and religious ties between the Philippines and East Timor, as observed during the United Nations peacekeeping missions in the early 21st century. Beginning with the contemporary presence of Filipino military personnel and clergy in Timor-Leste, the author investigates why a unique fraternal bond exists between these two populations in contrast to other Southeast Asian neighbors. Through an analysis of material culture—specifically the historical prevalence of Spanish silver reales in traditional Timorese jewelry and royal regalia (kaibauk)—the research traces these connections back to the era of the Iberian Union (1580–1640). Under the reign of Philip II of Spain (Philip I of Portugal), the administrative and economic boundaries between the Spanish Philippines and Portuguese Timor became porous. The article argues that the circulation of American silver via the Manila Galleon trade and the shared networks of Catholic missionary orders established a foundation for trans-regional interaction. By examining these early modern Iberian relations in East Asia, the study demonstrates how the Union of the Crowns facilitated a long-lasting socio-cultural framework that continues to influence Timorese identity and its perceptions of Filipino "brotherhood" today.
ISSN:1682-1106