In the first days of November 2013, the whole world was shaken after learning of the tragedy that devastated Southeast Asia:the Typhoon Haiyan devastated large areas of the Philippines archipelago , with a balance of victims that was increasing with the passing of days. In the latest reports, the figure exceeds 3,000 deaths as a result of this natural disaster, with winds that reached maximum speeds of 315 kilometers per hour. Philippines , an island country located in the western area of the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, is one of the areas most prone to this type of catastrophe due to its permanent seismic and volcanic activity, to which is now added the formation of these huge typhoons masses of wind capable of dragging away everything in its path, with monumental human and material damage. Philippines It is a very special country, with different characteristics in relation to the rest of the Asian nations and also has several stories in common with our country. Let's know a little more about Philippines .
More than 700 small islands make up the Philippines , totaling an area of 300,000km2. Its capital, Manila, boasts one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world (10th place according to the latest censuses). Its history is marked by colonization and miscegenation, first by Spain and later by the United States and Japan, countries with which they shaped a racial and linguistic identity that distances them from the common oriental peoples. With more than 170 living languages over its vast territory, the official languages of the Philippines They are English and Filipino (the national language based on Tagalog, a dialect that is also spoken in various regions of Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia).
Its current president is Benigno Simeón Aquino III (known colloquially as “Noynoy”), son of Corazón Aquino, the former president who guided the destinies of the archipelago after two decades of dictatorship. by the couple Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. Noynoy, an economist by profession, has governed the country since 2010 and this crisis, caused by Typhoon Haiyan, is perhaps the most difficult he has ever faced. Philippines It has not suffered so much devastation since 1991, when its territories were hit by Tropical Storm Thelma, the deadliest in its history.
The long centuries of Spanish domination can be seen in the architectural styles of its main squares, official buildings and churches, as well as in the surnames of its inhabitants, almost all of origin Hispanic. Despite this -and the fact that the Catholic religion is professed by the vast majority of Filipinos- Spanish is considered only an optional language.
Today when the whole world shows its solidarity with the Philippines -including Peru through Cáritas, which has started the All in Solidarity with Philippines campaign , to send aid to the more than 11 million people affected by the typhoon - it should be remembered that the Philippines and Peru have more than one point in common throughout their histories:
SAINT ROSE OF LIMA, PATRON SAINT OF THE PHILIPPINES:
A year before her canonization in 1671, Santa Rosa was proclaimed Saint of the New World and of the Philippines . Since then, she is adored for her appearances during the Japanese occupation, in World War II. In Philippines It has a church located in the town of Santa Rosa, in the province of Laguna, which was built in 1792. In 1999, the government of Peru donated a statue of Santa Rosa de Lima to this parish, which is known as Santa Rosa Laguna.
LEONCIO PRADO FIGHTED IN THE PHILIPPINES :
After his admirable participation in the independence struggles of Cuba, Leoncio Prado returned to Peru and later, from the US, he decided to intervene in the independence of the Philippines , in 1877. his generous project was cut short, because a strong storm made his ship shipwreck near the coast of China. Philippines it would achieve its independence from Spain only in 1898, 20 years later.
PERUVIAN SUPPORT FOR THE INDEPENDENT STRUGGLE IN THE PHILIPPINES:
After the battle on May 2, 1866, the government of General Mariano Ignacio Prado tried to bring colonial emancipation to the islands of the Philippines . For this, he entrusted the purchase of two ships to the United States, an operation that had multiple questions. The romantic dream of helping the independence of the Philippines ended in a scandal.
OUR FLAG MARCH WAS COMPOSED BY A FILIPINO CITIZEN:
The notable Filipino musician José Sabas Libornio Ibarra (1858-1915) arrived in Peru from Manila, where he was born, around 1885, after the war against Chile. He composed numerous marches, some of them forgotten, but he went down in our history for his masterpiece La Marcha de Banderas, commissioned by then President Nicolás de Piérola. The lyrics of the march were written by a brother of La Salle. José Sabas Libornio stayed in Peru as director of the Army Music Bands. He died in 1915.