MANILA: The Global Hub of the 1500s
- Wamiel Pranaame Kashyap
- Nov 12
- 3 min read
When we speak of global hubs, we are either reminded of traditional centres like New York, London and Paris, or rising manufacturing axes like Singapore, Dubai and Tokyo. Well, some of us even jump back into ancient history to applaud the jewels of those days including Mari, Carthage, Mohenjo-Daro, Damascus and Rome. Nostalgic sould, can't help! But, there's one city, which is long forgotten amidst the pages of modern history. A city, which won the world's leading city destination award in 2024. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the 'Pearl of the Orient', 'The Paris of Asia', Philippines' national capital - MANILA.
Manila transformed into one of the earliest global cities in history in 1571, notably after Spanish colonization. It was now a hub that connected Asia, America and Europe through trade and cultural ties. But, how did it all even begin? For us to know this, we must head back to history. The earliest recorded history of Manila dates back to the 900 AD, as documented in the Laguna Copperplate inscription. By the 13th century, the city consisted of fortified settlement and trading nexus near the mouth of River Pasig, which divided the city into the north and south. Before the arrival of the Spanish colonisers, Manila was not yet a unified city. Rather, it was a collection of coastal polities or BARANGAYS around the mouth of River Pasig, along the shores of Manila Bay.
The region was ruled by local chieftains, including Rajah Matanda, Rajah Sulayman and Lakan Dula. Although these were local Filipino rulers, or must I say Tagalog rulers, their titles, cultures and connections were strongly influenced by Brune's and other Islamic Sultanate like Borneo and the Malang Archipelago.
Fun fact! The titles 'Rajah' and 'Lakan' come from Sanskrit and Malay vocabularies. This is one of the many proofs indicating cultural adoption through trade and diplomacy. Before it even gained global atention, it was already integrated into the larger maritime network of Asia, particularly the Indian Ocean, South China Sea trade routes. Manila connected well with China, Japan, the Malay world and local provinces of Luzon and Visayas. At times, it would buy porcelain, iron and precious stones in exchange for beeswax, pearl and gold, and during other times, it would provide forest products, rice and slaves for trade.
What made Manila unique was its deep bay. The bay's deep, sheltered water made it an ideal port for larger vessels, which was rare among Southeast Asian coasts. It all changed in the year 1571, when Spanish forces led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi won the Battle of Bankusay on 3rd June. This victory led to the establishment of Manila as the new capital for the Spanish East Indies in June 24, 1571. The Spanish colonial motives were however, not strictly commercial. At first, they viewed the Philippines as a stepping - stone to the riches of East Indies or Spice Islands. They built Intramuros - the walled city, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage centre.
Intramuros - The walled city. PC: Wikipedia
The Spanish landed in Cebu in 1565, six years before ruling in Manila. Legazpi in 1569 wrote -
The Philippines ought to be considered of little importance because at present the only article of profit that we can obtain is cinnamon.
But, this 'cinnamon - only' producing archipelago would be making a name in the books thereafter. The Manila - Acapulco galleon trade between the Manila and the America was its economic lifeline during this time without which even the Spanish presence would have been limited and short - lived. Wealthy Chinese merchants in Manila would link Chinese markets for silks and ceramics with Spanish silver from the Americas. The galleons would ship approximately 50 tons of silver annually from acapulco in Mexico to Manila, at times even more. It was the richest prize selling the pacific. This new trade route was crucial because it finally connected the 'Old World' (Europe, Asia and Africa) with the 'New World' (the Americas) through a single continuous economic network.
Manila in the present day too, serves as a critical node in the global economy, particularly as a centre for government and private institutions involved in organising international labour migration. Manila holds the 76th place in the new global ranking of the world's top 100 city brands, even higher than cities like New Delhi, Macau and Hanoi. For a global city to come into existence is not that easy. It is not just about technological advancements. Factors like geographical conditions, sea and land routes, economy also matter. One such example is Manila.
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