Page 159 - Vol_2_Archaeology of Manila Galleon Seaport Trade

130 S. C. B. Jago-on and B. C. Orillaneda

It is signi!cant to note that the !rst recorded shipwreck investigation in the
Philippines in May 9, 1967 was related to the recovery of artefacts from a
reportedly Manila galleon off the shores of Santo Domingo, Albay (Alba 1984;
Conese 1989). Two huge coral-encrusted anchors, weighing three tons each, were
found approximately 275 m from the sunken vessel with a forging date of 1649.
The Underwater Archaeology Unit (UAU) was created in 1979 with support
from the Southeast Asian Minister of Education Organization Special Projects in
Archaeology and the Fine Arts (SEAMEO-SPAFA) (Ronquillo 1989). In 1988,
UAU was renamed the Underwater Archaeology Section (UAS) under the
Archaeology Division of the National Museum of the Philippines.

7.1 Boat Building in the Philippines

A number of galleons were allegedly constructed in Cavite, Cebu, two (2) in
Bagatao, two (2) along the Camarines coast, Donsol and Marinduque (Schurz 1985;
Fish 2011; Bolunia 2014). Although the site in Donsol where some sheathing
materials were recovered may provide a direct evidence for galleon shipbuilding, it
is logical to follow that the Philippines provide a good venue for their construction
based on the three (3) requisites that according to Schurz (1985), are to be satis!ed
for building a ship as big as a galleon capable of sailing into vast oceans: supply of
good timber, a safe port, and the availability of skilled boat builders.
First, good timber for shipbuilding were abundant in the areas mentioned; sec-
ond, there are always safe ports in the country as evident in our long tradition of
seafaring; and third, local shipbuilders are well documented in the long maritime
history of the archipelago. Although shipwrights and naval architects may have
come from Europe, there were already large pools of indigenous skilled boat
builders prior to the colonial period.

7.2 Galleon Wrecks Along the Route
to and from the Embocadero

The Manila-Acapulco galleons follow approximately the same routes both coming
in from and going to Acapulco, thus a number of ships, not only galleons were
wrecked along these sea lanes. Pilots generally follow the route from Cavite
between Mariveles and Corrigidor in Bataan, keeping clear of Fortune Island,
Batangas, to the left. Going south past Cape Santiago, and southeast along the
Verde Island passage passing by Maricaban Island and Verde Island on the left.
Continuing to go southeast passing Calapan Point on the right and Dumali Point
farther south, passing now the southern part of Marinduque with Banton Island on
the right. Going E by SE along the Masbate Passage clearing Aguja Point to the left