Page 218 - Vol_2_Archaeology of Manila Galleon Seaport Trade

190 J. Quinata

worship in reverence of their ancestral skulls was discouraged and replaced with
Catholic icons and beliefs.
Although changes imposed on the CHamoru people by Spain did not force them
to completely abandon their ways, they held on to their cultural values of respect,
cooperation, and reciprocity, maintaining the importance of their social and familial
relationships. CHamoru women were the keepers of the culture and held signi!cant
power in CHamoru society.

11.3 The Demise of the Manila Galleon Trade

By 1813, uprisings in Acapulco caused Spain to lose control of Mexico, which
affected the movement of the Manila galleons. Alternate routes and private ships
were used to transport mail and cargo. The Marianas, however, were not on these
new trade routes and became more isolated from the rest of the world. In 1815, the
last galleons to pass through the Mariana Islands were the Ray Fernando and the
Magallanes. There was no !nancial subsidy sent to the Mariana Islands to support
the colony or the Catholic mission.
In 1820s, American whaling ships began regular stops in Guam for water and
provisions, rebuilding the economy and replacing the once powerful Manila
Galleons. New people, new ideas, new customs, and new influences were once
again faced by the resilient CHamoru people.

11.4 Conclusion: Our History Our Legacy

The galleon trade was not just a one-way stream of goods and beliefs; it also meant a steady
stream of products and ideas from Asia to Spain and its colonies … [and provides] a
metaphor of the meeting of the East and the West. This cannot be better symbolized than by
the Spanish-speaking Filipinos and CHamorus or the silk-clad Spaniards in Mexico and
Spain. The Spanish colonies in the Philippines, Mexico and the Marianas reflected mixed
populations, mixed cultures and mixed social norms which evolved on their own to form
unique peoples with various mannerisms and speech harking back to their
Asian-Paci!c-European roots.
Dr. Robert Underwood, CHamoru Scholar

The CHamoru people embrace their history with Spain as a legacy that was
passed down from generations past. The CHamoru people sang Spanish songs,
adapted to Spanish food recipes, and learned the Spanish lifestyle. We pass on the
history as we move forward to make the best better for our people on Guam.