菲律宾,“东方海上的明珠”。这是菲爱国志士何塞·黎刹于1896年就义前夕所写的绝命诗《最后书怀》中的诗句。当我们迎接“太平洋世纪”的时候,这颗明珠在历史上的作用,是不能忘记的。从1521年航海家麦哲伦横渡太平洋到达菲律宾后,连接美洲和菲律宾的新航路就打通了。1565年到1815年有所谓“马尼拉大帆船贸易”定期往来这条航线上,西班牙靠垄断这种贸易,用墨西哥 Philippines, “Pearl of the East Sea”. This is the verse from the poem “The Last Book” written by the great Filipino patriot José Rizal on the eve of the 1896 sacrifice. As we greet the “Pacific Century,” the pearl’s role in history can not be forgotten. The new route connecting the Americas and the Philippines was opened after the navigator Magellan who arrived in the Philippines on the Pacific Ocean in 1521. The so-called “Manila Galleon Trade ” from 1565 to 1815 traded regularly on this route, with Spain relying on monopolies for such trade, with Mexico