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The 1887 Philippine Exposition in Madrid, Spain
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In 1887, there was a Philippine Exposition held at the Crystal Palace in the Retiro of Madrid, Spain. Victor Balaguer, Spain’s Colonial Minister, was the brain child of the 1887 Exposition. During this particular time period Spain’s empire was fragile and was eroding. Within the Pacific region, its empire included the Philippines, Mariana Islands and many other Micronesian Islands. Part of the reason for having this exposition was because there was an imminent and growing threat by the Germans who encroached the Western Caroline Islands. Furthermore, some scholars contend that it was also during the 1880’s where Dr. Jose Rizal raised Filipino national consciousness. In addition, the Philippine Exposition was also held with the intent of increasing commercial and economic relation between the archipelago (Philippines, Marianas, Carolinas and Belau Islands) and Spain and would further undermine the trade monopoly of the foreign merchants embedded in the Philippines.
Four people from the Micronesian colonies were sent to the Exposition. Two were from the Caroline Islands. Unfortunately, both had met their fate during the Exposition: Dolores Neisern, 22, and Luis Pe-aripis, age 32, described as married and had a son, and was friendly and of humble disposition despite the contrast of his facial features.
The other two were Chamorros: Antonia Leon Guerrero Santos, also known as Antonian Ada, and Jose Aflague Flores, also known as Chubito. Antonia was described an attractive girl, age 22, simple and kind hearted. She compassionately took care of Dolores Neisern before her passing. Jose was described as an accomplished musician, and was modest and unassuming. The participants of the Exposition were impressed with Jose’s intelligence and wit.
Several artifacts and handcrafted islands from the Mariana Islands were used and sent to the Philippines Exposition. Such items included slingstones, adzes, two bone spearheads, and skeletons found from the Calabera cave, in Sa’ipan. Some photos below were extracted from some of the sources of this article.
Although only two Chamorros were sent, the following people of the Mariana Islands sent various items to Madrid for display during the Exhibition:
|
Name |
From |
|
Aflague, Manuel |
Agana, Guam |
|
Castro, Andres |
Agana, Guam |
|
Castro, Ezequiel |
Agana, Guam |
|
Castro, Juan |
Agana, Guam |
|
Cobo, Francisco |
Agana, Guam |
|
Cruz, Dolores |
Agana, Guam |
|
Cruz, Felipe |
Agana, Guam |
|
Diaz, Joaquin |
Agana, Guam |
|
Dungca, Justo |
Agana, Guam |
|
Fausto, Mariano |
Rota/Sa'ipan/Guam |
|
Flores, Manuel |
Agana, Guam |
|
Guerrero, Vicente L. |
Agana, Guam |
|
Herrero, Ana |
Agana, Guam |
|
Herrero, Vicente |
Agana, Guam |
|
Leon Guerrero, Agapito |
Agana, Guam |
|
Leon Guerrero, Joaquin |
Agana, Guam |
|
Leon Guerrero, Lorenzo |
Agana, Guam |
|
Leon, Joaquin |
Agana, Guam |
|
Martinez, Antonio |
Agana, Guam |
|
Martinez, Juan Crisostomo |
Agana, Guam |
|
Millchamp, Enrique |
Agana, Guam |
|
Munoz, Jose |
Agana, Guam |
|
Pangelinan, Manuel |
Agana, Guam |
|
Perez, Jose |
Agana, Guam |
|
Portusach, Jose |
Agana, Guam |
|
Rodes, Antonio |
Agana, Guam |
|
Sablan, Mariano |
Rota/Sa'ipan |
|
Torres, Felix |
Agana, Guam |
|
Torres, Juan |
Agana, Guam |
|
Tudela, Jose |
Agana, Guam |
|
Salas, Jose |
Agana, Guam |
Sources:
Dale S. Miyagi. 1975. Spanish Micronesia and the Philippine Exposition of 1887, 5 no 1, pp. 31-43. Guam Recorder. Micronesian Area Research Center: Mangilao, Guam.
Luis Angel Sanchez Gomez. 2002. Indigenous Art at the Philippine Exposition of 1887, 14 no. 2, pp 283-294. Journal of the History of Collections. Oxford University Press.
Francisco Garcia Olive. 1887. The Mariana Islands 1884-1887, Random Notes (translated by Marjorie Driver). Micronesian Area Research Center: Mangilao, Guam.
Database Update 29 March 2014
- Details
The database has been updated and has grown from 311,410 to 311,833 names.
Chamorro Whalers of the Charles W. Morgan Ship
- Details
In the second edition of the book "The Mariana Islands 1884-1887: Random Notes," by Governor Francisco Olive y Garcia and translated and annotated by Marjorie G. Driver (2006), there are several accolades of Chamorro men as sailors and harpooners. Within the book, one of the American whaling ships that frequented the Mariana Islands between 1851-1904 was the Charles W. Morgan.
Economic Driver
The whaling industry was a significant economic driver for the Mariana Islands. For instance in 1788, the situado (subsidy) for the Mariana Mission was 20,137.50 pesos. By 1828, that amount was severely reduced to 8,016 pesos. Meanwhile, the whaling industry contributed an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 pesos a year to the economy; mostly trade articles and some cash to buy or exchange products. (Driver in Olive, 2006)
Bayeneru/Ballonero
Several Chamorro men (known as Bayeneru/Ballonero) had taken up the opportunity to become a part of the Morgan whaling ship. I was fortunate to find some historical information (www.mysticseaport.org) on the Morgan as well as a crewmember manifest listing. Many of these Chamorro men never returned home and settled in Hawaii, California and other places of preference.
Mystic Seaport.org
"After the Morgan began operating out of San Francisco in 1887, her crews reflected the islands of the Pacific even more. Men from Guam served on most of her voyages from San Francisco. Enos Aflague, Joaquin de la Cruz, Lino Patricio, Jose Santos and Pedro Taitano were Spanish subjects when they signed aboard in 1897. They became Americans with the signing of the treaty concluding the Spanish-American War." (Mysticseaport.org)
Crewmembers Listed with Guam as Birthplace
Below is a crewmember list of the Morgan that had their birthplace listed as Guam and how it appears on the Mystic Seaport website. Do note that some men's names appear more than once because they had more than one voyage. Also in some cases, names appear to be phonetically spelled. (www.mysticseaport.org)
|
Name |
Position |
Description |
|
Aflague, Enos |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Aflague, Enos |
Seaman |
Age: 23 |
|
Aflague, Enos |
Prev. Boatsteerer |
Age: 24 |
|
Aflague, Felix |
Steward |
Age: 34 |
|
Aflague, Nicholas |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Allen, John |
Age: 30 |
|
|
Antonio, Jose |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Arriola, Joaquin |
Seaman |
Age: 19 |
|
Augustine, Jose |
Seaman |
Age: 24 |
|
Basilles (Basilleo), Joe |
Seaman |
Age: 32 |
|
Blas, Domingo |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Blas, Domingo |
Seaman |
Age: 23 |
|
Blass [Blas], Louis |
Seaman |
Age: 19 |
|
Camacho, Joe (Jose) |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Castro, Ben |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Castro, Ben |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Castro, Lucas |
Cabin Boy |
Age: 19 |
|
Castro, Lucas |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Chaco, Enos |
Seaman/Prev. Boatsteerer |
Age: 23 |
|
Cruz, Joe |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Cruz, Joe |
Seaman |
Age: 23 |
|
De Castro, John |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
De Castro, Jose |
Seaman |
Age: 25 |
|
De Castro, Jose |
Seaman |
Age: 26 |
|
De la Concepcion[?], Manuel |
||
|
De la Cruz, Antonio |
Cabin Boy |
Age: 21 |
|
De la Cruz, Antonio |
Steward |
Age: 22 |
|
De la Cruz, Enos |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
De la Cruz, Joaquin |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
De la Cruz, Joaquin |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
De la Cruz, Jose |
Seaman |
Age: 24 |
|
De la Cruz, Juan |
||
|
De la Rosa, Manuel |
Seaman |
Age: 23 |
|
De Los Santos, Joe (Jose) |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
De Los Santos, Jose |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
De Salas[?], Nicholas |
||
|
Denorio, Joaquin |
Cabin Boy |
Age: 17 |
|
Domingo, Philip |
Steerage Boy |
Age: 20 |
|
Fausta, Ben |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Foster (Fausto), Ben |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Gamatuatan, Luis |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Ganotantou (Mantotanta, Hanotanto), Luis G.) |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Guamatasas[?], Luis |
||
|
Guerro (Gareno), John |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Ignacio, Ben |
Seaman |
Age: 26 |
|
Kanago, Joaquim |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Kanaka, Joaquim |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Karada, Joaquin |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Langrero, Vicente |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Lena, Jacob |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Longrero, Ben |
Seaman |
Age: 24 |
|
Lopes, Joaquin |
Cabin Boy |
Age: 17 |
|
Mailio, Nicholas |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Maina, Jose |
Prev. Boatsteerer |
Age: 21 |
|
Malaia, Nicholas |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Manilisea, Joe |
Seaman |
Age: 18 |
|
Martines, Felix |
Steerage Boy |
Age: 24 |
|
Martinez, Felix |
Steerage Boy |
|
|
Materna, Joaquin |
Seaman |
Age: 19 |
|
Materne, Joaquin |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Mendiolo, Jose |
Seaman |
Age: 24 |
|
Mendiolo, Jose |
Seaman |
Age: 24 |
|
Mendiolo, Joseph |
Cabin Boy |
Age: 22 |
|
Mesa, Ramon |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Nego, Jose |
Cabin Boy |
Age: 19 |
|
Nego, Jose |
Steerage Boy |
Age: 21 |
|
Palacio, Joaquin |
Seaman |
Age: 17 |
|
Pangalino, Ben |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Pangalino, J. |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Pangalino, Joe |
Steerage Boy |
Age: 21 |
|
Pangalino, Joe |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Pangolino, Antone |
Prev. Boatsteerer |
Age: 42 |
|
Patricio, Lino |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Patricio, Lino |
Seaman |
Age: 25 |
|
Patrico, Frank |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Patrico, Lino |
Seaman |
Age: 29 |
|
Peres, Juan |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Peres, Juan |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Peres, Peter |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Peres, Peter |
Seaman |
Age: 25 |
|
Perrado, Joe |
Boatsteerer |
Age: 28 |
|
Regis, Cole |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Roberts, F. H. |
Steerage Boy |
Age: 18 |
|
Roberts, John |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Rosario, John |
Seaman |
Age: 25 |
|
Rosario, John |
Seaman |
Age: 26 |
|
Rose, Ben |
Seaman |
Age: 24 |
|
Rose, Vicente |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Sablan, Felix |
||
|
Sablan, Felix |
Cabin Boy |
Age: 17 |
|
Sablan, Ignacious |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Sablan, John |
Seaman |
Age: 23 |
|
Sablan, John |
Seaman |
Age: 26 |
|
Sablan, Joseph |
Steward |
Age: 43 |
|
Sablan, Joseph |
Steward |
Age: 46 |
|
Santos, Antone |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Santos, Ben |
Boatsteerer |
Age: 33 |
|
Santos, Jo[s?]e |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Santos, Joe |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Santos, Joe |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Santos, Joe [Jose] |
Seaman |
Age: 27 |
|
Santos, John |
Seaman |
Age: 20 |
|
Santos, John |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Santos, John |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Santos, John |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Santos, John |
Seaman |
Age: 25 |
|
Santos, Jose |
Seaman |
Age: 21 |
|
Santos, Jose |
Steward |
Age: 26 |
|
Santos, Manuel |
Cabin Boy |
Age: 21 |
|
Santos, Mariano |
Seaman |
Age: 25 |
|
Sequinda, Joe |
Boatsteerer |
Age: 25 |
|
Sequinda, Joe |
Boatsteerer |
Age: 25 |
|
Silva, Antone |
Seaman |
Age: 23 |
|
Sirvinca[Servance], Joe |
Seaman |
|
|
Taguata [Tagnata], Jose |
Seaman |
Age: 25 |
|
Taitano, Jose |
Seaman |
Age: 22 |
|
Taitano, Jose |
Seaman |
Age: 23 |
|
Taitano, Pedro |
Boatsteerer |
Age: 38 |
|
Taitano, Peter |
Boatsteerer |
Age: 36 |
|
Thurston, Luis |
Seaman |
Age: 24 |
|
Vincent, Joseph |
Seaman/Prev. Boatsteerer |
Age: 23 |
Na’an Lajo (Laho ->Låhu)
- Details
During the 1819 Freycinet Expedition over the Mariana Islands, Jacques Arago sketched several images of people among many other things. In particular, he had sketched pictures of Stephan Lajo and Claudio Lajo and noted that they were Indiens de race pure, which translates to the effect of "purebred Indians," or purebred indigenous people.
As with much of the Mariana Island mainstream history, it is unfortunate that not much else was recorded about them, which makes it quite a challenge to trace not only their ancestry but their potential descendants.
I was not familiar with the name or the potential indigenous word for "Lajo." However, I have found that låhu means to go or walk.
1727 Census
In the 1727 Census three people were recorded with the surname Laho:
- Juan Laho, unmarried male from Mongmong
- Tomas Laho, married from Umatac
- Ambrosio Laho, unmarried male from Inarajan
1758 Census
In the 1758 Census only one person with the surname Laho was recorded:
Tomas Laho, listed as orphan from Pago
1897 Census
Fast forward to the 1897 Census (gaps) and the surname Lajo appears only once. Don Casildo Lajo age 68, was recorded with his wife Josefa Marchena, age 68 residing in the Barrio of Sinajana.
Guam News Letter
From the December 1918 edition of the Guam News Letter the death of Joaquina Lajo Quichocho (November 12, 1918) was recorded.
Help!
Thereafter and from the 1920 Census and beyond I have not been successful in finding any other information. Through my current research efforts the contemporary surname Lajo (as spelled) are tied to families found in the Philippines and those with Hispanic heritage.
Does anyone have any information or is a descendant of any of the Lajo families from the Mariana Islands?
Database Update 12 March 2014
- Details
The database has been updated and has grown from 310,462 to 311,410 names.
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