The Chinese community and the Spanish model of colonization in the Philippines

Filipinas fue el espacio de relación de españoles y chinos durante más de tres siglos. Este trabajo trata de mostrar cómo fueron insertados los chinos dentro del mundo colonial español, las dificultades que se presentaron y los medios empleados para resolverlas. Las funciones desempeñadas por los chinos en Filipinas fueron tan importantes –tan imprescindibles–, que se hicieron las adaptaciones necesarias para conseguir un ámbito de convivencia y entendimiento. Este modelo de relación es un ejemplo de pragmatismo, a pesar de las graves diferencias culturales y religiosas, y muestra, en cierto modo, la validez del sistema imperial español como experiencia de mundo globalizadoThe Philippines were the physical space of a long relationship between the Spaniards and the Chinese community for more than 300 years. The aim of this essay is to show how the Chinese were to be inserted in the Spanish colonial world, the difficulties in this process, and the means which were used to solve them. The role played by the Chinese community in the Philippines was of such an importance, of such an essential nature, that every necessary accommodation was made to create an environment of understanding and amicable coexistence. This model of relationship is an example of pragmatism, despite the deep religious and cultural differences, and it proves, to some extent, the validity of the Spanish imperial model as an experience in the first global worl