ABSTRACT
This chapter problematizes recent Spanish official representations of the Philippines, arguing that there is colonial baggage attached to them. From the analysis of several exhibitions, the Chapter concludes that several colonial discourses on evangelisation, and ‘discovery’ can be identified. Furthermore, the Philippines is still portrayed as exotic, within an Oriental discourse that is embedded within a process of othering. This chapter argues that even though these discourses come from a colonial context, they acquired new meanings in the new Millennium. The focus on the ‘achievements’ of Spain as an ex-empire in Asia feeds into a political strategy, in which Spain is presenting itself as a country with a long history in global politics.
