NEW DELHI — An unexpected historical footnote in Philippine-Indian ties came to the fore at the May 29 Webinar hosted by the Philippine Embassy, as a Filipino historian traced the introduction of a dog breed from Manila into Mughal-era India.
Filipino historian and author Mr. Ian Christopher Alfonso, author of the bestseller “Dogs in Philippine History”, was chief speaker at the inaugural session of the series Sailing Through Time: The Philippines and India Histo-Cultural. The Series honors the 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries.
In Mr. Alfonso’s fascinating account, “ferocious” and “handsome” dogs from Manila found their way in March 1706 via Madras 
(present-day Chennai) to the ownership of Daud Khan, a prominent historical figure and commander during the Mughal Empire reign over India.
The breed had been first sighted by the Mughal commander’s men aboard a Spanish trade ship docked at Madras (present-day Chennai). Taking a fascination for their qualities, Daud Khan engaged ship captain Ignacio Manoel in negotiations leading to the former’s acquisition of two of the dogs.
While a footnote in the context of evolving larger trade and cultural linkages between the Philippines and India, then Spanish and British possessions, respectively, the story provides a glimpse into the multifaceted character of historical ties between the two.
Ambassador Josel F. Ignacio keynoted the event, highlighting the importance of uncovering disparate historical events and episodes that help paint a broader picture of historical Philippine-Indian links. “Thanks to Mr. Alfonso, we find that dogs are not just man’s best friend, but also a friend and part-repository of the story of our relations”, the Ambassador said.
Mr. Alfonso was formerly Supervising History Researcher at the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). He is currently affiliated with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
The Philippine Embassy Lecture Series will run until early 2025. END
