Martín de Rada in the Spanish Philippines: Intercontinental Narratives across Contemporary Political Institutions of the Spanish Empire

Abstract: Recent scholarship acknowledges Martín de Rada as a missionary who influenced colonial enterprises and advocated for indigenous Filipinos. This article expands on that discussion, arguing that Rada’s role was far more extensive. As an Augustinian friar and early Spanish representative in the Philippines, he actively engaged in intercontinental knowledge networks linking the Spanish Crown, Manila, and the Ming dynasty. Through his correspondence with Viceroy Martín Enríquez and King Philip II, Rada not only informed imperial decision-making but also shaped early Spanish perceptions of China. His engagement with the Chinese community in Manila positioned him as a key mediator of Chinese epistemes, predating figures like Juan Cobo and Matteo Ricci. This study highlights Rada’s function as both an informant and political actor, illustrating how knowledge collection and transmission were central to Spanish imperial governance and transpacific expansion.