A 17th century mountain of gold in Cavite, a Chinese massacre and a license to kill

IN 2020, in the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila, there was a gigantic painting entitled "The Three Mandarins" which was part of the Hocus I. exhibition. The painting illustrates the practice of diplomatic immunity.

Way before the coming of the Spaniards, the Chinese had been making regular trips to Manila on board ships laden with myriad goods from the Middle Kingdom. They came to trade not to conquer. In 1603, 14 ships sailed into what is now Manila Bay and in one of them came the three mandarins.