Vidal Albert Sastre (Captain)

Place: Manila

Biography:

Vidal Albert Sastre was a captain of the polacca 'Explorador' and author of the navigation log from the polacca 'Explorador'. He was born in Manila, Philippines and his exact birth and death dates are unknown. He was part of the Spanish presence in the Far East and made several round trips between Bais and Manila carrying sugar. He is also known for his role in the rediscovery of the Philippines in the mid-1800s, when Spain belatedly realized the potential of these 7,000-plus isles and their natural resources, especially tobacco. He is also known for his role in the Manila Galleons (also known as China Ships) which connected the ports of Manila and Acapulco a couple of times a year between 1565 and 1815, stopping at the island of Guam on their way. Products from the Philippines could only reach Spain by traveling across the American continent to the Atlantic coast.