This afternoon at 7 pm, the Centro Casa Asia-Madrid (calle Mayor, 69) and the Spanish Association of Pacific Studies (AEEP) commemorate Pacific Day in memory of March 6, 1521, Day on which the Spanish ships of Fernando de Magallanes and Juan Sebastián Elcano arrived in the Mariana Islands, the place of the first meeting between the inhabitants of the Pacific Islands and European visitors.
On the occasion of this celebration, the book La llamada de las antípodas (editorial Cuadernos del Laberinto) will be presented, in which the diplomat Daniel Montilla, stationed for four years in Fiji, will talk about his experience in the archipelago unveiling aspects of history, the culture and traditions of this country, as far away as it is unknown.
Emilio de Miguel, director of the Centro Casa Asia-Madrid; Rafael Rodríguez-Ponga, president of the Spanish Association of Pacific Studies; and Daniel Montilla, diplomat and author of the book.
Daniel Montilla Rubiales holds a degree in law and economics from the Universidad Carlos III of Madrid. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he has held posts in the Office of the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in the Sub-Directorate General for European Union Countries and is currently Deputy Director-General for International Organizations. He has been posted as a business officer in Suva (Fiji) between 2016 and 2020 and as the second head of the Embassy of Spain in Doha (Qatar) between 2020 and 2024.
During his stay in the South Seas, he has travelled through many of the emblematic places of Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia and Australasia. From his travels he has gathered extensive experience of the culture, traditions and history of the Blue Pacific Custodian peoples. Free activity upon registration at this link.
