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  • This article proposes a critical reading of *Diário de uma viagem a Timor* (1882–1883), by Maria Isabel Tamagnini, in order to address the Oriental fascination and the Timorese exile as traces of a Portuguese presence in Southeast Asia in the nineteenth century. The work, written by a young companion of the new governor of Timor, Bento da França, and of a small group, stands as a unique documentary testimony of the expedition, even though the original notebook Lisboa–Singapura is missing. The analysis focuses on the three preserved notebooks (II–V), comparing them with the narrated itinerary (Singapore, Batavia, Java, Surabaya, Macassar) and with the conditions of textual production: the *Diário* is not organized in a strictly daily manner, presenting scattered periods of notes followed by blocks of reflective, memorialistic, and sociocultural observational writing. From this reading, the central themes are identified and discussed: Oriental fascination, descriptions of societies and urban practices in the visited regions, and the relationship between travel literature and the colonial administrative mission. Among the main contributions, the *Diário*'s function stands out as a rare source for the historiography of East Timor, offering a critical perspective that questions official narratives and broadens the understanding of the Portuguese presence in the East, especially with regard to Timor and its exile.

  • This article explores the historical origins of the deep-seated cultural and religious ties between the Philippines and East Timor, as observed during the United Nations peacekeeping missions in the early 21st century. Beginning with the contemporary presence of Filipino military personnel and clergy in Timor-Leste, the author investigates why a unique fraternal bond exists between these two populations in contrast to other Southeast Asian neighbors. Through an analysis of material culture—specifically the historical prevalence of Spanish silver reales in traditional Timorese jewelry and royal regalia (kaibauk)—the research traces these connections back to the era of the Iberian Union (1580–1640). Under the reign of Philip II of Spain (Philip I of Portugal), the administrative and economic boundaries between the Spanish Philippines and Portuguese Timor became porous. The article argues that the circulation of American silver via the Manila Galleon trade and the shared networks of Catholic missionary orders established a foundation for trans-regional interaction. By examining these early modern Iberian relations in East Asia, the study demonstrates how the Union of the Crowns facilitated a long-lasting socio-cultural framework that continues to influence Timorese identity and its perceptions of Filipino "brotherhood" today.

Last update from database: 9/14/26, 2:19 AM (UTC)

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