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Friday, March 29, 2024

Philippines and Spain re-affirm strong ties in Madrid

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Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, Philippe Jones Lhuillier, emphasized the continuous positive growth of Philippine-Hispanic relations in a reception held to commemorate the 121st anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence. The event was recently held at the Intercontinental Madrid Hotel in Spain.

Philippines and Spain re-affirm strong ties in Madrid
Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, Philippe Jones Lhuillier (center), offers a toast to celebrate the 121st anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence. Joining him are Spanish Army Chief of Staff General Francisco Javier Varela Salas and Spanish Foreign Ministry Director-General for North America, East Europe, and Asia-Pacific Ana Maria Salomon Perez.

"We cannot forget to note the valuable partnership we have with our Filipino community in Spain, which is over 50,000 strong. They are among the millions of modern-day Filipino heroes abroad who continue to give back to their adopted countries and the Philippines as a whole," said Ambassador Lhuillier, as he addressed notable guests which included Spanish Army Chief of Staff General Francisco Varela, Spanish Foreign Ministry Director-General Ana Maria Salomon Perez, Nobel Prize for Literature recipient Mario Vargas Llosa and his wife, Isabel Presyler, and other government officials and members of the diplomatic corps.

With this year's theme of "Courage of the Nation, Compassion for the People," the Ambassador also mentioned some of the momentous changes that the Philippine government has courageously undertaken with the landmark Build! Build! Build! program that is poised to usher in the Philippines' "Golden Age of Infrastructure."

"Of course, we cannot fail to mention that some of the boldest development projects in the Philippines are with the collaboration of Spanish firms such as Indra and Acciona. We are deeply grateful for their expertise and confidence in the Philippine market," he added.

In her brief remarks during the event, Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Asia, Director-General Ana Salomon said, "The Philippines is not just another partner for Spain, but a beloved country (as well)." She also highlighted the advances in infrastructure and the environment in the Philippines."For more than 20 years, it has enjoyed sustained economic growth at a high rate. We hope to continue to make progress in what we offer through Spain's collaboration."

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The Independence Day celebration in Spain coincides with the 17thPhilippine-Spanish Friendship Day and the 120thanniversary of the end of the Siege of Baler, an 11-month siege of Filipino revolutionaries of a fortified church manned by Spanish soldiers in the town of Baler in Aurora Province. The victors, the Katipuneros, under the orders of then-President Emilio Aguinaldo, gave safe passage to surviving Spanish soldiers back to Manila. They arrived in Barcelona 12 days later.

In 2021, both countries are set to celebrate the five-hundredth anniversary of the circumnavigation of the globe by Ferdinand Magellan and Juan Sebastian Elcano and the arrival of Spain in the Philippines. The said expedition formed the beginnings of the inter-regional and transcontinental relations that continue to shape the world to this very day.

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