The Philippine Embassy in Spain, in coordination with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), held a forum on Thursday, 27 October 2022, to kick off events to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Spain.
The event was held at UCM´s Faculty of Geography and History, with Vice Rector Damaso López García welcoming the Philippine delegation to the University. Former NHCP Chair and Ateneo Professor, Dr. Lamberto Ocampo; National Museum Chair of the Board of Trustees, Ms. Evangelina Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas; NHCP Commissioner Lino Dizon, UCM Dean of the Faculty of Geography and History, Dr. Miguel Luque Talavan; Dr. María Dolores Elizalde Pérez-Grueso of Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), and Dr. Rafael Rodríguez-Ponga Salamanca of Universitat Abat Oliba CEU expounded on the shared history of the Philippines and Spain, and provided insights into deepening and improving the quality of relationship between the two countries.
The forum, which is part of the activities under the Extraordinary Chair of Philippine Studies (Cátedra Extraordinaria de Filipinas), allowed the attendees to share their thoughts on how to deepen engagement with the Spanish people, and to educate the audience on the history and continuing relationship of the Philippines and Spain.
The event was attended by members of the faculty of UCM, as well as Spain´s research arm (CSIC), and graduate and post-graduate students who are doing their thesis on the Philippines.
Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Spain were established on 27 September 1947. The Treaty of Friendship between the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Spain was also signed on this day.