- Overview of Philippines-Spain Relations
- State Visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
- Tribuna España-Filipinas
- Rizal’s Madrid

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STATE VISIT OF
PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO TO SPAIN
02-05 December 2007

The State Visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in December 2007 was a manifestation of the strong and vibrant ties between the Philippines and Spain. The visit was the first state visit by a Philippine president to Spain since 1962. The last one incidentally was made by former President Diosdado Macapagal. President Arroyo then a teenager accompanied her father during that visit.

The state visit also highlighted the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Spain. Since 1947, the ties between the Philippines and Spain have been very cordial and consistent.

President Arroyo also made a historic visit to Ordizia, the birth place of Andrés de Urdaneta, in the Basque Country to inaugurate the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the birth of Andrés de Urdaneta.

The state visit of President Arroyo also reinforced our efforts in forging relations in key areas such as tourism, renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture and fisheries as well as employment opportunities in the health and engineering sectors. Five Memoranda of Agreeement (MoA) were signed during the state visit.

SFA Alberto Romulo signed three MoAs on the behalf of the Philippine government: Culture, Education and Sports, Renewable Energy and Biofuels and Tourism. Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos signed on behalf of the Spanish government.

DA Secretary Arthur Yap and Spanish Minister of Agriculture Elena Espinosa signed an MoA on Agriculture and Fisheries. Secretary Yap also signed a Fishery Cooperation Agreement with Gonzalo Saenz de Samaniego, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of the Basque Country Government during the visit to Vitoria.

CEOE Business Forum

The President delivered a speech at a business forum organized by CEOE, the largest federation of Spanish companies, to encourage Spanish companies and investors to do more business in the Philippines. Around 70 big Spanish companies were represented in said forum.

3rd Tribuna España-Filipinas

The President delivered the key note at the opening of the 3rd Tribuna España-Filipinas. The Tribuna is an informal forum intended to advance and enhance our bilateral relations with Spain through the active participation of and interaction among the government, private sector, academe, NGOs and members of the civil society of both countries.

Individual Calls of Spanish Businessmen and Foreign Investors on the President

The President also met with a number of Spanish companies that are interested in setting up or expanding business in the Philippines such as Mahou, Ferrovial, Indra, Bionor. The President also met with the top executives of CGM-CMA Advanced Shipping and Abu Dhabi Investments in the Palacio de El Pardo.

Visit to Madrid PE and Meeting with the Filipino Community

On 02 December, the President made a brief visit to the the Philippine Embassy in Madrid. She later on met with the Filipino community in a gathering held at the Colegio de Maravillas. Around 700 Filipinos from many parts of Spain attended the gathering.

Meeting at the Spanish Senate

The President, accompanied by Sen. Edgardo Angara, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiango and Sen. Miguel Zubiri as well as selected members of the House of Representatives and other members of the official delegation were welcomed by Senate President Francisco Javier Rojo at the Spanish Senate.

Senate President Rojo highlighted the strong historical ties and relations between the Philippines and Spain and likewise pointed out the significance of President Arroyo’s visit. After Senate President Rojo’s welcome remarks, the President responded in Spanish that her visit to Spain had special meaning and significance for her personally. She also thanked Senate President Rojo and the members of the Spanish Senate present for their warm welcome, adding that the presence of the members of both chambers of the Philippine Congress underscored the importance of the legislative bodies in both countries in promoting our bilateral ties.

Visit to the Basque Country

The President made a brief visit to the Basque Country on 05 December. It was a historical visit, the first of a Philippine president. The President had an informal meeting with Lehendakari (President of the Basque Country) Juan José Ibarretxe at the Palacio Ajuria Enea in Vitoria, the capital of the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The Lehendakari also hosted a luncheon in honor of President Arroyo. The visit to the Basque Country highlight the common historical and cultural ties between the Philippines and the Basque Country. It is hoped that the President’s visit will further strengthen our economic and cultural ties with the Basque Country.

The President visited Ordizia, the birth place of Andres de Urdaneta, to inaugurate the celebration of Urdanteta 500. Urdaneta was the great navigator and Augustinian friar who accompanied the successful expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi in 1565 which laid the foundation of Spanish sovereignty in the Philippines. Urdaneta discovered the return route to Mexico, the so-called tornaviaje, which helped Spain in its conquest of the Philippine archipelago. The route also served as the basis of the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade which lasted for two and a half centuries.

Given the importance of the figure of Andrés de Urdaneta in the Philippines and in Philippines-Spain relations, a series of activities are lined up to celebrate his personal achievements, particularly in linking the peoples of the Philippines and Spain. Later in the day, a twinning agreement between Ordizia and Urdaneta City (Pangasinan) was signed by Mayor José Miguel Santamaría and Mayor Amadeo Peres, Jr.

Awards and Honors given to the President

President Arroyo received the following honors and awards during her state visit namely, the golden key from the Ayuntamiento de Madrid and the medalla de oro from the Universidad de Alcalá.

The llave de oro of the Ayuntamiento de Madrid is given to heads of state and government who come to Madrid on a state visit. The medalla de oro is the highest civilian award given by the Universidad de Alcalá to an outstanding person. The President was awarded the medalla de oro for her defense of human rights and for the abolition of the death penalty in the Philippines. She was the first female recipient of said award.

Conclusion

The state visit of the President to Spain was a resounding success. The President had fruitful meetings with King Juan Carlos, President José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Basque President Juan José Ibarretxe and top Spanish CEOs and officials. Five important agreements were also signed. The visit was given ample coverage in the Spanish media.

The successful state visit of the President to Spain could be followed up by a visit by either the king of Spain or the Spanish Premier to the Philippines in the near future.