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

Tribuna España-Filipinas

The Tribuna España-Filipinas is an informal forum intended to advance and enhance our relations through the active participation of and interaction among the government, private sector, NGOs, academe and other members of the civil society of both countries.

The Tribuna is the product of intense work and coordination between Casa Asia and the Philippine Embassy in Madrid as well as other Spanish and Philippine government agencies and the private sector. Several prominent sponsors in Spain, both from the public and private sector, provided the financial support that helped in the Tribuna’s implementation.

The first Tribuna España-Filipinas was held on 30 November to 01 December 2005 in Madrid.

Distinguished speakers from the Philippines included Senator Edgardo Angara, author of the law establishing the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day; Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, Mr. Vicente Ayllon, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Insular Life Assurance Co. Ltd.; Mr. Ambeth Ocampo, Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts; Dr. Bernardo Villegas, Executive Vice President of the University of Asia and the Pacific; Mr. Pedro Roxas, President of the Spanish-Philippine Businessmen Committee; Mr. Rolando Tungpalan, Assistant Director General of NEDA; Fr. Reuel Castañeda, Filipino parish priest in Barcelona, and Ms. Luli Arroyo, Director for Strategic Development, Foundation for Information Techonology, Education & Development (FIT-ED).

The presentations and discussions at the Tribuna revolved around the theme “hermanamiento” (literally “sisterhood” but encompasses the special relations between the Philippines and Spain) and the “compromiso” or commitment to building a common future by learning from the past.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz Gallardón also signed a sister-city agreement between Manila and Madrid at the closing ceremony of the Tribuna. The agreement aims to strengthen the relations between our two capitals through various exchanges and joint projects.

The 2nd Tribuna España-Filipinas was held in Manila on 27-28 November 2006. This second meeting was attended by, on the Philippine side, H.E. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and four (4) ministers. The Spanish delegation was headed by Mr. Enrique Guerrero, Deputy Chief of the Cabinet of the Spanish President.

The second Tribuna especially emphasized economic matters due to the interest on the Philippine side to attract major Spanish investment to their country. For this reason, the Tribuna coincided with a business cooperation meeting of PromoMadrid, which brought a dozen businesses to Manila from the Comunidad of Madrid. Nevertheless, institutional and cooperation matters, particularly in the areas of education and culture, where likewise part of the discussions. The meeting between academic experts was of special interest as said experts agreed on a series of conclusions with respect to the search of a shared focus regarding our common history, which will be a continuing pillar within the framework of the Tribuna.

The 3rd Tribuna was held on 4-5 December 2007 in Madrid. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who was on a State Visit to Spain at that time, delivered the key note at the opening of the 3rd Tribuna. The presentations and discussions at the 3rd Tribuna focused on three major themes: trade, development cooperation and education.

The 4th Tribuna was held in Cebu on 5-6 November 2009. In that event Secretary of Education Jesli Lapus officially announced that following the directive of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Deparment of Education will implement a new policy on the teaching of the Spanish language in selected Philippine high schools. The announcement was warmly received by the Spanish government which readily offered to assist the Philippine government in the implementation of the new policy.

The fifth Tibuna España-Filipinas will be held in Barcelona sometime in 2010.