Remarks by
H.E. ENRIQUE A. MANALO
Secretary for Foreign Affairs
“Celebrating an Enduring Friendship:
Philippines-Argentina Diplomatic Relations at 75”
UNIVERSIDAD DE BELGRANO
Auditorio Urquiza, Belgrano, Buenos Aires Argentina
14 September 2023, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Dr. Porto, Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees, Universidad de Belgrano, the faculty and students of this esteemed institution;
Excellencies and colleagues from the diplomatic corps;
Friends, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning.
It is a great honor to be back in Buenos Aires after six years, and on the special occasion of the 75th year of Philippines- Argentina diplomatic relations.
My meeting with Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero yesterday underlined the very positive trajectory of this relationship, and we also discussed making stronger foundations for the future of our relations.
Historical Links
The Philippines and Argentina have a long-standing friendship that is warm and open, and based on historical and cultural commonalities, mutual respect, and shared values.
For both of us, our diplomatic relations were established ahead of others with any country in our respective regions.
In April 1949, the Philippine Legation in Buenos Aires was inaugurated, seven months after the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between our countries. The Legation was headed by Minister Plenipotentiary Narciso Ramos, one of the most eminent figures of the Philippine Foreign Service, and one of the founders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He was the father of our late President Fidel Ramos (1992 - 1998), known for laying the foundations for our country’s modern economy. Narciso Ramos would head the Legation until 1952, with the young Fidel in tow. In his later years, President Ramos would fondly recall walking along the tree-lined avenues of what is today Belgrano R.
The Legation initially set up its temporary premises at the Hotel Plaza in Retiro, before finding a suitable location not too far away from the hotel, this time at the Calle Florida. It was not until 1960 that the Legation would finally be elevated to Embassy status, under the leadership of Pedro Gil, a journalist, medical doctor, and politician. His granddaughter, (Maria Consuelo Puyat Reyes), in turn, would serve as Philippine Ambassador to Chile for almost 20 years.
Our formal ties are preceded by rich stories of human connection.
It is known that Juan Fermin, the older brother of Jose Francisco de San Martin, the “Libertador” and the national hero of Argentina, served in the Philippines for 17 years as a colonel of the Spanish army.
Felix Pardo de Tavera, a celebrated Filipino sculptor and friend of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, migrated to Argentina from Paris, marrying Agustina Manigot. Pardo de Tavera would later go on to become one of the founders of the Sociedad de Artes Decorativos, the progenitor of today’s Museum of Decorative Arts.
Our friendship preceding these formal ties was most pivotal in the influence of Argentinian revolution with that of the Philippines against Spain.
These serve as historical anchors of the relationship as it evolves in the 21st century.
Bilateral Relations
In the past 75 years, this friendship has encompassed a more diverse cooperation agenda. We have agreements on agriculture, culture, trade and investment, sports, bilateral consultations, cooperation between our diplomatic academies, and this year, scientific and space cooperation.
Trade And Investment
While trade has steadily increased between the Philippines and Argentina, both sides recognize that trade and investment have yet to reach their full potential.
According to figures provided by the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), total trade amounted to US$ 674 Million by the end of 2022. This is a marked increase from the roughly US$ 400 Million average that we had for many years and is a sharp surge from the US$ 280 Million in total trade recorded at the end of 2020, when COVID-19 hit.
Physical distance has historically kept trade relations from blossoming. However, new technologies and systems allow us to breach such barriers. I am happy to note that a MERCOSUR business mission organized in May was able to connect Philippine businesses with potential partners in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The Philippines is open for business. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has outlined a vision to transform the economy, building stronger institutions for solid, inclusive and resilient growth for our over 110 million people.
The Philippines has a close to half a billion US dollar investment in Argentina through the port terminal TecPlata which continues to expand its operations. In parallel, there is a growing presence of Argentine businesses in the Philippines such as Farmesa, Laboratorios Bagó, and La Cabrera, to name a few.
The pathways for expanding the depth and scope of our economic relationship are there - in our business environments and in the closer integration processes in ASEAN and in Asia through the biggest trading bloc, RCEP, and MERCOSUR in this region.
Cultural Cooperation
Culture is an important touchstone of our diplomatic relations. Our Latin sentiments connect our peoples in a meaningful way. Our shared love for cinema, music, literature, and the arts has resulted in fruitful exchanges over the years.
The renewal of our Cultural Cooperation Agreement enables us to enjoy partnerships with Argentina to present Philippine culture in its many facets, such as song, dance, and cuisine, with the Argentine public.
Our national film industries have a great tradition of experimental and avant garde filmmaking. A few weeks ago, we held the Philippine Cinema Week at the Cine Gaumont in Buenos Aires which featured the landmark Philippine and Argentine film co-production, Destino Pasional, a film that represents only the beginning of future collaborations in cinema, television, art, and the creative industries, in general.
Gastronomy has been a powerful connector. The Embassy published in 2021 the first Filipino cookbook in Spanish, written by Argentina-based chef Christina Sunae. The book contains recipes from all over the Philippines, and also serves as a travelogue that shines a light on diverse culinary traditions in the Philippines.
Space, Science and Technology
The Philippines and Argentina have also ventured into new frontiers of cooperation in science and innovation, and here, the Philippines looks to Argentina for its wealth of expertise in applying science and technology to advance the development agenda.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Space Cooperation between the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales of Argentina (CONAE) is one major step along this line.
The official visit and scientific mission to Argentina last June by Dr. Renato Solidum, PH Secretary for Science and Technology, provided the Philippines’ insights into Argentina’s thriving science and technology sector, in fields such as agriculture, biotechnology, innovation, and nuclear research and application.
Shared Values, Responsible International Actors
The Philippines and Argentina are among the original 51 signatories to the UN Charter. This frames the strong engagement between our two countries in the multilateral fora. Each of us is deeply conscious of our responsibility as regional and global actors and vanguards of the UN Charter.
As strong and vibrant democracies, the Philippines and Argentina are partners in championing human rights, justice and equality, for our people, as well as in the world stage.
As founding members of the United Nations, we are each invested in upholding peace through troop contributions to UN peacekeeping operations and in safeguarding a rules-based global order anchored on the rule of law and inclusive and effective multilateralism. We both contribute strongly to preserve and strengthen a rules-based global order for we recognize that it guarantees peace and stability, and the essential conditions for the flourishing of free and equal nations.
The close collaboration between the Philippines and Argentina, along with likeminded countries in the UN to shape norms on responsible behavior in space and with respect to lethal autonomous weapons systems signify our shared sense of responsibility in keeping UN governance structures up-to-date and in order to prevent the misuse and weaponization of new technologies.
As important voices in the UN and our region, Manila and Buenos Aires work together for a UN system that engenders the trust, inclusivity and solidarity needed for effective global action to address defining challenges of our time, especially climate change.
Maritime governance is an area for common action. Generations of Filipino and Argentinian scholars and diplomats have left an indelible mark in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). To the Philippines, which is an archipelagic maritime nation, UNCLOS provides the moorings for keeping our seas safe, as well as marine ecosystems healthy, and strategic maritime waterways such as the South China Sea, secure, free and open. The Arbitral Award of 2016 affirmed UNCLOS as the basis for resolving disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law.
Through ASEAN, the ten countries of Southeast Asia carry out our vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region. Argentina’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in 2018 acknowledges the central role of ASEAN in the regional architecture.
Through ASEAN and MERCOSUR, we each pursue broader economic integration so that both groupings serve as agents of international peace and progress.
The Philippines takes pride in its role as a founding member of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN), representing ten member states in a peaceful region of more than 670 million people with a 3 Trillion US dollar economy, which is now the 5th largest in the world. Despite being a culturally and linguistically diverse group, ASEAN is one of the most successful regional groupings in the world, promoting regional peace and stability, accelerating economic growth, advancing social progress and fostering cultural development. ASEAN’s central role in the regional security architecture must be preserved amidst today’s strategic rivalries, disputes and flexing of military power that threaten the strong momentum of economic expansion in the Indo-Pacific region.
Multilateralism and a Rules-Based Global Order
More than any other time in recent history, these times call for the commitment of states to sustain the UN and multilateralism as a unifying force and a platform for inclusion and empowerment of nations and their citizens.
The Philippines will continue to collaborate with Argentina in reinforcing the values of rule of law, equality, and mutual respect as a foundation for multilateralism which overcomes differences among actors, facilitates global action in response to challenges such as public health emergencies, humanitarian crises, and climate change, and addresses emerging risks and threats that jeopardize us collectively.
The Philippines has consistently endeavored to make multilateralism more constructive and inclusive. Recognizing a diversity of perspectives, we advocate for the engagement of a broader array of actors, allowing for a greater sense of ownership.
Like Argentina, the Philippines has played a bridging and moderating role in many multilateral settings where polarities have threatened consensus. We will continue to play this role.
West Philippine Sea
As an archipelagic nation with one of the largest coastlines in the world, the Philippines considers safe and secure seas and sound marine ecosystems as integral to the future of our nation and our region.
The Philippines has consistently emphasized its commitment to maintaining the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea as a region of peace and stability. We recognize not only the strategic significance of the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea: the sea is the lifeblood to millions of Filipinos. As a nation situated in the heart of this seascape, the Philippines understands that protecting its rights in its Exclusive Economic Zone and ensuring unimpeded access is vital for safeguarding the livelihoods of our fisherfolk and preserving the marine resources for future generations.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has unequivocally stated the country’s commitment to upholding our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.
We pursue the peaceful resolution of the disputes in the South China Sea, in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention of the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
Valuing the Past, Looking towards the future
Ladies and gentlemen,
The first 75 years of our formal ties as each other’s oldest friend in our respective regions have brought the Argentine and Filipino people closer than we have ever been, notwithstanding the physical distance.
My visit to Argentina has been an opportunity to review how much we have been in the periphery of each other’s visions, trusting the solid foundation of our long friendship to sustain our political, economic and cultural ties through these decades, and into the future.
In the Philippines, we say Mabuhay meaning Long Live!, as a toast of affirming goodwill.
And I wish to end my remarks with a roaring Mabuhay to this great friendship between the peoples of the Philippines and Argentina, and to each of you present today for your role in sustaining this friendship and shaping the future of our.
Thank you all for your kind attention.