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Manila Bulletin devider Embassies at Work devider Celebrating lasting friendship between Philippines and Spain

Celebrating lasting friendship between Philippines and Spain

In remembrance of the Siege of Baler

Published Aug 5, 2024 02:49 am

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NCHP) led the celebration of the 22nd Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day and the commemoration of the 126th anniversary of the Start of the Siege in Baler, Aurora on July 1, 2024.

The guests of honors pay tribute to the Siege of Baler heroes..jfif
Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri and Ambassador Miguel Utray Delgado of the Embassy of Spanish lead the wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the 126th anniversary of the Siege of Baler.

Guests of honor, Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri of the Philippine Senate, and
Ambassador Miguel Utray Delgado of the Embassy of Spain to the Philippines, led the wreath-laying ceremonies at the Baler Church in the morning, to pay homage to the heroism of Filipino and Spanish soldiers, in front of Baler Church and Baler Plaza.

Ambassador Miguel Utray Delgado pledges close friendship and continued support to the Philippines.jfif
Ambassador Miguel Utray Delgado pledges close friendship and continued support to the Philippines.

Also in attendance were NHCP chairperson Lisa Guerrero Nakpil, Senator Juan
Edgardo Angara, Senator Win Gatchalian, Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Celia Anna M. Feria, Aurora Congressman Rommel Rico T. Angara, Aurora Governor Reynante Tolentino, Baler Mayor Rhett Ronan T. Angara, San Luis Mayor Ariel A. de Jesus, Maria Aurora Mayor Ariel S. Bitong, Casiguran Mayor Roynald S. Soriano, and Dinalungan Mayor Manuel A. Torres, and Philippine Army Brigidier General Joseph Norwin D. Pasamonte.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri underscore the importance of the Philippine Spanish Friendship Day.jfif
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri underscores the importance of the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day.

From the diplomatic community, representatives from the Embassies of Laos,
the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Indonesia also attended the ceremony.

Other activities related to the event are the Literatura Hispano-Filipino Course, the book launch of ‘Vocabulario de la lengua Bicol’ and ‘Amistad Filipino-Hispano Cultural, Historical y Turismo’ Conference all facilitated in June, by the Centro deFilipinas en Madrid of the Philippine Embassy in Spain. The embassy also led a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Madrid on June 30.

NHCP Chairperson Lisa Guerrero-Nakpil introduces the guests of honor.jfif
NHCP Chairperson Lisa Guerrero-Nakpil introduces the guests of honor.

In Baler, various events abound to mark the occasion such as HIBU Awit at Kultura festival and Ayos A Arts workshop. On June 30, there were wreath-laying rites held at Dikaloyungan Marker, Takbo para sa Kalayaan, Holy Mass at the San Luis Obispo, Parish Church, and ‘El Amor Perdura’ cultural night for the celebration of the 22nd Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day in the Sen. Edgardo J. Angara Convention Center, Baler, Aurora.

An international conference in October 2024 organized by the University of the Philippines Diliman Department of History will cap off the celebration.
The Siege of Baler tells the story of Spanish soldiers who held out in Baler, 15 days after the proclamation of Philippine independence. Despite repeated efforts to inform them that the war had already ended, the soldiers barricaded themselves for 11 long months. Lt. Col. Tecson along with Bulacan soldiers, was sent by President Aguinaldo to end the siege.

In 2003, Republic Act No. 9187 created the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day to be observed on June 30 annually. It commemorates the decree in which President Aguinaldo ordered that the survivors of the siege be treated as friends
rather than prisoners of war. This simple act of Filipino benevolence paved the way for better relations between the Philippines and Spain today.

Photos by Sonny Espiritu

Related Tags

Embassy of Spain in Manila National Historical Commission of the Philippines Baler
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