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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Republic of Estonia celebrates 108th Independence Anniversary

Republic of Estonia celebrates 108th Independence Anniversary

Published Mar 1, 2026 12:05 am  |  Updated Feb 28, 2026 04:44 pm
By FERNANDO MARTIN O. PEÑA
Honorary Consul General
The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Estonia in Manila joined Estonians around the world in celebrating the 108th anniversary of Estonia’s Independence Day on Feb. 24, 2026.
On Feb. 24, 1918, the Republic of Estonia declared itself a sovereign and democratic state. Over the past 108 years, Estonia has built a modern, resilient, and innovative nation grounded in the values of freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. These principles continue to guide Estonia’s domestic development and its engagement with the international community.
Estonia is internationally recognized for its strong digital society, transparent governance, and Commitment to sustainability and innovation. As a member of the European Union, NATO, and the United Nations, Estonia remains an active and reliable partner in promoting peace, security, and multilateral cooperation.
The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Estonia in Manila, led by Honorary Consul General Fernando Martin O. Peña, takes this occasion to reaffirm the warm and growing relationship between Estonia and the Philippines. Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of the Philippines were formally established on Dec. 19, 1991 and have steadily strengthened over the years. Bilateral cooperation continues to expand in areas such as digital transformation, education, innovation, maritime affairs, and people-to-people exchanges. Estonia values its partnership with the Philippines and looks forward to further strengthening ties in the years ahead.
On Feb. 13, 2026, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Estonia. The MOU aims to deepen cooperation in information technology, particularly in the areas of connectivity, e-governance, and digital identification systems.
From March 29-31, 2026, a delegation from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu, the Parliament of the Republic of Estonia, will visit the Philippines to meet with the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives of the Philippines. The visit aims to facilitate exchange of views on international and regional developments, foreign and security policy issues, and to further strengthen parliamentary collaboration between the two committees.
The Republic of Estonia, through Ambassador-Designate of the Republic of Estonia to the Republic of the Philippines, Mr. Andres Unga, continues to advance close cooperation with the Philippines, particularly in digital transformation initiatives. Estonian business and government delegations continue to visit the Philippines to engage with various government agencies and explore opportunities for collaboration.
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