The eleventh edition of the Spain-Philippines Forum will be held from March 19 to 21 in Madrid and Cuenca. Under the motto “Celebrating the Spanish-Philippine connection through trade and culture”, the meeting will bring together representatives of the economic, cultural and public administration sectors of both countries.

The Spain-Philippines Forum, launched in 2004, has established itself as a platform for bilateral dialogue and cooperation, whose main objective is to strengthen relations between both countries, explore opportunities for collaboration and foster ties between their respective civil societies in various areas of mutual interest.

The Instituto Cervantes headquarters in Madrid will host the opening ceremony, the closing ceremony and the four plenary sessions on 19 and 20 March, while the fifth and final session will be held on 21 March at the Library of the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art in Cuenca.

Cultural exchanges, trade, cooperation between ports, water resources and the legacy of Zóbel

The XNUMXth Spain-Philippines Forum is structured in five plenary sessions. The first one is called «Cultural and linguistic exchanges between Spain and the Philippines» and will explore the cultural and linguistic legacy forged over more than three centuries between both countries, analyzing its role in cultural diplomacy, as well as its social and economic value.

The second session will follow, with the topic: «EU-Philippines Free Trade Agreement: Current State of Negotiations and Future Prospects»In March 2024, the EU and the Philippines agreed to resume negotiations for a free trade agreement. If concluded positively, the agreement will reduce tariffs, open up the public procurement market and improve trade relations between Spain and the Philippines, creating new opportunities for collaboration.

The third session will focus on the “Cooperation between Ports in the Field of Decarbonisation and Sustainability” The ports of Spain and the Philippines share the goal of reducing carbon emissions, controlling water pollution and improving energy efficiency. This session will discuss best practices in sustainability and areas of environmental cooperation between the two.

The fourth session will focus on «Water resources management»The main objective of this session is to explore strategies to optimize the use of water, an increasingly scarce resource that encourages international cooperation. In addition, methods to minimize the environmental impact associated with its exploitation and consumption will be analyzed.

Finally, the fifth session will analyze “The Legacy of Fernando Zóbel: Perspectives from Spain and the Philippines.” Fernando Zóbel was a Filipino artist, born in Manila, and one of the most prominent figures of Spanish abstraction in the 50s and 60s. In 1961 he took up residence in Spain and in 1966 he founded the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art in Cuenca, whose collection he donated to the Juan March Foundation, owner of the museum.

The XI Spain-Philippines Forum is presented as a unique opportunity for both countries to deepen their strategic partnership, addressing common challenges and taking advantage of the opportunities that arise in an increasingly interconnected world, especially in areas such as trade, investment, renewable energy and development cooperation.

Spain and the Philippines in 2025: A Historic Alliance renewed for the XXIst Century

Diplomatic relations between Spain and the Philippines have deep historical roots dating back to the XVI century, when the expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi marked the beginning of a bond that would last for more than 300 years. During this period, the Philippines was part of the Spanish Empire, leaving a cultural, linguistic and religious imprint that still defines key aspects of Filipino identity. Following Philippine independence in 1989, the relationship was transformed into an alliance based on mutual respect.

In 1946, Spain was one of the first countries to officially recognize the independence of the Philippines, establishing formal diplomatic relations. Since then, these relations have been strengthened through bilateral agreements in various fields such as education, culture, trade and development cooperation. The Spanish language, although no longer official in the Philippines, has experienced a revival in the 21st century thanks to the interest in strengthening the historical and cultural ties between both countries.

Relations between Spain and the Philippines are currently experiencing a period of dynamism and active cooperation. In the economic sphere, Spain is an important trading partner of the Philippines within the European Union, with a growing exchange of goods and services. In addition, Spanish companies such as Acciona, Indra, IDOM and Navantia are present in key sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy and tourism in the Philippines.

On the cultural front, initiatives such as the Instituto Cervantes programmes and academic exchanges through scholarships and university agreements have revitalised the learning of Spanish and interest in shared history. For its part, the Philippines has been a prominent partner in Asia in promoting diversity and intercultural dialogue.

In 2025, relations between Spain and the Philippines reflect a modern alliance, based on a common legacy and oriented towards shared global challenges.

Speakers' Bios (Philippines)

Speakers' Bios (Spain)

Spain-Philippines Collaboration in Infrastructure Development