Philippines, US celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez and US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Ambassador Sung Kim officially launched yesterday a bilateral campaign to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the United States.

“Some say 75 years is indeed a long time to stay as friends, partners and allies, but I believe this is an undeniable testament to the depth and quality of the bilateral relationship. Our ties have withstood the test of time and have served both our countries and peoples well,” Romualdez said during a program held on the grounds of the Philippine embassy in Washington.

The Philippines and the US established formal diplomatic relations on July 4, 1946 – the same day the Philippines gained its status as an independent and sovereign republic. Since then, the two countries have expanded and deepened bilateral cooperation in many areas, most notably defense and security, trade and commerce and culture and education.

This year, the two countries are also marking the 70th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty which enables close security cooperation that enhances mutual peace and security. The Philippines is the US’s oldest treaty ally in Asia.

“As you know, I served as ambassador to the Philippines just recently and it’s a true privilege to see firsthand the strength of the bond between our two countries. Starting with the unbreakable friendship between Americans and Filipinos, of course, the robust military partnership that we have and an equally strong economic partnership. I think what really impressed me the most was the potential for us to develop the relationship even further, even deeper and again, I think that starts with the warmth, affection and mutual respect between our two countries,” said Kim.

The official logo of the 75th anniversary celebration highlights the common colors of the Philippine and American flags, which symbolize the two countries’ shared history, and the sun, stars and stripes that represent hope for the future of this deep relationship.

Central to the anniversary celebration are the unbreakable bonds between the Filipino and American people, who continue to strengthen bilateral relations. There are over four million US citizens of Philippine ancestry in the United States and, under normal circumstances, more than 350,000 US citizens living and traveling in the Philippines at any given time, with an estimated 650,000 US citizens visiting the Philippines each year.

“Certainly, what truly binds our two countries together are our peoples, and it is for them that we are celebrating this momentous occasion. It also provides an opportunity for the Philippines and the United States to not just take stock of what we have achieved together throughout the years, but also to reaffirm our commitment to more robust ties and to a relationship that remains relevant in a world that will continue to face new and continuing challenges,” Romualdez added.

The launch event marks the start of a yearlong commemoration through various activities and initiatives by the Philippine embassy and consulates general in the US, and the US embassy in the Philippines.

US embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law joined the celebration by video link, stating: “Over these decades, our countries have accomplished so much together and, moving forward, we will accomplish even more thanks to the friendship, cooperation and mutual support between Americans and Filipinos.”