Embassy of the Philippines

The Embassy of the Philippines is an important diplomatic mission within Mexico City’s Anzures neighborhood. Mexican-Philippine relations date back to 1521 when explorer Ferdinand Magellan claimed the Philippine Islands for the Spanish Crown. The archipelago was named for Prince Felipe of Asturias a bit later in 1543. Not coincidentally though, you’ll note that Magellan’s flag was placed in the same year as Hernán Cortés’ conquest of Ancient Tenochtitlan.

During much of the colonial period, the Philippines were governed directly by the Viceroyalty of New Spain, headquartered in Mexico City. A tremendous exchange accompanied the fleets of Galleon Ships that departed Acapulco every year bound for Manila. For 250 years until 1815, the bi-anual voyage brought goods, culture, war, religion, slaves, and trade between the two major colonies. Many governors in the Philippines had been born in Mexico.

The Philippines would remain a Spanish colony until 1898 and then a colony of the United States until 1946. Mexico formalized diplomatic relations with the new Republic of the Philippines in 1953 and opened a first embassy in 1961. In 2023, both countries  celebrated 70 years of diplomatic relations.

Today Mexico exports copper, memory chips, tequila, and audio, video and stereo equipment to the Philippines. In turn, the Philippines sends back photovoltaic solar cells, modular circuits; and some crude oil. Both countries are actively pursuing the nomination of the Manila Galleon Trade Route to recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The current embassy has been occupied since 2018 after another facility in the Cuauhtémoc neighborhood suffered damage during the September 2017 earthquakes.