BALER, Aurora — The Filipino and Spanish peoples celebrate the 24th Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day and the 128th anniversary of the historic Siege of Baler on Tuesday, June 30, with a ceremony highlighting the enduring friendship between the two nations despite the rainy weather.
Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Spanish Ambassador Miguel Utray serve as co-guests of honor during the commemoration at the San Luis Obispo Parish in Baler. Department of Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara introduces the honored guests to attendees gathered for the annual celebration.
National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chair Regalado Trota Jose Jr. presents the historical significance of the occasion, while Baler Mayor Rhett Ronan Angara welcomes participants to the historic town where the Siege of Baler took place.
The ceremony is also attended by Aurora Lone District Representative Rommel Rico Angara, Aurora Governor Isidro Galban, local government officials, educators, and other guests from across Aurora Province.
The annual observance commemorates the historic decree issued by President Emilio Aguinaldo in 1899 recognizing the Spanish soldiers who defended Baler as “Friends of the Filipino people” for their loyalty and honorable conduct during the Siege of Baler. The decree paved the way for reconciliation between the former adversaries and laid the foundation for the lasting friendship shared by the Philippines and Spain.
Republic Act No. 9187 designates June 30 of every year as Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day in recognition of this historic act of reconciliation. The celebration also forms part of a series of activities organized by the NHCP, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in the Philippines, and local government partners to strengthen cultural and historical ties between the two countries.
The Philippines and Spain continue to foster strong diplomatic and cultural relations, with both countries set to mark the 80th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties in 2027.
