Philippine-British Friendship Day

Prior to 2008, Philippine-British Friendship Day was celebrated annually on December 7, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 381, s. 2000. In August 2008, the day of the celebration was moved to October 20 by virtue of Proclamation 1592, s. 2008, at the request of the United Kingdom (UK) Ambassador to Philippines Peter Beckingham, “to coincide with the inauguration of the new British Embassy [in Taguig City] … an important milestone in the history of the relations between RP and UK.”

The annual Friendship Day celebration has been an occasion to acknowledge the people and institutions that have helped establish, nurture, and strengthen the close ties and friendship between two countries. The Philippines has an embassy in London which leads the Filipino communities in the UK in the celebration of Philippine-British Friendship Day.

Although official diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the UK dates to 1946, Filipinos and the British have had a long history of economic ties that go back to the early 16th century when Europeans started their exploration of Southeast Asia. The first sugar industry was established by Nicholas Loney on Panay Island. Loney served as the British vice consul in Iloilo from 1856 to 1866.

The Philippines and the UK have had an enduring relationship, particularly as they share a common language, which is English. The British embassy in Taguig City has facilitated exchanges and partnerships for the strengthening of government and non-government organizations in conflict prevention, peace building education, and inter-faith dialogue. It has provided technical and funding support to Filipinos in many areas of common interest and concern, including protection of human rights, economic development, the prevention of international crime, and disaster planning and response. In an October, 2014, report of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism based on data sourced from the various embassies, the UK topped the list of foreign government donors for the victims of typhoon Yolanda. Today, UK is home to over 250,000 Filipinos including many seafarers, while a significant number are engaged in the health and care sector.

We great the people and government of the United Kingdom, represented in the Philippines by Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Daniel Robert Pruce, on the occasion of Philippine-British Friendship Day 2017.