National Day of Italy

TODAY is the National day of Italy which remembers the they when Italians decided to abolish the monarchy in favor of the establishment of a republic in 1946. Also known as Republic Day or Festa della Repubblica in Italian, this holiday is celebrated with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Vittoriano. During the National Day celebration, the gardens of the Quirinale Palace, seat of the President of the Republic, are opened to the public with musical performances from various military units in Italy.

Italy is a major regional power in Europe with an important role in diplomatic, military, cultural, and economic affairs. The country is a founding member of the European Union. It is also a member of various international organizations such as the United Nations, the Organization for Security and cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the World Trade Organization.

Bilateral relations between the Philippines and Italy have been warm and friendly. Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Italy were established on July 9, 1947. Last December 9, 2013, the Protocol Amending the Convention between the Republic of the Philippines and the Italian republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion was signed. The Protocol amending the Convention seeks to guarantee compliance of the Philippine tax laws with internationally agreed tax standards (IATS) as set forth by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This protocol promotes best practices in the exchange of information and transparency on tax information which would enhance investment flows between Italy and Philippines.

We congratulate the people and government of the Italy led by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, and President Sergio Mattarella, on the occasion of its National Day.