INDIA IN THE PHILIPPINES
MESSAGE FROM THE AMBASSADOR
Republic Day greetings to all Indians and friends of India in the Philippines.
This day is of defining importance in the history of modern India. It is on this day that a newly independent India and her people adopted, enacted and gave to themselves a Constitution — one that ensures for all her citizens:
• Social, economic and political justice
• Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship
• Equality of status and of opportunity, and
• Fraternity assuring the dignity to each individual while at the same time ensuring the unity and integrity of the nation.
These are the values that define India as a nation and are as relevant today as they were 70 years ago when the founding fathers wrote those words. It is for this reason that this year, our embassies throughout the world will be carrying out events and programs on specific themes of the Constitution of India.
As elsewhere in the world, the large and growing Indian community in the Philippines observes this day with pride and enthusiasm. This community — business persons, professionals, students — from India or of Indian origin enrich the Philippines as they are enriched, in turn, by the extraordinary warmth and hospitality they encounter from the Filipino people. Not to be left behind, our political relationship has seen an unprecedented level of interaction in the recent past with summit meetings of our leadership in each of the past three years. The recent state visit of the president of India, His Excellency Ram Nath Kovind, to the Philippines, was only the third such visit in 70 years of our diplomatic relations, and is of great significance. This has opened up immense opportunities for cooperation in trade and business, defence and security, science and technology, and in cooperation in culture and tourism. Both countries have decided to not only cooperate in futuristic areas of space and of science and technology, but also to trace our common pre-colonial links and influences.
India the second, and the Philippines the 12th largest country in the world — both vibrant democracies and pluralistic societies — are just beginning to discover the great synergies they have and the natural partners they make. The future of this relationship is immense and we look forward to working toward achieving that potential. Jai Hind! Mabuhay Philippines!