PHIL EMBASSY COMMEMORATES 128 YEARS OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE, EIGHT DECADES OF FRIENDSHIP WITH COLOMBIA
The Philippine Embassy in Bogotá hosted a diplomatic reception on Friday, 12 June 2026, to mark the 128th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence and the 80th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Colombia.
Held at the Metropolitan Club Bogotá, the event brought together approximately 180 guests from the diplomatic corps, international organizations, Colombian government agencies, business and private sector, the academe, civil society, and the local Filipino community.
In his remarks, Ambassador Adrian Bernie Candolada noted that the evening offered a rare confluence of three celebratory occasions: Philippine Independence, the 2026 Philippines’ chairship of ASEAN, and the 80th anniversary of Philippine-Colombia diplomatic relations.
Minister Counselor Diana Catalina Dávila Suárez, Director for Asia, Africa, and Oceania of the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who graced the event as Guest of Honor, underscored the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation, particularly with the two countries signing agreements on tourism cooperation and disaster risk reduction and management before the end of June 2026.
The program also featured a preview of Vistas de un Viaje, a coffeetable book on the shared Hispanic heritage of the Philippines and Colombia, introduced through a dedicated video presentation. Conceived as the Embassy’s centerpiece project for the 80 years of friendship between the Philippines and Colombia, the book is expected to be formally launched later this year.
The cultural segment featured a live medley of Filipino, English, and Spanish songs by Mr. Vincent Paul Evangelista, a Houston-based professional singer and theater actor, followed by a Colombian string quartet’s rendition of Colombian and Filipino music. –END-
