4062) India and the Philippines are commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (in 1949): Date/Year of Stamp issue: 05.08.2025:
Brief on India-Philippines Bilateral Relations:
India and the Philippines formally established diplomatic relations on 26 November 1949, shortly after both countries gained independence. Bilateral relations are friendly, based on shared values and commonalities, such as vibrant democratic polity, pluralistic society, rule of law, an independent judiciary, free press and the widespread use of the English language.
Similar to many other countries in the region, Philippines also enjoys close cultural and civilisational links with India. The presence of numerous words with Sanskrit roots in Tagalog (the local language) and objects such as the Laguna Copper Plate inscription, the oldest artifact discovered in the Philippines written in Kavi, derived from Pallava script; the golden statue of Agusan Tara; and the localised version of Indian epic Ramayana (Maharadia Lawana) testify to the historical links between the two countries.
With the launch of Look East Policy of India in 1992, partnership intensified with ASEAN and also resulted into stronger relations with countries in the region including the Philippines. Indiaʼs Act East Policy (2014) and vision for the Indo-Pacific with ASEAN Centrality has great synergy with Philippines own approach to the region aimed at realizing a safe, secure, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Philippines is the Country Coordinator for ASEAN- India Dialogue Relations since 26 July 2024 (for a three year term, until July 2027).
Interactions, including meetings at the leadership level, between the two countries has been growing and the stage appears to be set for further intensification in the ties, covering a broad canvas of consultations and cooperation on matters related to foreign policy, security, defence, trade, finance, tourism, health, agriculture, people-to-people relations and culture.
India and the Philippines are commemorating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (in 1949). A joint official logo, to commemorate the occasion, was unveiled by the External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar and the the Ambassador of the Philippines to India, Mr. Josel F. Ignacio, at the reception hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in New Delhi on 13 November 2024.
Political relations:
(a) High level visits/Interactions:
Bilateral relations between India and the Philippines have strengthened over the years with regular exchange of high level visits, telephonic conversations, virtual meetings, etc. which continued even during the Covid19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had a brief interaction on the sidelines of 21st ASEAN-India Summit held in Vientiane (Laos) on 10 October 2024.
Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Pabitra Margherita met Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministersʼ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur in July 2025. He had earlier visited Philippines from 13-15 January 2025.
External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Philippines from 25-27 March 2024, and called on President Marcos. He also met his counterpart Secretary of Foreign Affairs (SFA) Enrique A. Manalo; Secretary of National Defense of Philippines Mr. Gilbert Teodoro; National Security Adviser Mr. Eduardo M. Ano, and Secretary of Information and Communication Technology Mr Ivan John Uy. EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar and Secretary Manalo also met on the sidelines of ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers Meeting in Vientiane (25 July 2024), on the sidelines of NAM Summit in Kampala (Jan 2024), and in New Delhi, on 18 March 2025, during the visit of Secretary Manalo to India for the 10th Raisina Dialogue. During this visit, Secretary Manalo unveiled a bust of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the National hero of the Philippines, at Jesus and Mary College, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.
Secretary of Department of Health, Dr. Teodoro Herbosa addressed the Health Minister's Session of 3rd Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS 3.0) held virtually on 17 Aug 2024, through a video message.
Philippine Transportation Secretary (Minister) Mr. Jaime J. Bautista visited India to attend the 2nd Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference (APAC-MC) on Civil Aviation held on 11-12 September, 2024 in New Delhi. A nine member delegation led by Under Secretary (Vice Minister) Mr. Salvador Mison visited India from 07-11 February, 2025 to participate in the Aero India, 2025. An Indian delegation led by Mr. Nityanand Rai, Minister of State (Home) visited Philippines to attend Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held on 14-17 Oct 2024.
Other important high level interactions include -
brief pull aside meeting between PM Modi and President Marcos on sidelines of ASEAN-India Summit [Sep 2023, Jakarta]; President Marcosʼ participation in the Leaderʼs Summit of 2nd edition of Voice of the Global South Summit (VOGSS) [Nov 2023]; Secretary Manaloʼs participation in the 1st VOGSS [Jan 2023];Telephone call between PM Modi and President Marcos [Aug 2022]; Visit of Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, MOS(RRS) to Philippines to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Marcos [June 2022]; Visit of EAM to Manila [February 2022]; Visit of SFA Locsin to New Delhi for the 5th Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation [April 2022]; Telephone call between PM Modi and President Rodrigo Duterte [June 2020]; State visit of President Shri Ram Nath Kovind [Oct 2019] to mark 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations (bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled at Miriam College, Manila, during the visit), Visit of President Duterte to India [Jan 2018] for 25th ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and Visit of PM Modi to Manila [Nov 2017] for 15th ASEAN India Summit.
Humanitarian Assistance:
India has been offering humanitarian assistance to the Philippines from time to time. In February 2006, following a devastating rockslide in Southern Leyte, India dispatched approx. 28 tons of relief material valued at $260,000.
India contributed $250,000 for relief efforts after Typhoon Reming/Durian (Dec 2006), $200,000 in disaster relief following Typhoon Pablo/Bopha (Dec
2012), $100,000 for the October 2013 earthquake in Bohol, and sending 15 tons of relief supplies (Super Typhoon Haiyan Yolanda) (Nov 2013).
India offered $500,000 for rehabilitation efforts in Marawi City during a siege by armed groups in 2017. During Covid, in April 2020, the Embassy with support of leaders of Indian Community organisations handed over nearly US$ 250,000 worth of face masks to then Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Carlito Galvez.
In March 2024, the Indian Navy rescued Filipino crew members onboard vessel MV True Confidence, attacked by Houthi rebels off the Gulf of Aden. More recently, in May 2025, Indian Coast Guard rescued Filipino crew members on-board the Liberian flagged container ship MSC Elsa 3, which capsized off the coast of Kochi, Kerela.
Defence and Security Cooperation:
Defence cooperation is a key component ofIndia-Philippines bilateral cooperation.
(a) High Level Visit/Exchange:
On 22 November 2024, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh met Secretary of National Defense, Mr. Gilbert Teodoro on the sidelines of the 18th ASEAN Defense Ministersʼ Meeting (ADMM) in Vientiane, Laos.
Earlier, the first ever visit by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant, CG Admiral Artemio Abu to India held in August 2023 during which two MoU were signed - MOU on Enhanced Maritime Cooperation, and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to operationalise the MoU on exchange of White Shipping Information (2019).
The 8th IN-PH Intelligence Exchange (INTELEX) meeting was held in India in July 2023. Philippine Secretary of National Defense, Delfin Lorenzana, visited India for the first ever bilateral Defence Ministerial visit in March 2018.
High-level training visits: Delegations from the College of Defence Management of India visited Philippines in Oct 2015 and Oct 2018. A 27-member delegation from the Indian Army War College, Mhow also visited Philippines in Sep 2019. NDC delegation visited Philippines thrice (22-25 May 2016, 05-10 June 2022, and 02-08 June, 2024). Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) visited India from 17-19 March 2025 to participate in the Raisina Dialogue.
(b) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Engagements:
India and Philippines have signed an MOU on Defence Cooperation in 2006. Under this MoU, a Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) (at Joint Secretary level) was set up and met five times so far.
The 5th JDCC was held in Manila on 11 Sept 2024. The Indian delegation was led by Sh. Giridhar
Aramane, Defence Secretary of India and the Philippines delegation was headed by Mr. Irineo C. Espino, Undersecretary of National Defense. The two countries signed an MoU on Defence Industry and Logistics cooperation in Nov 2017.
(c) Maritime Cooperation:6
The Inaugural India-PH Track-1 Maritime Dialogue was held in Manila on 13 Dec, 2024. A 4-members delegation led by Ms. Muanpuii Saiawi, Joint Secretary (D&ISA) visited Philippines from 11-13 Dec, met the Philippine delegation led by Mr. Marshall Louis Alferez, Assistant Secretary of the Maritime & Oceans Affairs in the DFA.
Indian Navy and Coast Guard ships regularly visit the Philippines and hold consultations with their counterparts.
Three Indian Naval (IN) Ships of the Eastern Fleet INS Delhi, Shakti & Kiltan visited Manila in May 2024. Earlier visit/port calls include ICG Samudra Paheredar in March 2024; INS Kadmatt in Dec 2023; INS Satpura in June 2022; INS Ranvijay and INS Kora in August
2021; INS Kiltan in Jul 2021; INS Sahyadri and INS Kiltan in Oct 2019 and ICGS Shaunak in Feb 2019.
(d) Training Cooperation
The participation of officers of the armed forces of both countries in various specialised training courses in each otherʼs countries has intensified. An Indian Armed Forces officer has been regularly attending the prestigious Master in National Security Administration (MNSA) course in the Philippines National Defence College in the last several years. There is also regular participation at the Command and General Staff Course (CGSC) of the Philippines.
(e) Tourism:
A bilateral MoU on Tourism Cooperation was signed on 18 October 2019 under which 1st meeting of India-Philippines JWG on Tourism was held on 8 October, 2020. The 2nd JWG meeting held on 21 May, 2024 in Manila and the Indian side was led by Ms. Anita Baghel, Additional DG, Ministry of Tourism and Ms. Verna C. Buensuceso, OIC Undersecretary, Department of Tourism led the Philippine side.
(f) Science & Technology:
Bilateral Programme of Cooperation (POC) in Science and Technology (S&T), for the period 2019-2022 was signed in Oct 2019 outlining five broad areas of cooperation, namely agricultural biotechnology; health, pharmaceutical & medical sciences; ICT; Material Science & Technology; and Ocean & Atmospheric Science. In itʼs first Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) in July 2021, implementing guidelines on the call for Joint Research Projects (JRP) were finalized and signed. Subsequently, 3 JRP proposals identified for implementation: (i) Virology (ii) Artificial Intelligence, and (iii) Additive manufacturing of new materials.
On 5 March 2024, Embassy hosted the First India-Philippines Tech Summit (IPTS) in partnership with Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) and Department of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT) from Indian side and Philippine Department of Information & Communication Technology (DICT) and Philippines Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI). The event showcased innovative digital products and solutions from Indiaʼs vibrant digital ecosystem focusing on 3 key sectors: Agriculture, Finance, and Health.
More than 300 Filipino representatives and 50 Indian companies participated in the 1st IPTS.
(g) Consular:
The Joint Consular Consultations Meeting (JCCM) has met four times so far.
During the meeting, both sides comprehensively discussed and reviewed all consular matters of mutual
interest.
(h) Space Cooperation:
A new area of engagement is Space Cooperation which is progressing well with the participation of Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA)ʼs scientists in different training programmes in India such as 7th Edition of Bengaluru Space Expo [September 2022]; ISROʼs UNNATI Training programme for nanosatellite building [October 2022]; CSSTEAPʼs 5th Short Course on Weather Forecasting Using Numerical Weather Prediction Models [July-August 2024].
Training and Education:
Philippines is one of the beneficiaries of Indiaʼs flagship capacity building programme–Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC). To date, over 1000 Filipino professionals have attended the courses.
Electoral Technology, Environmental Impact Assessment, Renewable Energy, Natural Resource Management, Public Health Management Development, and Introduction to Ayurveda were among the popular courses in the Philippines.
Culture:
The Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) between the two countries for 2019-2023 was renewed during the President of Indiaʼs visit to the Philippines in October 2019.
Indian cultural events are organised regularly in the Philippines in commemoration of Indian national days, festivals and other important days such as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, Constitution Day, Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas, etc. In 2024, Mission launched a compendium of useful resources about the introduction to yoga, yoga therapy and yogic practices on 21 June 2024 on the occasion of International Day of Yoga. Mission also launched a compendium of Indian restaurants in the Philippines filled with fun facts and trivia about the Indian Cuisine and its influence on Filipino food.
As part of the 75th year anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines, Mission organized community welfare activities such as screening of 1000 Filipino women for breast and cervical cancer, Blood donation camp, and India-Philippines @ 75 Friendship Golf Tournament to celebrate the friendship between the people of two countries. The said celebration is a year long event in the Philippines.
Diaspora:
About 70,000 members of the Indian community reside in thePhilippines, majorly in and around Metro Manila, City of Davao and Cebu.
The 19th century saw people from Sindh and Punjab travelling to the Philippines.
The Sindhi community, which made its humble beginnings in retail sector, has now established itself as an influential and affluent segment of the Filipino society.
In the last few decades, there has been a growing number of Indian professionals, estimated around 800, who are working in the Philippines, in Indian and multinational corporations, Indian Joint ventures, Asian Development Bank, International Rice Research Institute, and UN agencies.
Together with dependents, their number is estimated at around 2,500. The major Indian business associations in the Philippines are the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines (FICCI, Philippines); Indian Business Forum (IBF) and Indian Women in Enterprise (IWE) Philippines.
The total number of Indian students currently enrolled in the Philippines is around 8800. Most of them are studying medicine and few are pursuing Management, Information Technology, Nursing, Christian Theology & Divinity, Church Music and Pilot training courses.
The Indian diaspora has established 31 Gurudwaras (including Khalsa Diwan) and 8 Hindu temples in the Philippines. There are cultural associations such as Indian Ladies Club, Bharati Indian Expats women's Association, Indian Cultural Association of the Philippines (ICAP) and several spiritual organisations like Sri Satya Sai Organisation, Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Siddhi Yoga, which regularly celebrate Indian festivals and engages closely with the Indian Embassy and Filipino Community in supporting social, cultural and welfare activities.
The Postage Stamp:
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7) HAFNIA 24, Copenhagen, Denmark: Celebrating 400 Years of Danish Post: India Post participated in the Stamp Exhibition held from 17.10.2024 to 20.10.2024 with two Special Covers
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Rajan Trikha has commented:
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Santosh Khanna has commented:
Delete"A VERY informative and interesting post Thanks for sharing."
Thank you so much Khanna sahab.
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