Message of HE Millicent Cruz Paredes,
Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Thailand
on the Occasion of the 127th Anniversary of
Philippine Independence and Nationhood
12 June 2025
On the occasion of the 127th anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence and Nationhood, with the theme Kalayaan, Kinabukasan, Kasaysayan (Freedom, Future, History), I join the Filipino people and the government of the Republic of the Philippines in honouring the heroism, love of country and strength of spirit of our country’s founders. Today, we honour and remember, with deepest gratitude, the men and women of our history who made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of Philippine independence and nationhood. With their patriotism and courage, they embodied the best of the Filipino. Their stories and the values they lived by continue to resonate with every Filipino who strives to serve and contribute to nation-building, especially in the face of the challenges of our times.
Nation-building is not a task confined to the past, but a continuing journey that is carried forward by every Filipino. These efforts are guided by the bayanihan spirit, a deeply rooted Filipino tradition of communal support for neighbours, where their burdens and welfare are also yours to share. This enduring spirit inspires Filipinos to come together across families, communities and regions to lift one another, especially in times of adversity. It is through bayanihan that Filipinos draw strength to collectively build a brighter future for our nation.
Bayanihan also underpins Philippine foreign policy, where we see ourselves not in isolation, but as part of a broader community of nations. Philippine history and Filipino values compel us to contribute meaningfully to a rules-based international order that is governed by international law and informed by the principles of equity and justice.
The Philippines emerged among the architects of peace and rules-based international order in the aftermath of the Second World War. As a founding member of the United Nations (UN), the Philippines helped enshrine the right to independence in the UN Charter and stood in solidarity with the voiceless millions who were still under colonial rule. As newly independent nations joined the UN decades later, the Philippines reaffirmed with them the core principles of the UN Charter, upholding that differences among nations must always be resolved through peaceful means, never through threat nor the use of force. These efforts culminated in the 1982 Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes, which reaffirmed our enduring commitment to this core principle. The Manila Declaration remains as relevant today as it was over forty years ago.
As a Peacemaker, the Philippines has delivered a proud 60-year peacekeeping tradition and will continue to deploy our peacekeepers to UN peacekeeping operations around the world. We champion the Women, Peace and Security and the Youth, Peace and Security agendas, recognising that the full participation of women and youth is essential in achieving sustainable, inclusive and peaceful societies. The Philippines’ commitment to women, peace and security is ingrained in our own experiences with peacebuilding, particularly in Mindanao, as exemplified by Ms Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, who made history as the first woman chief negotiator in the world to negotiate and sign a major peace deal.
As a Pathfinder and in line with our unwavering conviction that nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction pose the greatest threat to the survival of our peoples and planet, the Philippines continues to work with other countries in charting a common way toward a nuclear-free world. Recognising the profound impact of transformative technologies on our future, the Philippines is striving to lead global efforts in shaping international rules and norms, including on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS), artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and addressing the threats of climate change and disasters.
As a Partner, the Philippines will continue to constructively engage in dialogue and cooperation with all countries, including through regional groupings such as ASEAN, which the Philippines will chair in 2026, to protect the needs and interests of present and future generations. Noting that the global achievement of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda hinges on the progress of middle-income countries (MICs) such as the Philippines and Thailand, the Philippines, as Chair of the Like-minded Group of MICs, will advance concrete actions to address the diverse and specific development needs of MICs in their pursuit of inclusive and sustainable development, including through the Bangkok-based UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
As a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2027–2028, the Philippines seeks to contribute its voice and experience, grounded in our values, outlook and diplomatic tradition in the service of international peace, security and development. We will work with countries to ensure that the multilateral system, with the UN at the centre, keeps pace and value with our rapidly changing world. Our path forward lies in greater regionalism and multilateral engagement, not less.
In this spirit of partnership and international cooperation, the Philippines deeply values our historic friendship and robust diplomatic relations with Thailand. To our friends and partners in the Royal Thai Government and all the Thai people, I express our gratitude and appreciation for your warm friendship and support, going beyond the 76 years of diplomatic relations when our countries signed the Treaty of Friendship in 1949. We are truly proud that Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia with which the Philippines formally established diplomatic relations.
People-to-people connections form the bedrock of relations between countries. A testament to the strong ties between the Philippines and Thailand is the Filipino community across Thailand, forty thousand strong, whose invaluable role enriches Thailand’s nation-building and development efforts.
In keeping with the Philippine Embassy’s annual tradition, I once again call on all Filipinos in the Kingdom to participate in local blood drives at any Thai Red Cross centre and other similar facilities across Thailand, in observance of the 14th of June as World Blood Donor Day. It is symbolic and fitting that the Filipino community’s life-giving blood donation serves as a gesture of solidarity and long-lasting friendship with the Thai people as we also mark June 14 as the Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the Philippines and Thailand.
On the economic front, the Philippines is eager to forge even stronger trade and investment partnerships and explore new avenues for cooperation that will yield significant benefits for the Philippines and Thailand. The Philippines is one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia. In 2024, gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 5.6%, with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasting GDP growth of 6.0% in 2025 and 6.1% in 2026.
The Philippines’ strategic location as a global maritime and air gateway, rich natural resources, a 119 million-strong population with a median age of 25.4 years and widespread proficiency in the English language, contribute to the Philippines’ draw as an investment and tourist destination.
We also appreciate the growing interest of the Thai people to visit, study and live in the Philippines.
Allow me this opportunity to invite all of you, especially our Thai friends, to visit and explore the Philippines along with the rich variety of experiences, sights, sounds and flavours that our 7,641 islands have to offer. The warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people, with their easy laughter and golden voices, so familiar to Thai people, will surely enhance your experience. There is indeed something for everyone, and there is so much to love about the Philippines!
Mabuhay!
