The Republic of the Philippines has a network of diplomatic missions in major cities around the world, under the purview of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to forward the country's interests in the areas that they serve, as well as to serve the ever-growing numbers of Overseas Filipinos and Overseas Filipino Workers.
Although the Philippine diplomatic mission network is wide, there are embassies that are accredited to other nations without Philippine diplomatic posts. The network as of February 2024 consists of 63 embassies, 26 consulates-general, 4 permanent missions to international organizations, and the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei, and its two extension offices.
Excluded from this listing are honorary consulates, branches of the Sentro Rizal, overseas offices of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Migrant Workers, and trade missions (with the exception of MECO, which serves as the Philippines' de facto embassy to Taiwan).
Although attempts at initial diplomatic relations were made during the Philippine Revolution and the time of the First Philippine Republic, most nations have established diplomatic relations with the Philippines only in the years after the country achieved independence from the United States in 1946.
The first documented instance of a diplomatic mission of the Philippines being established abroad was that of the embassy in Tokyo, which was opened by the Second Philippine Republic, a puppet state of the Empire of Japan, on March 24, 1944, with Jorge B. Vargas as its first ambassador. [1] However, the mission was summarily closed with Japan's defeat in World War II, and as it was never recognized by the pre-war Commonwealth of the Philippines, [2] the oldest continually-operating Philippine diplomatic mission is that of the embassy in Washington, D.C., replacing the office of the Resident Commissioner of the Philippines after the country achieved independence from the United States on July 4, 1946, [2] and led by Joaquín Miguel Elizalde as its first ambassador. [3] This was followed shortly thereafter with the establishment of the permanent mission to the United Nations. [3]
A number of missions were opened in the first years after independence. In his 1947 State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Manuel Roxas announced that missions in a number of other cities were also opened aside from the embassy in Washington, D.C.; [4] these included the first consulates general in New York City, San Francisco, and Honolulu, as well as consulates in Xiamen and Hong Kong. [5] Additional missions were opened the following year, including the first missions in Europe (in London, Madrid and Rome) and Latin America (in Buenos Aires). [6] By 1952, the Philippine foreign service had grown to encompass missions in 11 countries, [7] and by 1965 grew further to missions in 36 countries worldwide. [8]
The Philippines' diplomatic presence grew significantly during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, spurred in part by the normalization of relations with the Eastern Bloc in the early 1970s. [9] Philippine diplomatic missions were present in 43 countries by 1978, [10] with additional missions opening the following year, particularly in the Middle East. [11] By 1981, there were 63 countries worldwide hosting Philippine diplomatic missions. [12] Several missions, however, would be closed at the tail end of the Marcos presidency and in the years thereafter as part of a series of cost reduction programs.
Another expansion of the country's diplomatic presence took place during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, with 67 countries hosting Philippine diplomatic missions by the end of her presidency. This, however, was not without controversy: in 2010 Senator Franklin Drilon questioned the need for embassies in countries with small Filipino communities, calling for a review of the Philippines' diplomatic presence worldwide. [13] Arroyo's successor, Benigno Aquino III, then announced two years later the closure of ten posts (seven embassies and three consulates general): Caracas, Venezuela; Koror, Palau; Dublin, Ireland; Stockholm, Sweden; Bucharest, Romania; Havana, Cuba; Helsinki, Finland; Barcelona, Spain; Frankfurt, Germany and Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. [14] The closures have since been partially reversed under Aquino's successor, Rodrigo Duterte, as the consulate-general in Barcelona was set to reopen by 2019 after the House of Representatives passed a resolution urging the DFA to do so. [15] On 24 September 2018, the consulate general in Houston was reopened, 25 years after its closure, while the consulate general in Frankfurt was reopened on 15 January 2019, [16] and the embassy in Stockholm was reopened on 11 May 2020. [17] [18]
On January 14, 2019, the Philippines opened its embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, the first new embassy to open since 2012, [19] while the first new consulate to open since 2012 opened in Nagoya, Japan on December 1, 2020. [20] In recent years, the government has announced its intention to open new missions, including new embassies in Colombia, [21] Ethiopia, [21] Kazakhstan, [21] Panama, [22] and Ukraine, [23] as well as reopening the embassies in Cuba, Ireland, and Palau. [21]
Host country | Host city | Mission | Head of mission | Concurrent accreditation | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Egypt | Cairo | Embassy | Ezzedin H. Tago | [24] [25] | |
Kenya | Nairobi | Embassy | Marie Charlotte G. Tang | Countries: International Organizations: |
[26] [27] |
Libya | Tripoli | Embassy | Alan Roi Q. Gabriola Chargé d'Affaires, e.p. |
[28] [29] | |
Morocco | Rabat | Embassy | Leslie J. Baja | Countries: |
[30] |
Nigeria | Abuja | Embassy | Roderico C. Atienza Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. |
[31] [32] | |
South Africa | Pretoria | Embassy | Noralyn J. Baja | Countries: |
[33] [34] |
Host country | Host city | Mission | Head of mission | Concurrent accreditation | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | Buenos Aires | Embassy | Grace T. Cruz-Fabella | [35] [36] | |
Brazil | Brasília | Embassy | Joseph Gerard B. Angeles | [37] [38] | |
Canada | Ottawa | Embassy | Maria Andrelita S. Austria | International Organizations: |
[39] [40] |
Calgary | Consulate-General | Zaldy B. Patron | [39] [41] | ||
Toronto | Consulate-General | Angelica C. Escalona | [39] [42] [43] | ||
Vancouver | Consulate-General | Arlene T. Magno | [39] [44] [45] | ||
Chile | Santiago de Chile | Embassy | Celeste S. Vinzon-Balatbat | [46] [47] | |
Mexico | Mexico City | Embassy | Lilybeth R. Deapera | [48] [49] | |
United States | Washington, D.C. | Embassy | Jose Manuel G. Romualdez | Countries: International Organizations: |
[50] [51] [52] |
Chicago | Consulate-General | J. Susana V. Paez | [50] [53] [54] | ||
Hagåtña, Guam | Consulate-General | Rosario P. Lemque | [50] [55] [56] | ||
Honolulu | Consulate-General | Emilio T. Fernandez | [50] [57] | ||
Houston | Consulate-General | Jerril G. Santos | [50] [58] | ||
Los Angeles | Consulate-General | Edgar B. Badajos | [50] [59] | ||
New York City | Consulate-General | Senen T. Mangalile | [50] [60] [61] | ||
San Francisco | Consulate-General | Neil Frank R. Ferrer | [50] [62] |
Host country | Host city | Mission | Head of mission | Concurrent accreditation | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bahrain | Manama | Embassy | Anne Jalando-on Louis | [63] [64] | |
Bangladesh | Dhaka | Embassy | Leo Tito L. Ausan Jr. | [65] [66] | |
Brunei | Bandar Seri Begawan | Embassy | Marian Jocelyn T. Ignacio | [67] [68] | |
Cambodia | Phnom Penh | Embassy | Ma. Amelita C. Aquino | [69] [70] | |
China | Beijing | Embassy | Jaime A. FlorCruz | Countries: |
[71] [72] [73] |
Chongqing | Consulate-General | Flerida Ann Camille P. Mayo | [71] [74] | ||
Guangzhou | Consulate-General | Marshall Louis M. Alferez | [71] [75] | ||
Hong Kong | Consulate-General | Raly L. Tejada | [71] [76] | ||
Macau | Consulate-General | Porfirio M. Mayo Jr. | [71] [77] | ||
Shanghai | Consulate-General | Josel F. Ignacio | [71] [78] | ||
Xiamen | Consulate-General | Maria Antonina M. Oblena | [71] [79] | ||
East Timor | Dili | Embassy | Belinda M. Ante | [80] [81] | |
India | New Delhi | Embassy | John Boitte C. Santos Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. |
[82] [83] [84] | |
Indonesia | Jakarta | Embassy | Gina A. Jamoralin | [85] | |
Manado | Consulate-General | Mary Jennifer Domingo Dingal | [85] [86] | ||
Iran | Tehran | Embassy | Roberto G. Manalo | Countries: |
[87] [88] |
Iraq | Baghdad | Embassy | Christopher P. Castillo Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. |
[89] | |
Israel | Tel Aviv | Embassy | Pedro R. Laylo Jr. | [90] [91] | |
Japan | Tokyo | Embassy | Mylene J. Garcia-Albano | Countries: |
[92] [93] [94] |
Nagoya | Consulate-General | Roy B. Ecraela | [92] | ||
Osaka | Consulate-General | Voltaire D. Mauricio | [92] [95] | ||
Jordan | Amman | Embassy | Wilfredo C. Santos | Countries: |
[96] [97] |
Kuwait | Kuwait City | Embassy | Jose A. Cabrera III | [98] [99] | |
Laos | Vientiane | Embassy | Deena Joy D. Amatong | [100] [101] | |
Lebanon | Beirut | Embassy | Raymond R. Balatbat | [102] [103] | |
Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur | Embassy | Maria Angela A. Ponce | [104] [105] [106] | |
Myanmar | Yangon | Embassy | Enrique Voltaire G. Pingol Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. |
[107] [108] | |
Oman | Muscat | Embassy | Raul S. Hernandez | [109] [110] | |
Pakistan | Islamabad | Embassy | Maria Agnes M. Cervantes | Countries: |
[111] [112] |
Qatar | Doha | Embassy | Lilibeth V. Pono | [113] [114] | |
Republic of China (Taiwan) [c] | Taipei | Economic & Cultural Office |
Silvestre H. Bello III Chairman & Resident Representative |
[115] | |
Kaohsiung | Extension Office | [115] | |||
Taichung | Extension Office | [115] | |||
Saudi Arabia | Riyadh | Embassy | Rommel A. Romato Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. |
Countries: |
[116] [117] |
Jeddah | Consulate-General | Edgar Tomas Q. Auxilian | [116] [118] | ||
Singapore | Singapore | Embassy | Medardo G. Macaraig | [119] [120] | |
South Korea | Seoul | Embassy | Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-de Vega | [121] [122] [123] | |
Syria | Damascus | Embassy | John G. Reyes Chargé d'Affaires, e.p. |
[124] | |
Thailand | Bangkok | Embassy | Millicent Cruz-Paredes | [125] [126] | |
Turkey | Ankara | Embassy | Henry S. Bensurto Jr. | Countries: |
[127] [128] |
Istanbul | Consulate-General | Shirlene C. Mananquil | [127] | ||
United Arab Emirates | Abu Dhabi | Embassy | Alfonso A. Ver | International Organizations: |
[129] [130] |
Dubai | Consulate-General | Renato N. Dueñas Jr. | [130] [131] | ||
Vietnam | Hanoi | Embassy | Meynardo L.B. Montealegre | [132] [133] |
Host country | Host city | Mission | Head of mission | Concurrent accreditation | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austria | Vienna | Embassy | Evangelina Lourdes A. Bernas | International Organizations: |
[134] [135] [136] |
Belgium | Brussels | Embassy | Jaime Victor B. Ledda | Countries: International Organizations: |
[137] [138] |
Czech Republic | Prague | Embassy | Eduardo Martin R. Meñez | [139] | |
Denmark | Copenhagen | Embassy | Leo M. Herrera-Lim | [140] | |
France | Paris | Embassy | Junever M. Mahilum-West | Countries: International Organizations: |
[141] [142] |
Germany | Berlin | Embassy | Irene Susan B. Natividad | [143] [144] | |
Frankfurt | Consulate-General | Marie Yvette L. Banzon-Abalos | [143] [145] [146] | ||
Greece | Athens | Embassy | Giovanni E. Palec | Countries: |
[147] [148] |
Holy See [d] | Rome | Embassy | Myla Grace Ragenia C. Macahilig | Sovereign entity: |
[149] |
Hungary | Budapest | Embassy | Frank R. Cimafranca | Countries: |
[150] [151] |
Italy | Rome | Embassy | Nathaniel G. Imperial | Countries: International Organizations: |
[152] [153] |
Milan | Consulate-General | Elmer G. Cato | [152] [154] | ||
Netherlands | The Hague | Embassy | J. Eduardo E. Malaya III | International Organizations: |
[155] [156] [157] |
Norway | Oslo | Embassy | Enrico T. Fos | Countries: |
[158] [159] |
Poland | Warsaw | Embassy | Leah B. Ruiz | [160] [161] | |
Portugal | Lisbon | Embassy | Paul Raymund P. Cortes | Countries: |
[162] [163] |
Russia | Moscow | Embassy | Igor G. Bailen | Countries: |
[164] [165] |
Spain | Madrid | Embassy | Philippe J. Lhuillier | Countries: International Organizations: |
[166] [167] [168] [169] |
Barcelona | Consulate-General | Ma. Therese S.M. Lázaro | [167] [170] | ||
Sweden | Stockholm | Embassy | Maria Lumen B. Isleta | Countries: |
[18] |
Switzerland | Bern | Embassy | Bernard F. Dy | Countries: |
[171] [172] |
Geneva | Consulate-General | Felipe Carino III | [172] | ||
United Kingdom | London | Embassy | Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. | Countries: International Organizations: |
[173] |
Host country | Host city | Mission | Head of mission | Concurrent accreditation | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | Canberra | Embassy | Ma. Hellen Barber de la Vega | [174] [175] | |
Melbourne | Consulate-General | Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo | [175] [176] | ||
Sydney | Consulate-General | Charmaine Rowena C. Aviquivil | [175] [177] | ||
New Zealand | Wellington | Embassy | Kira Christianne D. Azucena | Countries: |
[178] [179] |
Papua New Guinea | Port Moresby | Embassy | Ariz Severino V. Convalecer Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. |
Countries: |
[180] |
Organization | Host city | Host country | Mission | Head of mission | Concurrent accreditation | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Association of Southeast Asian Nations | Jakarta | Indonesia | Permanent Mission | Hjayceelyn M. Quintana | [181] [182] | |
United Nations | New York City | United States | Permanent Mission | Antonio M. Lagdameo | International Organizations: |
[183] [184] |
Geneva | Switzerland | Permanent Mission | Carlos D. Sorreta | [182] | ||
World Trade Organization | Geneva | Switzerland | Permanent Mission | Manuel Antonio J. Teehankee | [182] [185] |
Host country | Host city | Mission | Year closed | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gabon | Libreville | Embassy | Unknown | [186][ failed verification] |
Madagascar | Antananarivo | Embassy | Unknown | [8] |
Senegal | Dakar | Embassy | 1993 | [187] |
Host country | Host city | Mission | Year closed | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Canada | Winnipeg | Consulate-General | 1985 | [188] |
Cuba | Havana | Embassy | 2012 | [14] |
Peru | Lima | Embassy | 1993 | [187] |
United States | New Orleans | Consulate-General | 1985 | [188] |
Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands | Consulate-General | 2012 | [14] | |
Seattle | Consulate-General | Unknown | [8] [189] | |
Venezuela | Caracas | Embassy | 2012 | [14] |
Host country | Host city | Mission | Year closed | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
South Vietnam [e] | Saigon | Embassy | 1975 | [190] |
Sri Lanka | Colombo | Embassy | 1993 | [191] [187] |
Host country | Host city | Mission | Year closed | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
East Germany [f] | East Berlin | Embassy | 1990 | |
Finland | Helsinki | Embassy | 2012 | [14] |
Germany | Bonn | Embassy Extension Office [g] | 2008 | [192] |
Hamburg | Consulate-General | 2009 | [193] | |
Ireland | Dublin | Embassy | 2012 | [14] |
Romania | Bucharest | Embassy | 2012 | [14] |
Yugoslavia | Belgrade | Embassy | 1992 | [194] [195] |
Host country | Host city | Mission | Year closed | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Micronesia | Kolonia | Embassy | 1993 | [187] |
Palau | Koror | Embassy | 2012 | [14] |
Organization | Host city | Host country | Mission | Year closed | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
European Communities | Brussels | Belgium | Permanent Mission | 1985 | [188] |
UNESCO | Paris | France | Permanent Mission | 1985 | [188] |
Concerning quarters for the Philippine personnel for this Commission and others we may send in the future, will you kindly consider the possibility of housing them in the building formerly occupied by the Philippine Embassy and which has been purchased by the Puppet Republic?
Consistent with our new status as a Republic, we have organized a Foreign Affairs Department and a Foreign Service, and established an embassy at Washington and consular offices in a number of places abroad.
For our part, we have diplomatic establishments' in eight nations and consular representatives in seventeen cities. We have recently established Philippine legations in London, Rome, Madrid, Nanking, Buenos Aires and a special mission in Tokyo.
THE PHILIPPINES and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) established formal diplomatic relations it was announced by the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Philippine-East German agreement is the first of four contemplated agreements with socialist countries of Eastern Europe which the President had specifically instructed Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Romulo to negotiate.
In 1993, the Philippines announced that it would close its consulates in a number of US cities. It also closed its embassies in Cuba, Jordan, Micronesia, Morocco, Peru, Poland, Romania, Senegal, and Sri Lanka.