Chile & the Philippines: Worlds apart, but close at heart

Chile and the Philippines may be more than 17,000 kilometers apart, but the ties that bind the two countries bridge the geographical distance. This is because of a shared legacy courtesy of a Hispanic heritage, in which both Chileans and Filipinos identify themselves with common cultural aspects and traditions, as well as the same religion.

This, in essence, was the message of the Chilean Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Giancarlo Mosciatti during the recent celebration of Chile’s National Day held at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City. Guests enjoyed the delectable food, wine and pisco — an iconic and emblematic drink of Chile.

Pepe Rodriguez and Vietnamese Ambassador Ly Quoc Tuan.

Gracing the occasion were Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Jose Luis Montales and Apostolic Nuncio Gabriele Giordano Caccia.

Although relations between the Philippines and Chile began as early as 1854, it was only in July 1946 when formal ties were established. In fact, the relationship with the Philippines is the oldest one established by Chile with a member-nation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In the last 72 years, this relationship has grown, during which time a diverse agenda has been developed, Mosciatti noted.

Ambassadors Marion Derckx of the Netherlands and Harald Fries of Sweden.

Just like the Philippines, the economic outlook for Chile is promising, with experts projecting the Latin American nation’s growth at four percent in 2018. According to the latest report by Spain-based BBVA Research, Chile is one of the “star economies” of 2018 and 2019 in the Latin American region. Along with Paraguay and Peru, Chile is projected to be among the Top 3 nations to post the highest growth in a region that is expected to recover its “dynamism” by 2019.

Chile and several Latin American countries belonging to the Pacific Alliance trade bloc are looking to forge closer ties with the Philippines, which they see as a “gateway” to the ASEAN region, saying the country can be a bridge because of its shared culture and history with the Latin American nations.

Ambassadors Bita Rasoulian of Austria and Jaideep Mazumdar of India.