Of Friends and Allies

PALENCIA, CASTILLA Y LEON - For the first time since its inaugural celebration in Baler, Aurora in 2003, the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day was commemorated in this province of Castilla on Friday, June 30. This was made possible through the efforts of Jesus Valbuena, a grandson of Corporal Jesus Garcia Quijano, one of the 33 Spanish soldiers who survived the Siege of Baler.

I authored and sponsored in the Senate the bill which created the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day as a way of paying tribute to the shared bonds and enduring friendship between our country and our madre patria. It was inspired by the dramatic story of the Siege of Baler.

Now, four years after its first commemoration, the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day has truly come a long way. The celebrations have extended from its base in Baler, Aurora to other places like Iloilo, Cavite, Bulacan, Zamboanga, Manila, and now in Spain.

The Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day 2006 in Palencia is even more memorable, as the diputacion of Palencia also honored its son Fray Miguel de Benavides, founder of the University of Sto. Tomas, the oldest university in Asia, on his 400th-year death anniversary. There were also theatrical and choral productions, magnificent cultural presentations, exhibit of artworks by Filipino students, and a video forum on Philippines-Spain relations.

The festivities culminated with the signing of a sisterhood agreement between President Enrique Martin of Palencia and Governor Bellaflor Angara Castillo of Aurora. At the same time, Palencia honored both Governor Angara-Castillo and myself by making us Adopted Daughter and Adopted Son.

June 30 is an important day for both the Philippines and Spain because it celebrates the best traits of both races - the valor and loyalty of the Spanish, and the nobility of character, chivalry and generosity of spirit of the Filipino.