Strengthening diplomatic relations

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today called for establishing relations between countries by way of people-to-people to create more opportunities in jobs, trade and investments.

Angara also said that strengthening human contacts is a more powerful foundation for productive relationships than establishing diplomatic relations with other countries, both at the economic and political level.

"I don't think government to government is the only way to promote relations between countries. I think people to people interaction is a better foundation for enduring relations," said Angara in the 3rd Spanish Products and Services Exposition held at the Megatrade Hall recently.

Angara also said that there is a need to intensify the country's relationship with Spain since Filipinos are recipients of Spanish cultural influence more evident in the words we use, the food we eat and even in some historic architecture we preserve.

"This exposition is a very good window to introduce the quality, class and style of the Spanish, of whose cultural influence we are recipients," Angara said.

"In the past three to four years, I have been a witness to an increasing influx and an intensified relation between Philippines and Spain both at the economic and political level, as well as at the cultural and educational level," Angara continued.

Angara also suggested that the government should setup a Spanish language institute, particularly in Zamboanga city where almost everyone knows how to speak Chavacano, basically Spanish language with a mixture of Filipino local tongues.

"Zamboanga city is probably one among the Philippine cities that has a natural mount to re-establish language renaissance in this country because everybody there speaks Chavacano. And I think, that is a very good start in learning Spanish language," Angara commented.

Angara authored the law which declares 30TH of June as the Philippines-Spanish Friendship Day to commemorate the cultural and historical ties, friendship and cooperation between the two countries.