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Ireland–Philippines relations refer to the bilateral relations between Ireland and the Philippines. Ireland has an embassy in Manila.[1] The Philippines once had an embassy in Dublin. However, due to supposed financial and organisational burdens, it was forced to close in 2012. Currently, the Philippine embassy in Ireland are represented via London (United Kingdom), with an honorary consulate based in Dublin.
Until comparatively recent times the story of Ireland–Philippines relations was that of a flow of Irish Catholic missionaries to the Philippines.[2] Irish Catholic orders such as the Sisters of Charity founded houses in the Philippines as early as 1862.[3] The Maynooth mission to China was extended to the Philippines in 1929.[4] In 1984, the two countries established formal diplomatic relations.[5] In the 1980s, the Government of Ireland made representations to the Government of the Philippines concerning the welfare of missionaries in the Philippines.[6] Due to the presence of a strong common dominant faith, the Catholic faith, the Philippines has been described as “a sort of Catholic Ireland located off the coastline of Asia".[7] A strong cultural link between the two countries is that many people in the Philippines have been educated by Irish missionaries.[8] Irish missionary and charitable organisations such as Trócaire were involved in opposition to the First Marcos regime in the Philippines.[9]
The Philippines is represented in Ireland by Antonio M. Lagdameo, non-resident Ambassador of the Philippines, who presented his credentials to President Michael D. Higgins on 19 April 2018.[10] The Philippine Consulate in Dublin is headed by Honorary Consul Raymond Christopher Garrett who took office on 27 April 2019. The consulate is managed on a day-to-day basis by Director of Marketing and Communication Vanda Marie Brady. Mr. Garrett is the third honorary consul to Ireland, previously serving as director of operations under his predecessor Mark Congdon. Prior to this and prior to the opening of a short lived embassy the Honorary Consul position was help by John Ferris. Mr Ferris continues to be active in the Filipino community as a peace commissioner.
On 30 May 2009, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo swore in Ariel Abadilla, as the Philippine's first full-time resident ambassador to Ireland.[11] The appointment followed the announcement by the Department of Foreign Affairs of plans to open a number of new embassies and consulates in 2009 in an effort to reach out to and be of service to more Filipinos abroad who continue to move out of the country for better employment opportunities.
Ambassador Abadilla presented his letter of credence on 29 June 2009 to the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese at a ceremony held at the State Reception Room of Áras an Uachtaráin in Phoenix Park, Dublin.[12]
On 16 July 2012, the Philippine embassy in Ireland was closed and in October 2012 an Honorary Consul was appointed.[13] In November 2021, Ireland reopened its embassy in Manila.