President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo led the nation in celebrating the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day this 30 June in Baler, Aurora, by calling attention to the magnanimity of the Filipinos in victory as well as the courage of the Spaniards who put up their last stand in Baler at the end of the Philippine revolution.

The President said that the Philippines takes pride in remembering the famous decree of President Emilio Aguinaldo on 30 June 1899 when he proclaimed as friends instead of prisoners of war the Spanish soldiers who garrisoned themselves inside Baler Church for almost a year.

On 27 June 1898, four Spanish officers and 50 men, including a priest and a doctor, garrisoned themselves inside the church in Baler, besieged by Filipino revolutionaries until their surrender on 2 June 1899. The event was considered the last stand of the Spaniards in Southeast Asia at that time.

The President said that while most protagonists and antagonists in world history may not adhere to the tenets of peace and camaraderie, the Filipinos are proud of this unique demonstration of friendship that took place at the turn of the century. The magnanimity of the Filipinos, she said, has been transformed into an "Amistad Duradera" - an enduring friendship, which Spain has reciprocated by supporting the development plans of the country.

Today, she said, Spain assists the Philippines in meeting its socio-economic, medical and agricultural needs. Spain is also providing technical expertise and financial assistance to local museums, archives and libraries as well as scholarships for Filipinos who wish to study in Spanish universities in their chosen fields of specialization. In diplomacy, she said, Spain supports the Philippines in economic and political matters sponsored by the European Community.

The President was accompanied by Presidential Adviser for North Luzon Renato Diaz, Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople, Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon and Press Secretary Milton Alingod.

The President was welcomed at the historic Baler Church by DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza, NEDA Director General Romulo Neri, Senators Edgardo Angara, Tito Sotto, Loren Legarda-Leviste and John Osmena, Aurora Governor Ramoncita Ong and other local officials of Baler.

Also present were delegates from Spain led by Rafael Dominguez-Ponga, Secretary-General of the Agencia Espanola de Cooperation Internacional, and the relatives of the Spanish soldiers who gallantly fought the Filipino revolutionaries from inside the Baler church.

The President and Mr. Dominguez-Ponga later laid wreaths at the cross in front of the church shortly before proceeding together with her party to the nearby Quezon Park where National Historical Institute Executive Director Ludovico Badoy then presented the commemorative stamp to the President and Mr. Dominguez-Ponga.  END