• Submitted by: manso
• International
• 07 / 08 / 2011

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07/07/2011 | 03:01 PM. The Philippines and Cuba unveiled the commemorative stamps marking the 65th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the stamps were unveiled at the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples' (ICAP) headquarters at the Verdado district on July 1.

"The stamps showcased the Fort Santiago of Manila and the Cabaña Fortress of Havana, both of which represent the common Hispanic heritage between the old colonial cities," the DFA said in a news release.

During the event, Gonzalez said the good relations between the Philippines and Cuba date back to Spanish colonial times.

"The two countries maintain strong relations at the multilateral stage such as the United Nations (UN) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), as evidenced by the continuing Philippine support to Cuba against the unilateral embargo imposed by the United States on the Caribbean island," Gonzales said.

Nueva Filipinas

Gonzales cited the world famous tobacco-growing province of Pinar del Rio, which up until the 19th century was known as "Nueva Filipinas" due to immigration of Filipino in the tobacco plantations who became known in Cuba as "Chinos de Manila."

Gonzalez also mentioned the historical linkages between the fledgling revolutionary movements of Cuba and the Philippines in the late 19th century against Spanish colonial rule.

She said these were recorded in letters from revolutionaries from both sides comparing notes on battlefield tactics and in some instances, requests for arms, and ammunitions deliveries.

Intramuros and Havana

Meanwhile, Chargé d'Affaires Wilfredo Maximo thanked the Cuban authorities for exerting the effort to organize the event.

He explained the history of Intramuros in Manila, and described its layout and its design, which he said was almost a reflection of the Old City of Havana.

The Philippines and Cuba came under the control of the Americans after the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1898.

The United States gave Cuba its provisional independence in 1902, but stayed on in the Philippines until it eventually granted its independence on 04 July 1946.

Cuba was among the first countries around the world to recognize the Philippine independence and establish diplomatic relations with the Philippines on July 1946.

The event was a combined effort of the Cuban Ministry of Information and Communications, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ICAP.

Those who attended the event were Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) Vice Minister Ana Teresita Gonzalez, Ministry of Information and Communications Vice Minister Sylvia Monarriz and ICAP Vice President Alicia Corredera; along with members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of various Cuban agencies, and many veterans of the Cuban 1959 Revolution. - VVP, GMA News

Source: www.gmanews.tv/story/225578/