by Brigitta Aquino
In the darkness of night, a blue light shines across the scene as a friendship is celebrated. Friends from opposite sides of the world, varying cultures, come together. That happened last Friday, January 12 (Friday) at the SM Mall of Asia. Diplomats from the European Union and the Philippines came together to celebrate the global launch of a new design. A design that showcased their many years of friendship.
Last Friday, the event started at 6:30 pm at the MOA Globe, where various diplomats, such as H.E. Ambassador Luc Véron and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro, filed in. They greeted and mingled with each other until the event started.
Ambassador Véron began the night by greeting the large crowd around him. Then he began to thank everyone, especially SM Supermalls, for allowing them to showcase a symbol of their friendship on their globe. The symbol was beautiful, a navy blue infinity symbol designed with the colors of the Philippine flag, forming the number 60, as well as the words “EU-Philippines 60th Anniversary” or “Philippines-EU 60th Anniversary,” depending on what time you look at it. He also started to talk about the creator of the symbol. The creator was Julie R. Sebala from Immaculate Concepcion Davao, who won a contest to design the symbol. The symbol could be seen by attending diplomats, organizers, reporters, and even passers-by.
Following Ambassador Véron was Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro, who discussed past events that the Philippines and EU had shared. One such event was the visit of European Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen, who announced different projects that promote collaboration, cooperation, and solidarity between the two nations. Undersecretary Lazaro also said that she was looking forward to future events the two would hopefully share as well.
That is now. Yet, how did this start?
Well, it all started with two different regions, Europe and the Philippines.
Europe is a continent of several countries, such as Germany, Croatia, Austria, Netherlands, etc. Back then, these countries were separated not only by their national identity but also by their forms of government and, most significantly, their currencies. That was until 1993, when the European Union was formed to create peace and stability for all these nations. Yet, connections had already been forming since the post-war era, 1945, with peace treaties, but they officially became the EU on Nov. 1, 1993 (History of EU; Easy to Read – about the EU; European Union).
While the Philippines, on the other hand, well… we all know that story. Spain, America, and Japan conquered it, but its own independent nation is now a part of the ASEAN community.
The ASEAN, which the Philippines has been part of since its inception, has communicated with the EU on the ASEAN’s behalf (The Founding of ASEAN). This is how the Philippines has had relations with the earliest members of the EU or the European Community as they were known back in 1964. As the EU, they have been friends with the Philippines since 1991 (European Union and Philippines to launch the year long celebrations of 60 years of bilateral ties on 12 January).
Now they are, 60 years later, still working together on different diplomatic projects with a new symbol to celebrate their long-term friendship. Don’t forget to catch this design at the MOA Globe from January 12-19, 2024.
