Abstract:

The agreement was signed by the Republic of the Philippines and Republic of France in 1978. It
was intended to facilitate and develop closer relations between the said countries in the areas of
Education, Culture, Arts, as well as Fine Arts. The agreement involves training and sending of
professors, lecturers, and learning materials in each other’s country and the promotion of each
other’s culture can also be extended by other means like radio and television.

Ever since the agreement, Philippines and France launched cooperation projects in priority
sectors such as Visual Arts, Cinema, and Opera which aims to support the potential of Filipino
artists and the French expertise.

History:

The establishment of France’s first consulate in the Philippines in 1824, during the Spanish
colonial period, marked the beginning of the Philippine-France relations. The relationship of the
Philippines and European countries, including, France became more significant upon the opening
of Suez Canal. After its opening, some affluent and intellectual Filipinos like Jose Rizal, Felix
Hidalgo, and Juan Luna went to France. Moreover, French congregations also founded colleges
in the Philippines. French Liberalism also found its way to the Philippines which influenced the
Filipino colonial government opposition, the reformists and the revolutionaries.

During the centennial of the French Revolution in 1889, José Rizal sought to organize a
conference called the Association Internationale des Philippinistes which was to be launched
with Ferdinand Blumentritt, the President and Edmond Plauchut, the Vice President. The French
also permitted Rizal to live in exile in France where he wrote the books Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo.

The revolutionaries of the Philippines sought France for support. In January 1897, the
Philippine Commission in Hong Kong sent a petition to M. Henry Hannoteaux, Minister of
Foreign Affairs, concerning the Philippine grievance against Spain and calling for France's
assistance. In 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo also sent his delegate to Paris for the negotiation of an
agreement, which concerned the fate of the Philippines in the aftermath of the Spanish–American
War. Lastly, Filipino residents in Paris, urged by the Philippine government in exile in Hong
Kong, made a commission calling for the recognition of the Republic. However the Filipino
revolutionaries failed to garner French support. France remained neutral and distanced itself
from the Filipino revolutionaries as France respected Spain's sovereignty over the Philippines as
a fellow colonial power.

The Philippine- French relation was formalized by the signing of the Treaty of Friendship on
June 26, 1947 and the relationship has steadily improved ever since. Paris is now a home to
small Filipino community.

In order to facilitate and develop closer relations of cooperation between the Philippines and
France the areas of Education and Culture, Arts, and Fine Arts; the said countries signed an
agreement in 1978, entitled “Agreement of Cultural Cooperation between the Government of
Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Republic of France”.

Cutural Relationship between Philippines and France after the agreement:

Since 2011, the Philippines and embassy of France collaborated and launched a cultural program
named FrancoPhil which launches events every year in various fields such as: Visual arts,
Fashion, Music, Modern Circus, and so on.

The embassy also implemented cooperation projects in priority sectors such as Visual Arts,
Cinema, and Opera which aims to support the potential of Filipino artists and the French
expertise.

Coverage:

The agreement seeks to promote cultural and educational cooperation between Philippines and
France by encouraging the study of each other’s language, literature, and culture on the basis of
mutual respect for their sovereignty and in conformity with the laws and regulations in force in
each country.

The agreement also seeks to encourage training and sending of professors as well as exchange
of learning materials about teaching and educational programs. Other means such as radio and
television program broadcast can also be used for the promotion of the learning of each other’s
languages.

Souces:

http://www.gov.ph/diplomatic-relations/ph-fr/

http://www.ambafrance-ph.org/Overview-of-Cultural-and-Artistic