Hierarchs of Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia Participated in Opening of Exhibition Marking 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Russia and the Philippines

On June 1, 2026, an exhibition of photographs and documents dedicated to the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Russia and the Philippines opened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

Among those in attendance were: Metropolitan of Singapore and Southeast Asia Sergiy, Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia; Metropolitan of Manila and Hanoi Pavel, administrator of the Philippines-Vietnam Diocese; representatives of the Embassy of the Philippines in Moscow and other foreign diplomatic missions; as well as officials of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies.

Diplomatic relations between Moscow and Manila were established on June 2, 1976. In advance of the 50th anniversary, the Russian Foreign Ministry prepared an exhibition featuring photographs and copies of key documents from the history of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Addressing the guests with welcoming remarks were Georgy Borisenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation; Alexey Gruzdev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation; and Igor Bailen, Ambassador of the Philippines to Russia.

“Today’s event is a great honour for me and for my country,” the Philippine ambassador stated. The Deputy Foreign Minister noted the unique nature of the documents presented at the exhibition and added that the history of contacts between Russia and the Philippines extends back more than a century.

Based on materials from the Khanty-Mansiysk Metropolitanate.