Fernando urges use of Malolos Congress Diplomacy to protect territorial claims

As the Philippines marked the 126th anniversary of the Malolos Congress, Governor Daniel Fernando of Bulacan called for a revival of the diplomatic principles established during the said congress to strengthen the country’s territorial claims, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.

Speaking at a commemorative event hosted by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) at the Barasoain Church in Malolos City, Fernando highlighted the historical significance of the Malolos Congress. He noted that in 1898, the Philippines began diplomatic exchanges with foreign nations to gain recognition as a republic, just before the congress officially opened.

This diplomacy led to the appointment of Felipe Agoncillo as the Philippines’ representative to the U.S. and France during negotiations on the Treaty of Paris, which determined the country’s fate—whether it would achieve independence or return to colonial rule.

Governor Fernando stressed that the spirit of diplomacy established by the Malolos Congress remains relevant today, especially in asserting the Philippines’ territorial rights. He pointed to the 1899 Constitution, which created the Departamento de Exterior (now the Department of Foreign Affairs), with Apolinario Mabini as its first secretary.

Mayor Christian Natividad of Malolos City also echoed Fernando’s sentiments, emphasizing that diplomacy plays a vital role in maintaining peaceful international relations and upholding the country’s sovereignty.

The Malolos Congress, which ratified the country’s independence proclaimed on June 12, 1898, also drafted the 1899 Constitution, formally establishing the Republic of the Philippines with clear territorial and sovereign rights.

-30-