As Mexico and Philippines ties are getting closer, the Brick Barc Mexican Navy ship made a port call at the South Harbor in Manila on Friday. This is the first time that Philippines is visited by a Mexican navy ship and it also coincided with the vessel's 35th anniversary and the centenary promulgation of the Mexican Constitution.
The Mexican naval ship, headed by Commanding Officer Captain Rafael Lagunes Arteaga, along with his 40 cadets from the Mexico Heroic Navy Military, will stay at the Philippine South Harbor until August 8.
The Philippine Navy also welcomed the Mexican navy with the traditional welcome courtesy program at the Corregidor island and escorted the Mexican navy to the designated berthing area at the South Harbor.
Playing host to the Mexican navy, the Philippine navy also organized activities for the visiting sailors. The activities include reciprocal reception, exchanges of friendship messages and goodwill games.
The Mexican navy ship will also be open for public viewing on Friday that will start from 10 am and will go on until 4 pm. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the public can view it from 10 am to 8pm.
Philippine and Mexico trade relations could be traced back as early as 400 years ago and both countries have similar historical ties because of Spanish colonisation.
While many Western countries have criticized the Philippine government for its violent campaign against illegal drugs, Mexico was among the few nations who commended President Rodrigo Duterte for his stand against narcotics.
As Philippines continues to be one of the best performing economies in Asia, Mexico investors has a total of USD 2.8 billion- worth of investments in the Philippines. Philippines, on the other hand, has a total of USD 600 million worth of investments in Mexico.
