Embassy of the United Kingdom, Manila

Last updated
British Embassy, Manila
Embahada ng Britanya, Manila
Location Flag of the Philippines.svg Manila, Philippines
Address120 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Hill, Taguig City, Metro Manila
Coordinates 14°32′27″N121°3′14″E / 14.54083°N 121.05389°E / 14.54083; 121.05389 Coordinates: 14°32′27″N121°3′14″E / 14.54083°N 121.05389°E / 14.54083; 121.05389
Ambassador Laure Beaufils
Website Office Website

The British Embassy, Manila (Embahada ng Britanya, Manila) is the chief diplomatic mission of the United Kingdom in the Philippines, with the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Philippines being the chief of mission. The embassy compound measures about 12,000 m2, located at 120 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Hill, Taguig City, Metro Manila, near to the neighboring Korean Embassy and the Manila American Cemetery. [1]

Contents

Role

The British embassy performs a sustaining role in Philippines–United Kingdom relations, dealing with political, economic and cultural interaction between the two nations, and also offers visa services to Filipinos and other nationals in the Philippines.

History

In the late 1930s, the offices of the then-British consulate were located at the leased premises of S.J. Wilson Building (now called as Co Ban Kiat Building) in 143 Juan Luna Street, Binondo, Manila. [2] After the end of Second World War and the expiration of its lease to the previous building in 1943, the consulate was moved to Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Building, also in Binondo, in 1946. In 1954, the consulate was elevated into an embassy. [3] [4]

In the 1960s, the embassy moved to its location at 1414 Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila, which is one kilometer away to the American Embassy and few meters to The Aristocrat restaurant, and remained there until 1975, when they moved to the Ionian Building (now Electra Building), located in 115-7 Esteban Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City. [3] In November 1989, the embassy began occupying the 15th, 16th and 17th floors of the L. V. Locsin Building, located at 6752 Ayala Avenue in Makati City, after the diplomats began a long search for a new location to their offices in 1988. [3]

On September 12, 2002, the embassy was affected from the bomb threat received from an unidentified person at the 18th floor of the building. This incident led to the temporary evacuation of the British diplomats and embassy employees as well as the people from the other tenants of the building. As a result, they closed the embassy for the day. [5] [6]

According to British Embassy climate change attaché Roslyn Arayata, in 2006, the British government originally envisioned to go green as part of their commitment to reduce its carbon emissions, leading them to their decision on selecting Denton Corker Marshall, an architecture firm from Melbourne, Australia with offices in London, to design a sustainable embassy headquarters for the Philippines that combine "innovative architecture with environmentally sensitive design." [7] In 2007, the embassy announced that they will move their offices and services from Makati to Taguig due to the latter being a best location for business requirements and interests. [8]

The current headquarters of the British Embassy in Manila was inaugurated on 20 October 2008 [7] and it was officiated by the UK Ministry of Trade and Investment as part of the Philippine-British Friendship Day, which was formerly celebrated on December 7 from 2000 until it was changed when Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved British ambassador Peter Beckingham's request to change the date of the said friendship day and it was signed into Proclamation No. 1592 on 20 August 2008. [9]

In 2009, the embassy became the new regional hub for visa processing after it was designated by the UK Border Agency. Alberto Romulo, the then-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, was delighted that the British embassy joins with the other major organizations and companies that transferred to the Philippine soil. [10] In an interview by Cathy Yang in January 2018, ambassador Daniel Pruce and the whole embassy adopted 17 stray cats that lived around the compound. [11]

As of now, the British embassy in Manila holds an "excellent" rating from the British Research Establishment Energy Assessment Method (BREEAM) and it serves as a model of green architecture. [7]

Residence of the Ambassador

In 1973, the British government bought a 0.6 hectare of land, located at the lots 18-19 at (now 102 Cambridge Circle), North Forbes Park, Makati City, as a freehold property for the then-future site of the British ambassador's residence. The building was designed by Ken Campbell from the British Property Services Agency and the construction was completed in 1981 at the cost of £500,000. [3]

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References

  1. ↑ "The Venice speeds up McKinley Hill development". The Philippine Star . Philippine Star Printing Co., Inc. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  2. ↑ Dy, Ivan Man (8 February 2016). "Co Ban Kiat: Art Deco-period Binondo building makes a comeback". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Inquirer Group of Companies . Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Philippines: Manila". Room for Diplomacy. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  4. ↑ Reyes, Isidra (9 November 2018). "Binondo's heritage jewel has been transformed into a grand café". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs . ANC X . Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  5. ↑ Sy, Marvin (13 September 2002). "Bomb threat stirs British Embassy". The Philippine Star . Philippine Star Printing Co., Inc. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  6. ↑ "British Embassy, ginulantang ng bomb threat" [British Embassy, startled by bomb threat]. Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Filipino). Philippine Star Printing Co., Inc. 13 September 2002. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 Samaniego, Theresa S. (16 March 2012). "British Embassy lays 'green' path for sustainable growth". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Inquirer Group of Companies . Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  8. ↑ Villanueva, Rhodina (23 March 2007). "UK Embassy to move to Taguig". The Philippine Star . Philippine Star Printing Co., Inc. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  9. ↑ "Proclamation No. 1592, s. 2008". Official Gazette (Philippines) . Official Gazette of the Philippines. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  10. ↑ "British Embassy in Manila new regional hub for visa processing". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs . ABS-CBN Corporation. 6 January 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  11. ↑ "British ambassador travels with his 'diplocats'". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs . ABS-CBN Corporation. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2021.

See also

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