LOOK: Palace's farewell call for outgoing Spanish Ambassador Miguel Utray

A farewell call was held for outgoing Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Miguel Utray at the Study Room in Malacañan Palace.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. received Utray and extended his gratitude for “strengthening the cooperation between the Philippines and Spain” during his four-year duty in the country, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.

Utray assumed the post in October 2022. He is scheduled to depart Manila on October 14, 2026, to take up his new assignment as Spain’s Ambassador to Angola.

The PCO recounted key milestones during his tenure, including the Philippines and Spain’s bilateral trade reaching US$ 1.073 billion in 2025, up from US$ 994.25 million in 2024.

“Spain ranked as the Philippines’ 24th largest trading partner in 2024, with major Philippine exports including tuna, skipjack, bonito, coconut oil, pineapples, and other agricultural and manufactured products,” the PCO said.

“Tourism exchanges also recorded significant growth during Ambassador Utray’s posting, with visitor arrivals from Spain nearly doubling to 60,290 in 2025 from 30,581 in 2024. Meanwhile, Filipino tourists visiting Spain reached 185,000 arrivals in 2025, up from 125,000 the year before,” it added, citing Utray.

Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Spain were formally established in 1947 and will mark their 80th anniversary in 2027.

According to PCO, approximately 51,855 Filipinos are employed in the services sector in Spain, based on the latest data. — BAP, GMA News