OVERVIEW OF PHILIPPINES-BRUNEI BILATERAL RELATIONS
The excellent bilateral relations between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam are historically close and fraternal. Political, economic, and socio-cultural ties have continued to vigorously expand in recent years.
Full diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Brunei was established on 01 January 1984 when the Philippine Consulate General in Bandar Seri Begawan was elevated to an Embassy, and the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam subsequently opened in Makati City.
The current Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam is H.E. Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio. She presented her credentials to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam on 24 May 2022 at the Istana Nurul Iman.
During a ceremony held in the Reception Hall of Malacañang Palace on 23 March 2023, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. accepted the credential letters from H.E Megawati Dato Paduka Haji Manan, the Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to the Philippines
Opportunities for closer relations arise from the deepening of friendship and goodwill between His Majesty the Sultan and Filipino Presidents, the active exchange of visits among government officials, greater economic and business cooperation, increased cooperation in security and regional issues and active participation in ASEAN, BIMP-EAGA, APEC, and other regional and international fora.
Since 1984, all Philippine leaders have visited Brunei Darussalam, including former Presidents Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. (1984), Corazon Cojuangco Aquino (August 1988), Fidel Valdez Ramos (August 1994), Joseph Ejercito Estrada (August 1999), Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (August 2001), Benigno Simeon Aquino III (June 2011), Rodrigo Roa Duterte (September 2016), and Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. (May 2024).
The state visit of President Marcos Jr. on 28-29 May 2024 underscores forty years of warm diplomatic relations and enduring friendship between the Republic of the Philippine and Brunei Darussalam and the two leaders’ commitment in further strengthening cooperation on areas of mutual interest.
BILATERAL COOPERATION MECHANISMS AND AGREEMENTS
Bilateral Consultative Mechanism
The Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) is a mechanism for the two countries to monitor and evaluate the progress of implementing various aspects of cooperation, particularly agreements, and, where necessary, resolve outstanding issues.
The Philippines hosted the 3rd Philippines-Brunei Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) on 15 August 2023 in Manila.
MOU on Defense Cooperation
Signed in Bandar Seri Begawan on 22 August 2001, ratified on 10 April 2002, and entered into force on 17 July 2002, the MOU on Defense Cooperation between the Philippines and Brunei serves as a framework for both countries to conduct dialogue and consultations, education and training exchange, intelligence exchanges, reciprocal visits of defense officials, and logistics acquisition. Pursuant to the MOU, a Joint Defense Working Committee (JDWC) was established as a platform for both countries to discuss issues of mutual concern and assess the current state of their defense relations.
Other Bilateral Agreements
The following are among the major agreements between the Philippines and Brunei:
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of International Mail Service, 1987;
- MOU on the Construction of the Brunei-Philippines Submarine Cable System, 1987;
- Air Services Agreement, 1987;
- MOU on Air Services, 1988;
- MOU on Air Services, 1992;
- MOU on the Establishment of a Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, 1999;
- MOU on Technical and Trade Cooperation in Fisheries, 2000;
- MOU on Defense Cooperation, 2001;
- Undertaking on the Recognition of Certificates under Regulation 1/10 of the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW), as amended, of Seafarers for Service on Vessels Registered in Brunei, 2001;
- Agreement on Merchant Shipping and Related Matters, 2003;
- MOU on Academic Cooperation, 2005;
- MOU on Agriculture, 2009;
- Implementing Arrangement on Cooperation on Rice Research and Development, 2009;
- MOU on Food Security and Agricultural Cooperation, 2011;
- MOU on Tourism, 2011;
- MOU on Sports Cooperation, 2011;
- Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Cooperation in the Field of Shipping and Ports, 2011;
- MOU between the Philippine National Oil Company and Petroleum Brunei, 2012;
- MOU on Health Cooperation, 2014;
- MOU on Cooperation in the Field of Information and Communications Technology and Multimedia, 2015;
- Agreement on Cultural Cooperation, 2017;
- MOU on Halal Industry and Halal Export Development and Promotion, 2017;
- Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, 2021;
- Amendment to the MOU Concerning the Recognition of Certificates issued Under the Provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch Keeping for Seafarers, 1978 As Amended, 2024;
- MOU on Tourism Cooperation, 2024; and
- MOU on Maritime Cooperation, 2024.
ECONOMIC RELATIONS
Brunei is 38th among the 230 partners of the Philippines in total trade volume. In terms of export destination, it stands at 43rd out of 205 markets, while as an import source, it ranks 35th out of 220.
In 2023, bilateral trade between the Philippines and Brunei witnessed a decline. The exports from the Philippines to Brunei decreased from US$ 79,574,103,586 million in 2022 to US$ 73,521,769,994 million in 2023, representing a reduction of approximately 7.59% in the total value of goods and services exported during this period.
Similarly, the imports from Brunei to the Philippines decreased from US$ 137,221,110,467 million in 2022 to US$ 125,946,231,296 million in 2023. This indicates a decrease in the total value of goods and services imported by the Philippines from Brunei of approximately 8.21% over the same period.
The highlights of the PH-Brunei Trade and Investment Work Program proposed by Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Kuala Lumpur (PTIC-KL) for trade promotion in Brunei include aircrafts and parts; beverages; electronic equipment, including office machines and projectors; food products, including sauces and pastries; fruits, including dried and fresh bananas, and pineapples. Priority sectors for investment promotion to Brunei are the following:
• Agribusiness & Food Processing (Halal & value-added processing)
The halal industry is a rapidly growing market, and the Philippines is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth. With the support of Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines intends to develop a strong halal industry that will create jobs and boost economic growth.
• Services (Engineering and Architecture Services, Others)
• Infrastructure and PPP Projects
• Manufacturing and its support industries
• Mindanao Development Corridors projects
• Renewable energy
CULTURAL RELATIONS
Cultural Cooperation Agreement
The Philippines and Brunei Darussalam signed an Agreement on Cultural Cooperation in April 2017 to deepen bilateral collaboration in the fields of culture, arts, education, and heritage. This agreement forms the foundation of the Embassy’s efforts to sustain a dynamic and meaningful cultural exchange program in Brunei.
Cultural Program
The Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam has actively promoted cultural and educational exchange through book donations to institutions of higher learning. In 2024, the Embassy launched a dedicated Philippine Culinary Literature corner at Laksamana College of Business, supporting culinary education and promoting Filipino cuisine and traditions. Likewise, the establishment of “The Philippine Corner” at Universiti Teknologi Brunei provided over 70 curated books on Philippine history, literature, and culture—an initiative commemorating 40 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Brunei.
Paskong Pinoy, Pistang Pilipino
In line with the Embassy’s public and cultural diplomacy initiatives and its continuing engagement with the Filipino diaspora, the Embassy hosts “Paskong Pinoy, Pistang Pilipino” showcasing Filipino festival traditions. This event is a joint effort of the Filipino community organizations, and the Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam with its attached Philippine government agencies.
This annual year-end activity kicks-off with a festival parade highlighting the many regions in the Philippines represented by the Filipino community organizations in the Sultanate. It promotes the different Philippine provinces and regions through celebratory costumes and colorfully decorated booths featuring Filipino cuisine, delicacies and products. A night concert, an all-day concert and a children’s program featuring the Filipino talents are eagerly anticipated by the crowd.
The Embassy remains dedicated to continuing this celebration and highlighting the spirit of the Filipino people—one that is characterized by warmth, hospitality, and an enduring sense of community. Through this annual festival, the Embassy promotes Filipino culture and a greater understanding and appreciation of its cultural richness and diversity as it deepens its people-to-people engagement with Brunei Darussalam.
Lepak Sine!
“Lepak Sine!” is a monthly movie night series organized by the Philippine Embassy in Brunei under its Film Diplomacy Program. Its main goal is to bring Filipino cinema closer to the Bruneian, Filipino and expatriate public, by creating a fun, secure, and inclusive space for everyone to enjoy. The event name cleverly combines “Lepak” (meaning “hang out” in Malay) and “Sine” (Filipino for “cinema”), inviting people to come together, “hang out here”, and celebrate film and culture. Beyond movie viewings, supplementary activities such as listening parties, celebrity guests and speakers, Q&As, and workshops, among others, will be held. Ultimately, “Lepak Sine!” fosters cultural exchange and understanding, builds community connections, and encourages ongoing engagement by integrating cinema with a dynamic, café-like atmosphere.
FILIPINO COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Kapihan sa Pasuguan
The Embassy conducts regular consultations and dialogues with Filipino community organizations in an open forum format every quarter of the year.
It updates Filipinos in the Sultanate of relevant developments in the Philippines and Brunei, provides a report card of Philippine Embassy activities and achievements, and discusses the latest initiatives of the Embassy that are relevant to overseas Filipinos (OFs), particularly with regard to consular services, Assistance to Nationals (ATN) -related matters and other frontline services and programs.
The Embassy, in an engaging consultation/dialogue, also discusses the pressing needs and concerns of Overseas Filipinos (OFs) with their Filipino community leaders. The Kapihan further serves as a platform for planning and coordination of activities co-owned and implemented in cooperation with the Filipino community. The results of the consultation/dialogue are disseminated by Filipino community leaders and representatives to their members and the rest of the Filipino community.
Meet and Greet series
The Meet and Greet series was established in 2023 to hold regular sectoral consultations with unorganized members of the Filipino community. It is a platform which creates a natural community of support extended by the Philippine Embassy, Filipino community organizations, and peers from their sector to the participants. It welcomes overseas Filipinos (OFs) into a larger community where OFs may approach their peers, Filipino community organizations, and the Philippine Embassy and its attached agencies, with their needs and concerns in an environment of security and trust.
The Embassy created this initiative to introduce itself and its relevant Philippine government services to the unorganized Filipinos in the Sultanate in a fun, approachable and welcoming manner. The platform hopes to promote their welfare, increase their protection and expand their safety net by keeping their interest in being abreast with laws, regulations and developments in the Philippines and Brunei, as well as updates on the services of the Philippine Embassy and its attached agencies.
It also provides free training, conducted by an accredited professional, that is relevant to their profession and interests. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance which can be a valuable addition to their professional qualifications and development.
Filipino Language and Cultural Enrichment Program (FLCEP)
The FLCEP was established in 2008 in collaboration with the Filipino community in Brunei. It remains the longest continuing program for young Filipinos growing up in the Sultanate. Its primary goal is to provide young Filipinos, ranging from 5 to 18 years old, with a valuable opportunity to deepen their connection to their cultural heritage by enhancing their understanding of Filipino language, culture, tradition and history.
The FLCEP is a program held annually during a school holiday break in Brunei. It is co-managed by the Association of Filipino Educators (AFE) which organizes volunteer teachers to construct and achieve specific learning outcomes designed for its participants. It is a key component of the Philippine Embassy’s cultural diplomacy program.
Typically, the program spans six days and is structured in a classroom setting where participants engage in structured lessons on Filipino language and history. FLCEP also offers cultural enrichment activities designed to immerse the participants in Filipino traditions. These activities often include playing traditional Filipino games and learning Philippine folk dances. Many activities take place in an interactive environment that allows children to actively engage with their heritage in a fun and dynamic way at Philippine Embassy grounds.
Since its inception, the program has proven to be an essential and valuable resource for young Filipinos living in the Sultanate. It is the aim of the Philippine Embassy to maintain and expand the program as it reflects an ongoing commitment to preserve Filipino heritage and support the cultural development of the second generation of Filipinos residing in Brunei Darussalam.
FLCEP was created as a direct response to the specific needs of Filipino children born and raised in Brunei, many of whom have limited exposure to the Filipino language and have a limited understanding of Philippine history and culture. They often face the challenge of maintaining a strong connection to their Filipino roots. Over time, gaps in their cultural knowledge make it more difficult for them to engage with their heritage and identity in meaningful ways. The program aims to bridge this gap and equip young Filipinos with basic Filipino language skills and cultural understanding that will allow them to feel a sense of pride and belonging to the Philippines.
SENTRO RIZAL BRUNEI
