After the Philippines had gained independence in 1946, official political ties began with the establishment of diplomatic relations by the Federal Republic of Germany in 1954; the German Democratic Republic established diplomatic relations with the Philippines in 1973.

German traders were present in the Philippines as far back as the 1880s. The German Club Manila, which was founded in 1906, the German European School Manila, the Goethe-Institut, a German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) lector, the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), as well as offices of five of Germany’s political foundations, ensure that Germany retains a high profile in the country even today.

The Philippine national hero José Rizal, who was executed in Manila in 1896 and who lived in Heidelberg and Berlin, is a key link between the Philippines and Germany to this very day. Political, economic and cultural ties are close and based on mutual trust, having been shaped by common interests and values.

Among the EU member states, Germany is the Philippines’ most important trade and investment partner. The very active German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry has around 300 member companies operating in sectors including pharmaceuticals, banking and insurance, aircraft maintenance, logistics, the automotive industry and plant engineering and construction.

For the last few years, an increased number of Philippine care staff have been recruited to work in Germany, while cooperation on the recruitment of skilled workers in other professions is being developed. The Goethe-Institut (GI) in Manila has been actively engaged in cultural and language work since 1961 and fully funds itself through the revenue it earns from language courses. At present, there are more than 300 people learning German at the GI in Manila, which also promotes cultural exchange with projects in the fields of education, migration, film, fashion, music, architecture, design and since recently also photography and video games. One central element is the Educational Cooperation Programme, which boosts German as a foreign language in the guest country and anchors it in local institutions. This includes further training for Philippine teaching staff. There are currently more than 1500 students learning German at the 19 public schools coordinated under the Educational Cooperation Programme. The Philippines is the Guest of Honour at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair.

As the Philippines is one of the countries in the world most affected by natural disasters as well as by climate change and its consequences, cooperation in the sphere of climate action and the protection of biodiversity is one of the focuses of our diverse bilateral development cooperation.