The Embassy of the Philippines in Kuala Lumpur is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to Malaysia. It is at 1 Jalan Changkat Kia Peng in central Kuala Lumpur, near significant city landmarks like the Kuala Lumpur City Centre and Bukit Bintang.
History
The establishment of a Philippine diplomatic presence in the then-Federation of Malaya was first called for in the second State of the Nation Address of President Carlos P. Garcia, which led to the opening of a legation later that year shortly after the country attained independence. The legation was later upgraded to a full embassy in 1961, with Yusup Abubakar, deployed at the time to the Philippine Embassy in Cairo, and who a decade earlier was appointed as consul to Singapore, Malaya and North Borneo by President Elpidio Quirino, becoming the first resident Philippine ambassador.
The Embassy was ordered to close twice in the 1960s, both times because of the North Borneo dispute. In 1963, the Philippine government closed the Embassy and recalled all its diplomats shortly after the formation of the Federation of Malaysia, aiming to force the Malaysian government to settle the dispute. Five years later, President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the Embassy to close again after Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. exposed the Jabidah massacre, leading to Malaysia breaking off all diplomatic relations with the Philippines. The dispute has led to occasional demonstrations outside the Embassy, most recently after the 2013 Lahad Datu standoff.
Building
The current chancery of the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is a two-story residential structure built in 1962. Previously the home of Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's first prime minister, the property was acquired by the Philippine government in 1987. Since then the chancery had been renovated three times: in 1993, 2011 and 2012, with the 2011 renovation entailing the replacement of the building's roof and electrical wiring, as well as the construction of a gazebo within the compound, although the property itself had never been truly renovated even before it came to the Philippine government's ownership.
The 2012 renovation, the most extensive of the three, entailed converting the building from its previous residential layout, which was said to look "undistinguished", to an open floor plan more suited to the office functions of an embassy, while still retaining the exterior of the historically significant property. Led by Malaysia-based Filipino architect Bart Vista, the renovation, which began in February 2012, included converting and expanding the former dining room into a new community hall, extensively replacing flooring and other features, updating the building's electric wiring and air conditioning systems, installing new stained glass and lighting fixtures, repainting the building's exterior, and redoing the compound's landscaping. Completed on June 10, 2012, just before Independence Day, the renovation, which cost ₱19 million, came at no cost to the government, with the bill footed by Vista, his contractors and suppliers, and other members of the Filipino community in Malaysia, including the Kuala Lumpur chapter of the United Architects of the Philippines.
Within the main chancery, the Embassy's consular and assistance-to-nationals sections are located on the first floor, as is the community hall, while the political, economic and finance sections are located on the second floor, along with the ambassador's office and other administrative offices. The compound also has an annex building, where the offices of the Embassy's service attaches are located.
Staff and activities
The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is headed by the Philippine ambassador to Malaysia, Charles C. Jose.