President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda Marcos hosted Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia of Spain, then the Heirs of Fascist Dictator General Franco and later the King and Queen of Spain, on their four-day visit to the Philippines on this day in 1974, 50 years ago, which came following their visits to the United States, Iran, and Ethiopia.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda Marcos welcomed Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia of Spain in an arrival Ceremony at Manilla Airport, which was followed by a Wreath laying at the Jose Rizal Monument in Luneta Park.
In the evening, President Marcos and the First Lady hosted a State Dinner at the Malacañang Palace in honour of Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia (wearing the Prussian Diamond Tiara), at which the Prince received the Order of Sikatuna, the Princess the Order of Gabriela Silang, the President got the Grand Cross of the Order of Military Merit and the First Lady was given the Order of Isabella the Catholic.
The following day, the Prince and Princess visited the University of Santo Tomas, where Prince Juan Carlos was conferred an honorary doctorate degree in law, before being joined by First Lady Imelda Marcos for a Gala Performance in honour of Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia (wearing the Niarchos Ruby Parure) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia also visited the monument of Queen Isabel II of Spain in Intramuros and the tomb of Spanish conquistadores Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in the San Agustin Church, where a Te Deum was held ahead of a Fluvial Parade in Nayong Pilipino and a Farewell Dinner held that evening at the Malacañang Palace.
THE PRESIDENT and the First Lady treated Prince Juan Carlos de Borbon and Princess Sofia of Spain, as well as members of their official entourage, to typical Filipino dishes at luncheon given at the Turo-Turo Restaurant of the Nayong Pilipino in Pasay City. There, the state visitors got a glimpse of the Filipino Pageantry at a fluvial procession staged on an artificial lagoon, typical of colorful river festivals in some cities and municipalities on fiesta time.
THE PRESIDENT said that he and Prince Juan Carlos of Spain have reached agreement in many areas of interest to both Spain and the Philippines. In an interview by media representatives at the Manila International Airport, shortly after the Prince and his party took off for New Delhi, the President told newsmen that the visit of Prince Juan Carlos is novel in many ways. First, he said, it is the first truly official reacquaintance between Spain and the Philippines which separated under violent circumstances 75 years ago. The President said that on the basis of mutual dignity and trust which resulted in the brotherhood of the two countries, he and Prince Juan Carlos have reached a number of agreements.
Philippine Diplomatic Visits