Embassy of the Philippines in Washington
Encyclopedia
The Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, D.C. is the diplomatic mission
of the Republic of the Philippines
to the United States
. It is located at 1600 Massachusetts Avenue
, Northwest, Washington, D.C. It predates the independence of the Philippines
, and is the oldest Philippine legation overseas, though the distinction of the first Philippine embassy proper overseas, belongs to the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo.
The original Philippine Embassy building was purchased by the Office of the Resident Commissioner of the Philippines
during the period of service of Joaquin Elizalde. During World War II, from May 1942 onwards, it became the headquarters of the government-in-exile of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and temporary capital of the Philippines until the Commonwealth government returned to the Philippines in October, 1944.
On July 4, 1946, the embassy was formally established. A residence for the Philippine Ambassador was purchased in the 1950s, the original plan of President Quezon to turn the temporary official residence of the President of the Philippines
located at the Shoreham Hotel having been abandoned by President Osmeña.
In 1991, construction of a new Chancery Building began on a trapezoidal island on Massachusetts Avenue, bordered by 17th Street, N Street, Bataan street, and Massachusetts Avenue, across from the old building. Completed in 1993, the present-day building is a four-story of beaux-arts design with a smooth-finish precast, blending nicely with the traditional limestone structures of Embassy Row
.
The old building, meanwhile, was boarded up and its fate remains undetermined.
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
of the Republic of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located at 1600 Massachusetts Avenue
Massachusetts Avenue
Massachusetts Avenue may refer to:* Massachusetts Avenue , Massachusetts, also:** Massachusetts Avenue , a subway station on the MBTA Orange Line...
, Northwest, Washington, D.C. It predates the independence of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, and is the oldest Philippine legation overseas, though the distinction of the first Philippine embassy proper overseas, belongs to the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo.
The original Philippine Embassy building was purchased by the Office of the Resident Commissioner of the Philippines
Resident Commissioners from the Philippines
From 1907 until 1946, the Philippines sent Resident Commissioners to the United States House of Representatives to represent the island state, which was a U.S. territory from 13 August 1898...
during the period of service of Joaquin Elizalde. During World War II, from May 1942 onwards, it became the headquarters of the government-in-exile of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and temporary capital of the Philippines until the Commonwealth government returned to the Philippines in October, 1944.
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
located at the Shoreham Hotel having been abandoned by President Osmeña.
In 1991, construction of a new Chancery Building began on a trapezoidal island on Massachusetts Avenue, bordered by 17th Street, N Street, Bataan street, and Massachusetts Avenue, across from the old building. Completed in 1993, the present-day building is a four-story of beaux-arts design with a smooth-finish precast, blending nicely with the traditional limestone structures of Embassy Row
Embassy Row
Embassy Row is the informal name for a street or area of a city in which embassies or other diplomatic installations are concentrated. Washington, D.C.'s Embassy Row lies along Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., and its cross streets between Thomas Circle and Ward Circle, although the vast majority of...
.
The old building, meanwhile, was boarded up and its fate remains undetermined.