The Chancery
The Embassy of the Philippines in Jakarta is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Indonesia. It is currently located at No.8 Imam Bonjol Street (Indonesian: Jalan Imam Bonjol 8) in the Menteng district of Central Jakarta, near significant city landmarks like the Formulation of Proclamation Text Museum and Taman Suropati.
The Philippine Embassy in Jakarta was initially opened as a consulate on November 24, 1949, a month before the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the then-United States of Indonesia on December 27, 1949. Two months earlier, the Philippine government had dispatched Vicente Pastrana, who was previously posted as the first secretary to the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C., to serve as the mission's consul, with Marciano Joven serving as vice-consul.
The consulate was upgraded to a legation on February 17, 1950, when President Elpidio Quirino appointed Manuel V. Gallego, who had served as his Secretary of Education, as the first minister to Indonesia. Despite the Indonesian government having already accredited an ambassador to the Philippines, the Philippine government initially continued to only accredit ministers to Indonesia, ostensibly due to financial difficulties. It was not until April 20, 1951 when Quirino appointed former Senator Domingo Imperial as the first ambassador to Indonesia, and the legation upgraded to a full embassy — the first Philippine embassy to be established in a Southeast Asian nation.
The original chancery was demolished in 2010 to make way for the construction of a new, upgraded chancery building on the same site. Construction of the new chancery began with a groundbreaking on March 20, 2014, and the new building was inaugurated on September 12, 2015.
The current chancery, a two-story structure designed by architect Azhari Rasuman, combines the design of the traditional Filipino bahay na bato and nipa hut, while also maintaining the façade in New Indies Style, as mandated for buildings being built in the area. Construction of the new chancery was contracted to Indonesian firm PT Dekotama Ciptakreasi
The Residence of the Philippine Ambassador
Balay Filipino is the Official Residence of the Ambassador of the Philippines to the Republic of Indonesia.
The 1,075 square meter property, one of the three owned by the Philippine Government in Indonesia, was acquired in 1968 during the tenure of Ambassador Modesto Farolan. It sits in the prime district of Menteng, a residential area that houses some of the most impressive colonial structures in Jakarta.
The exterior of the residence – with its red roof, stately columns, and tall windows – features the distinct European colonial architecture common in the Menteng area. Inside, it is a undeniably, a Filipino home. The interior of the residence features natural lighting and lots of open space typical of Balai, the Philippine equivalent of the Indonesian word for residence.