The Embassy of Spain in Manila, through its Cultural and Education Office and the Instituto Cervantes, kicks off its month-long celebration of the Spanish National Day this October with a series of cultural events open to the public.
These events, ranging from movies and history to exhibits, design and engineering, are bound to pique anyone’s interest or passion.
Exhibits have long been a mainstay on the calendar of events. Not to be missed is the exhibition Mezcla: Interwoven Cultures and the Mantón de Manila, in collaboration with the Ayala Museum, which will run from Oct. 10, 2025, to Feb. 22, 2026.
The public may also view two ongoing exhibits: Four Centuries of Spanish Engineering Overseas, a permanent exposition displayed at the Centro de Turismo in Intramuros; and A Synergy of Ventures: The Post War Art Scene, hosted by the Ateneo Art Gallery in commemoration of Fernando Zobel’s centennial birth, running until February 2026.
Top Spanish industrial designer Héctor Serrano will take center stage at three leading Philippine universities: DLSU-St. Benilde (October 14), UP Diliman (October 15) and the University of Santo Tomas (October 16).
The world-renowned Spanish National Design Awardee for 2024 will present a conference entitled The Journey in Between, offering students and art and design enthusiasts a glimpse into the creative and design processes that have shaped his 25-year career. The public may also catch him at Manila FAME on October 17 and at the closing of Manila Design Week on October 18.
Spain’s preeminent expert on the Philippines, Lola Elizalde, will deliver three conferences: Permeable Borders: Interactions between Population Groups in 19th Century Philippines (October 14, Casa Azul, Intramuros); Modernizing an Old Empire? Controversies over the Introduction of a Reformist Policy in 19th Century Philippines (October 15, Centro de Turismo, Intramuros); and Leisurely Legacies: Social Histories of Recreation in the Spanish Philippines (October 16, UP Diliman).
October would not be complete without the Spanish film festival Pelikula, which will showcase movies from Spain and Latin America from October 10 to 16.
This year’s edition is made extra special with short films created by young Filipino filmmakers, including one in the Philippine creole Chabacano, highlighting the enduring Spanish influence on local languages.
As part of the celebration of the Spanish language alongside Pelikula 2025, the 7th edition of Jornadas de ELE Manila will take place on October 24 and 25 at UST.
Focused on lesson planning, content sequencing, and didactic resources, this annual event for Spanish teachers is organized by Ateneo de Manila, UP Diliman and UST, in collaboration with the Education Office of the Embassy of Spain and the Instituto Cervantes.