The Philippine Embassy inaugurated recently the Centro de Filipinas en Madrid located in Calle Matilde Díez, 21, Planta Baja, esquina Calle Fernandez de Oviedo. The Centro, which is the brainchild of Ambassador Philippe J. Lhuillier, is a multipurpose venue where the Embassy may conduct training and fora that would upskill and/or reskill Filipinos in Spain; a venue for Filipino artists and performers to share their talents; a bigger space for the Embassy to conduct economic and cultural diplomacy activities; and a place that the Filipino Community may use as a venue for meetings and rehearsals, or to simply hang out.

Ambassador Lhuillier was joined by Senate President Miguel Zubiri, and Senators Joel Villanueva, Pia Cayeteno, and JV Ejercito for the ribbon-cutting ceremony which was attended by both Filipino and Spanish friends of the Embassy. The Centro was blessed by Fr. Gerry Paat, the chaplain of the Filipino Community in Madrid.

Ambassador Lhuillier says: "I envision the Centro to be utilized by the Filipino Community for language classes, film showing, popup markets to promote Filipino products, a co-working space, even a showroom of Filipino furniture designed by world-class Filipino furniture makers, as well as other Filipino export products".

Despite the event being held on a weekday, over 150 people came to witness the inauguration, many of whom shared their excitement over the Centro.