Bahrain and the Philippines share a long history of relations, with contact between the peoples and governments of both nations predating the establishment of formal diplomatic ties.
These early interactions were primarily commercial, maritime and people-to-people exchanges, which expanded as Bahrain developed into a regional commercial centre during the 1970s.
At the time, Bahrain had recently gained independence in 1971, while the Philippines was expanding its diplomatic and economic engagement in the Middle East.
Demand for foreign labour in GCC economies was also rising rapidly, driven by oil-led development.
The two countries formally established diplomatic relations on November 27, 1978, initially operating from Saudi Arabia, as part of the Philippines’ broader strategy to strengthen ties with the GCC.
In 1992, the Philippine embassy in Manama was opened during the administration of then president Corazon Aquino.
One of the earliest notable exchanges occurred in 1979 when then Industry and Development Minister Yusuf Al Shirawi visited Manila as part of the inaugural Gulf Air service linking Bahrain and the Philippines. This marked an early step in strengthening transportation and commercial links.
During this period, aviation connectivity improved, labour migration increased and government-to-government contact became more frequent.
Filipinos eventually became one of the largest expatriate communities in Bahrain, with many working across sectors such as healthcare, engineering, construction, hospitality, retail, finance and accounting, as well as domestic services.
It is now estimated that there are around 40,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in Bahrain, continuing to play a significant role across these sectors and beyond.
Bahrain and the Philippines have also signed approximately 15 bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) covering areas such as air services, manpower recruitment, investments, taxation, tourism, education, health services and more. These agreements have helped transform the relationship from one centred on labour into a broader economic and diplomatic partnership.
According to estimates from 2024 by Trading Economics, Bahrain imports around $24.6 million (approximately BD9.3m) worth of goods from the Philippines, including fresh and preserved fruits, mechanical appliances, processed meat, seafood and rice products.
Conversely, the Philippines imports around $15.12m (BD5.7m) worth of goods from Bahrain, including refined petroleum, oils and aluminum.
Political engagement intensified from the late 1990s, with a visit by then vice-president Joseph Estrada to Manama in 1996.
In 1997, president Fidel Ramos visited the kingdom, followed by another visit in 2002. Subsequent visits included those by president Gloria Arroyo in 2003 and 2009, and Rodrigo Duterte in 2017.
Tourism links have also grown steadily.
According to the Philippine embassy, around 2,000 Bahraini tourists visit the Philippines each year, with numbers expected to increase in the coming years.
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