Linguistic diversity

Both countries have massive amounts of languages, for example, Indonesia has about 700 languages,^[3] while Philippines has over 180 languages spoken in the country. ^[4]

Ethnic groups

Both countries have massive amounts of ethnic groups, the Philippines has about 182 ethnic groups,^{[5]: 5 [note 1]} while Indonesia has about 1,300,^{[6][note 2]} most of whom speak Austronesian languages.

Land

Both countries are an archipelago, and have massive amounts of islands, Indonesia has 17,000 islands,^[7] about 6,000 of which are inhabited. the biggest islands are Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and the Indonesian part of New Guinea. Philippines however has 7,641 islands.^[8][9] Many people remember it having 7,107, but in 2016 the National Mapping and Resource Information recently discovered 500 new islands.^[10]

Season

Both countries are a Tropical archipelagos. There are only 2 seasons, which are Rainy seasons and Dry seasons.^[11][12]

Colonization & Invasions

Both countries were colonized by European powers.

• Spanish East Indies – Spanish colony from 1565 to 1898
•  Dutch East Indies – Dutch colony from 1602 to 1949 (included Netherlands New Guinea until 1962)

Both countries were invaded by Japan in 1941-1942 and occupied until 1945.^[13][14]

• Philippines campaign
• Dutch East Indies campaign

Language

The languages Filipino and Indonesian have some similarities in words.

Dictatorships and revolutions

Both countries were ruled by Dictators following decolonization, which ruled for decades until they were overthrown in popular revolutions which paved the way for democracy.

Women Leaders

Both countries elected women to become presidents.

• Corazon Aquino (1986–1992) – replaced Ferdinand Marcos after the People Power Revolution. She is the mother of former president Benigno Aquino III.
• Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2001–2010) – replaced Joseph Estrada after his Ouster and Resignation. She is the daughter of former president Diosdado Macapagal.
• Megawati Sukarnoputri (2001–2004) – replaced Abdurrahman Wahid after his Impeachment. She is the daughter of former president Sukarno.

Other

Both the Philippines and Indonesia are known to have high amounts of workers emigrating to territories such as Hong Kong, usually to work unskilled labour roles such as domestic servants.

Ancient era

Both the Philippines and Indonesia were part of the same Maritime Jade Road.^{[16][17][18][19]} Indonesia and the Philippines are both archipelagic countries with ethnic populations and national languages that have common Austronesian ancestry. The historical links between ancient Indonesia and the Philippines have commenced since around the 9th century. The Laguna Copperplate Inscription dated from 900 CE mentioned the Javanese Medang Kingdom and the Srivijaya Empire. The writing system used is the Kawi Script, while the language is a variety of Old Malay, and contains numerous loanwords from Sanskrit and a few non-Malay vocabulary elements whose origin is between Old Tagalog and Old Javanese.^[20] The 14th century Nagarakretagama manuscript written during the height of Majapahit empire, mentioned several states that is now Philippines; Kalka, Selurong (Manila), and Solot (Sulu), suggested that Majapahit empire influences had reached the Philippine archipelago.

Moluccan Warrior in the Philippines, c. 1590 in Boxer Codex

Various Philippine legends also refer to Indonesia as a place of ancestral origin. According to Visayan folklore, during the Chola occupation of Sumatra, a minor prince by the name of Rajamuda Lumaya was sent to establish a vassal state and a base. Known better by the name Sri Lumay, he reached what is today Cebu, establishing the Rajahnate of Cebu and ruling with his sons Sri Alho and Sri Bantug. The Kedatuan of Madja-as, an ancient confederation in what is today Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region, was a vassal state of the Srivijaya Empire before it seceded and sacked or occupied the city Odtojonan.

European occupation

In the 16th century the two realms were divided under European colonial powers; Philippines archipelago was held under Spanish Empire while on the south the Moluccas spice islands (now Eastern parts of Indonesia) was under Portuguese possession, later wrestled by Dutch Empire. European colonials identify both archipelagic realms as East Indies, Spanish East Indies and Dutch East Indies.

Warriors from Siau Island, North Sulawesi in the Philippines, c. 1590 Boxer Codex

From 1925 to 1926, Indonesian national hero and former PKI member Tan Malaka lived in Manila. There he became a correspondent of the nationalist newspaper El Debate, edited by Francisco Varona. Publication of Malaka's works, such as a second edition of Naar de Republiek Indonesia (December 1925) and Semangat Moeda (Young Spirit; 1926) might have been supported by Varona. He wrote his admiration for José Rizal struggle. There Malaka also met Mariano de los Santos, José Abad Santos, and Crisanto Evangelista.^[21][22]

Modern-day

Presidents Joko Widodo and Benigno Aquino III shaking hands during the courtesy call at the Malacañang Palace, 2015

Since Indonesia's proclamation of independence on August 17, 1945, and the Philippines independence on July 4, 1946, the old cordial relationship between Indonesians and the Filipinos are reestablished. On November 24, 1949, the two countries established diplomatic relations.^[23] Since 1949, the Indonesian Government has opened its representative office (Consular Office) in Manila but it was not until the early 1950s that a diplomatic office (embassy) was established headed by an Ambassador. To institutionalize the relations between the two countries, a treaty of friendship was signed on June 21, 1951. This Treaty constituted the basic relationship of both countries, covering several aspects such as maintenance of peace and friendship, settlement of disputes by diplomatic and peaceful means, traffic arrangements for citizens of both countries and activities to promote cooperation in the area of trade, cultural, shipping, etc. which include the political, social-economic and security matters of both countries. In 1967, both countries together with Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia founded ASEAN to ensure the peace and stability in the region.

In 2010, an Indonesian photographer by the name of Ilham Anas (known for his physical resemblance to Barack Obama) starred in a Philippine Domperidone commercial, impersonating Obama.^[24] In 2012, Indonesian television producers spawned their national franchise of the Philippine game-television show Eat Bulaga!, known as Eat Bulaga! Indonesia. The first Indonesian version adopted many activities and game segments from their original Philippine counterpart, before switching TV stations and adding their own twists.^[25]

However, with the case of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina death-row inmate in Indonesia convicted of drug trafficking, relations between the two nations may take a minor strain. Veloso has however requested her family and the Philippine government not to damage the Indonesia–Philippines relations.^[26] In the end, Veloso's execution was further delayed on the day she was scheduled to be executed.

In 2016, in an effort to improve the country's maritime capabilities, the Philippine Navy purchased its newest warship, the BRP Tarlac, from Indonesia. It is based on the Makassar-class ships used by the Indonesian Navy. The ship was built by PT PAL Indonesia, in Surabaya, East Java where it is to be exported from. This would enable the Philippines to rely less on foreign allies for military maritime transport.^[27]

In June 2016, economic relations between Indonesia and the Philippines took a minor strain, when the Indonesian officials suspended coal exports to the Philippines. This decision was made after 7 Indonesian sailors carrying boats of coal en route to the Philippines were kidnapped by Filipino militants in the Sulu Sea. It is unknown of whether the militants were part of the Abu Sayyaf. Indonesian minister for foreign affairs Retno Marsudi stated that the moratorium would last until the Philippine government could provide confident security to Indonesian nationals. Indonesia currently is the Philippines' biggest supplier of coal, approximately 70%.^[28][29]

In January 2017, the Philippines granted residence permits to persons of Indonesian descent (PIDs) and stateless people with Indonesian ancestry living in southern Philippines.^[30]