France–Philippines relations

France–Philippines relations are the foreign relations between France and the Philippines. In 1947, France and the Philippines signed a Treaty of Amity which established diplomatic relations with the two countries. Relations between France and the Philippines had its roots since the Age of Exploration. When the Spanish expedition under Magellan reached the Philippines, 15 Frenchmen were among its crew. This includes Jean Petit of Angers, Lieutenant of Trinidad and Bernard Calmette, chaplain of San Antonio. French missionaries also contributed to the spread of Christianity in the Philippines. The first Diocesan seminary in the Philippines, the seminary of St. Clement in Manila, was set up with the aid of French Monsignor Charles-Thomas Maillard de Tournon in 1704. French traders, technicians, soldiers, and officers and crews under the Manila galleon trade also came to the Philippines. The French recognized the potentials of the Philippines in the trading sector by the 17th century. France discovered the potential use of abaca in the manufacture of naval supplies, particularly ropes. Despite the Spanish colonial government's restrictions of against foreign trade, French and other foreign traders were already in Manila before it was formally opened for foreign trade. Paris fashion became the standard in Manila. Foreign traders imported French products such as stockings, muslin and linen cloth, umbrellas, gloves and coats in the Philippines while the Filipinos exported most of its indigo to France. During the war between the United States of America and the British called the War of 1812, of which, France supported the Americans; the French pirate Jean Lafitte allied with Filipinos who had escaped slavery from the Manila Galleons and were living in New Orleans. They joined the war against the British Empire. The Filipinos played a decisive role in securing the American victory in the Battle of New Orleans, firing barrage after barrage of well-aimed artillery fire.