The Chancery Building
The Chancery occupies approximately 8,000 square meters of land along Sukhumvit Road, one of Thailand’s major highways. It is located between the Khlong Toei and Vadhana districts.
The Philippine Government purchased the property on 28 June 1963, during the tenure of then Ambassador Jose Ingles.
Previously known as the Mangala Palace, the property served as the residence of H.R.H. Princess Chalermkhetra Mangala from 1932, after the passing of her husband, until the end of her life in 1957.
H.R.H. Princess Chalermkhetra was very fond of Thai theater, dance and music and had been producing performances throughout her life. At the palace, she began her productions with khon (a genre of Thai dance drama) in 1942 for her birthday. Later, she established a troupe called Chu Nat Durinyanga Silp to perform various kinds of Thai theater forms. Her troupe performed regularly, with her palace serving as an outdoor theater and using various corners as the scenery. The troupe occasionally performed elsewhere on auspicious occasions such as the opening of Chulalongkorn University auditorium.1
The daughter of H.R.H. Prince Bhanurangsri Savangwongse, H.R.H. Princess Chalermkhetra Mangala was married to H.R.H. Prince Yugala Dighambara, Prince of Lopburi, and the first member of the house of “Yugala.” He was the son of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and H.R.H Princess Saisavali Bhiromya, Princess Suddhasininart Piyamaharai Padiyaradda.2
H.R.H. Princess Chalermkhetra had three sons: H.H. Prince Bhanubandhu Yugala, H.H. Prince Anususara Mongolkara, and H.H. Prince Chalermbala Dighambara.3
One of her sons, H.H. Prince Anususara Mongolkara went on to become a famous Thai film director and a recipient of the 1996 National Artist of Thailand. He was also the great-uncle of Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali, the Princess Suddhanarinatha, mother of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendira Debyavati, the Princess Rajasarinisiribajra, who is the eldest daughter of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua (Rama X) and eldest granddaughter of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great (Rama IX).
The Chancery’s neighborhood has evolved from a mainly residential area characterized by stand-alone houses to one consisting of commercial centers and condominium buildings. Changes in the area were quick, following Bangkok’s rapid population growth and consequent development, especially the construction of the BTS SkyTrain along Sukhumvit Road.
Since its purchase, the Chancery has served as office to thirteen (13) Philippine Ambassadors and numerous Foreign Service personnel, and has been witness to major events in Thai history and the growth of the Filipino community in Thailand. It has also seen its own share of natural calamities, the most recent being the flooding on 17 October 2017.
The Chancery consists of a two-storey structure housing the Ambassador’s Office and the Administrative, Cultural, Economic, Multilateral, and Political Sections, including the Philippine Trade and Investment Center. An annex building houses the Consular Section and the representatives of the Department of National Defense and Department of Agriculture.
[1] http://www.thaithesis.org/detail.php?id=1082540000323
[2] https://culture.ssru.ac.th/en/news/view/news444
[3] https://culture.ssru.ac.th/en/news/view/news648
Last update: 03 April 2023
