Instituto Cervantes

The Instituto Cervantes is a Spanish public institution created in 1991 to promote the Spanish language and the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries. It operates under the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, with its head office in Madrid, Spain.

Instituto Cervantes is present in more than 100 cities across 54 countries.

In August 1993, Instituto Cervantes was officially established in Manila. It was among the first batch of centres to open worldwide and the only one in Asia at that time. Since then, its activity has grown steadily, and it continues to be one of the most active centres in the global network.

As part of the diplomatic mission of Spain, Instituto Cervantes Manila operates under the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, and acts as an attached agency of the Embassy.

Its main activities include:

1. Teaching Spanish – general, special, and children’s classes, as well as teacher training programs. In 2025, the center has approximately 7,000 students, of which around 1,000 attend classes at our Makati center. The rest are either online students or are enrolled through institutional partners such as Poveda, DLSU, CSB, and Everest Academy, or through corporate programs.

2. Administering DELE and SIELE certification exams, which provide official diplomas of Spanish language proficiency. These are recognized for employment, scholarships, and citizenship applications, among other purposes.

3. Organizing cultural events such as exhibitions, film screenings, seminars, and workshops. Its flagship events include Día del Libro (International Book Day) and the PELÍCULA·Pelikula Spanish Film Festival.

4. Operating a library that serves as a resource center for students, researchers, and the general public interested in Spanish language and culture.

5. Supporting hispanists in their academic and research work.

6. Collaborating with Philippine government institutions, cultural organizations, and universities to strengthen cultural relations between Spain and the Philippines.

Instituto Cervantes in Manila also serves as the main operational center for other branches in Southeast Asia, namely Jakarta, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok.