US Philippines Society




  Raising the Philippines' profile in the US

QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS
JULY-SEPTEMBER 2015
SOCIETY BOARD HOSTS SEC. ALBERT DEL ROSARIO IN NEW YORK CITY
 

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario met with the US-Philippines Society Board of Directors on September 25, at Sofitel Hotel in New York City. 

The business meeting was an opportunity to discuss the South China Sea Arbitration case, EDCA, Philippines' hosting of APEC and more.

Sec. Albert Del Rosario, sixth from left, with members of the Board of Directors on 25 September at Hotel Sofitel, NYC. Joining the luncheon meeting are Consul Gen. Mario De Leon, UN Perm Rep. Lourdes Yparaguirre and Under Secretary Evan Garcia. Society Board members and officers (L-R) Exec. Director Hank Hendrickson, Roberto Llames, Jeffrey Peterson, Ambassador Thomas Hubbard, Jay Collins, Co-chair Ambassador John Negroponte, David Rappa, Ambassador Jose Cuisia, Madelka McCalla representing Andres Gluski, and President John Maisto.




Left photo, Director David Rappa of Beck, Mack & Oliver, hosted the luncheon in honor of Secretary Del Rosario. Right photo, Ambassador John Negroponte welcomed Sec. Del Rosario who briefed Board members on current Philippine issues. Also in attendance (L-R) are Philippine Asst. Sec. for American Affairs Maria Andrelita Austria, and Ambassadors Frank Wisner and Tom Hubbard.

PARTNERSHIPS

The Society  continues to expand partnerships with leading organizations, including Georgetown University, the Aspen Institute, the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, and the Asia Society.

The Society also forged partnerships with the Philippine Humanitarian Coalition and All Hands Volunteers.












INNOVATIONS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
PH COA Commissioners at Georgetown University

The US-Philippines Society and Georgetown University co-sponsored a forum featuring Philippine Commission on Audit Chair Michael Aguinaldo and Commissioner Heidi Mendoza. The forum highlighted COA's initiatives to combat corruption and fraud and promote good governance.



L-R: Commissioner Mendoza, COA Chair Aguinaldo and Ben Felt, Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service

The audience included US-Philippines Society Directors Henry Howard and Leo Canseco, Georgetown students, representatives from USAID, World Bank and CSIS
PHILIPPINE GOLD EXHIBIT OPENS IN NYC
Exquisite, historical gold collection on view till January 2016
 
The Society supported the launch of the season long exhibit of pre-Hispanic Philippine Gold in New York. Amb. and Mrs Thomas Hubbard together with directors Henry Howard, David Rappa, and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala were in attendance. 

Society Directors Loida Lewis and Doris Ho, co-chairs of the exhibit, expressed their appreciation for support in raising awareness of this little-known historical gold find. Ms. Doris Ho added that with the spotlight on APEC in the Philippines, the exhibit offers an opportune time to highlight Philippine culture and art. The exhibit continues through January 3, 2016.

(L-R) Doris Magsaysay-Ho, Consul General Mario Lopez de Leon, Jr., Josette Sheeran, Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., Loida Lewis, Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Henrietta Holsman Fore, and Governor Amando Tetangco at the Gala Benefit Dinner of "Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms" on 10 September 2015 at the Asia Society in New York City. (Photo courtesy of Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan Company)

Amb.Thomas Hubbard with Mrs. Joan Hubbard. Mrs. Hubbard launched the Asia Society in the Philippines in 1999.

Cong. Mark Takai speaks before the participants on Capitol Hill

CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING
Philippine Diaspora Fund on Capitol Hill

The US-Philippines Society, The Aspen Institute and APAICS were on Capitol  Hill on July 28 for a briefing on the Philippines Diaspora Fund. Congressional members and staff were briefed on the philanthropic tool which Filipino-Americans can use to make targeted contributions and receive tax benefits.

Alexander Dixon, Executive Director of The Aspen Institute's policy program on Diaspora Investment Alliance (DIA), hopes to capture the interest of the broader Fil-Am community on diaspora investing and philanthrophy through Donor-Advised Funds (DAF).

Cong. Mark Takai said, "Supporting efforts such as these are crucial in expanding the reach and impact of humanitarian funds deriving from American citizens. I am proud to play a role in helping spread the word about the positive effects of initiatives like the one being discussed today."

Officers and staff of US-Philippines Society, APAICS, and The Aspen Insitute at the Congressional Briefing, July 28, 2015, Capitol Hill.

 
L-R: Exec. Director Hank Hendrickson, PACC-DC President Rene Calandria, Amb. Jose Cuisia, Jr., All-Hands Volunteer Bhavuk, and PHC President Vicky Navarro
RELIEF EFFORTS EXPAND

With the Society's assistance, the Philippine Humanitarian Coalition forged partnership with All Hands Volunteers, a Massachusetts-based non profit organization focused on worldwide disaster relief. A July 22 arts auction at Romulo Hall raised funds for the Nepal earthquake victims. Guests of Honor Philippine Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr and Nepal Ambassador Arjun Kumar Karki, artists from the Metro DC community, and PACC-DC participated in Arts in Humanity: an Exhibit for Nepal. 
SPECIAL FEATURE
Society Director Henry Howard 

The Society is delighted to recognize the accomplishments of founding Director Henry Howard. A longstanding supporter of the Philippines, Mr. Howard came to know the country and people first as an American Field Service (AFS)  high school exchange student in Cagayan de Oro in 1974. For his continuing commitment to promote goodwill between the two countries, Ambassador Cuisia conferred Henry B. Howard the official position of Philippine Honorary Consul for Florida.

 

Henry Howard Scholarship

"I cannot think of a more deserving goal than educating the youth of Mindanao and Sulu at the world class Xavier University who otherwise would not have an opportunity to achieve a quality education," 
US-Philippines Society Director Howard writes to incoming scholars.

Henry Howard accepts the Award from the City of Cagayan De Oro, Philippines for his support spanning 15 years for student scholars at the Xavier University in Cagayan De Oro, Philippines. 


Henry Howard was honored with an evening of "Tales From Mindanao" performed by the Integrated Performing Arts Guild of MSU Iligan Institute of Technology . He is joined on stage by his wife, Fernanda, and family. 
 
Scholars of the Henry Howard Scholarship Program and Xavier University Financial Aid staff gather to mark the 100th Howard Scholar at the university. 
 


Honorary Consul Howard welcomes Philippine Basketball Players in Florida

Honorary Consul Henry Howard greeted players of the Philippine Basketball Association of South Florida during a recent tournament.

TURNOVER CEREMONY OF MAIN BUILDING, SAN JOSE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, TACLOBAN, PHILIPPINES

On behalf of US-Philippines Society, Director Henry Howard attended turnover ceremony of the restored main building of San Jose Central Elementary School on August 19 with  Principal Monina E. Garbino. San Jose is the largest central school in Tacloban with 90 teaching staff. The school building was restored by the US-Philippines Society in partnership with the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation. 

The main building houses  the school library and clinic serving 3,350 students.