Raising Awareness of Today's Philippines in the U.S.
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Celebrating our 10th anniversary
A decade of enriching PH and US ties
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STRENGTHENING US-PH ALLIANCE
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In a new era of emerging 21st century challenges and opportunities, the Biden Administration with bipartisan support revitalized its commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, the fastest growing and most dynamic region in an increasingly multipolar world. The U.S. seeks to engage in setting high labor and environmental standards, high quality infrastructure, resilient supply chains and transparent and predictable digital services trade. A robust and modernized US-Philippines alliance adapted to address geopolitical tensions and post-pandemic recovery holds an important and strategic value to securing a prosperous, stable and international rules-based order in the region.
By March 2022, the U.S. had donated more than 33.3 million COVID-19 vaccines to Filipinos. The U.S. through USAID in partnership with the private sector and civil society has also provided $39 million in COVID-19 assistance to boost testing, protect and train healthcare workers, deploy vaccines and supply PPEs, ventilators, ICU beds and improve access to water and sanitation.
Following the November 2021 Bilateral Strategic Dialogue, the United States and the Philippines moved forward in the area of security and defense. The annual U.S. military and PH AFP Balikatan exercise, March 28-April 8, focuses on maritime security, aviation operations, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. A series of senior level U.S. and PH military exchanges continued to foster open communication lines and close cooperation.
The U.S. has provided reassurances to the Philippines on its commitment to freedom of navigation, maritime law and international law. The State Department released an in-depth legal analysis "Limits in the Seas No. 150 China's Maritime Claim," a public resource to analyze maritime claims and draw attention to the requirements of international law as reflected in the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 decision of the arbitral tribunal on the South China Sea. In support of the PH AFP modernization program, the U.S. recently delivered four Skyhawk aircraft to improve the PH Navy's ability to monitor and safeguard PH maritime territories and domain.
A vital step to assuring strong diplomatic leadership in the region, the White House nominated senior foreign service officer MaryKay Carlson to become Ambassador to the Philippines. The Society looks forward to working with the new ambassador in support of shared U.S. and Philippine interests.
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JANUARY - MARCH 2022
Revitalized US-PH Alliance
Opportunities in the Energy Sector
Attracting U.S. Investors in PH Economic Zones
Climate Change in the Philippines
Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific Region
Partnership with the East-West Center
Legacies: Amb Roberto Romulo and Frankie José
EDSA People Power Anniversary
A Filipino American perspective on U.S. Black History Month
Update: Typhoon Odette Livelihood Assistance
In the News
Resources
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PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC BRIEFING: THE ENERGY SECTOR
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Since the beginning of the year, the U.S. has signaled broadening economic engagement in the Philippines in specific issue areas. The February 24 virtual economic forum hosted by the Philippine Embassy focused on immense opportunities for post-pandemic US-PH collaboration in support of the Philippine government's ambitious goal of cutting green gas emissions by 75% by 2030 through affordable, accessible, and sustainable sources of clean energy including nuclear. Panelists representing the PH government led by Secretary Carlos Dominguez and representatives from U.S. government agencies, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the private sector reflected a commitment to maintain ongoing discussion on priority policies to mitigate climate change impact and in support of developing more energy self-reliance by promoting investments in indigenous sources. Secretary Dominguez offered assurances that these initiatives will continue through the PH election and into the next administration. Historically, the Philippines has transitioned well through national elections and will remain a reliable host for international partnerships. Other key discussion points:
- Diversify supply chains including critical minerals (nickel used in batteries) input resources that are abundant in PH
- Nurture PH business environment that advance ease of doing business and transparency and policies conducive to foreign investments
- Reliable depth of talent coming through the Philippine education system and planning for smooth workforce transition to support energy programs
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US agencies - USAID, DFC, State Department - offer technical assistance, active commitments in the form of insurance, debt financing, loan portfolio guarantees and a platform to engage US strategic partners like the Philippines with US companies seeking to deploy clean energy to offset increasing power demand in various sectors, including health, manufacturing, retail, technology, and transportation.
Signed into law, game-changing Philippine economic reforms - CREATE, Retail Trade Liberalization Act, Foreign Investments Act, amendments to the Public Services Act that govern the delivery of public services - will open up to 100 percent foreign equity in telecommunications, airports, railways, expressways, tollways and shipping among top industries that are excluded from the definition of "Public Utility." According to a senate committee member, these measures will attract foreign investors to the Philippines "sharing their knowledge, expertise, skills and technical know-how and allow Filipinos to broaden and enhance their competitiveness in both domestic and international labor markets."
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AMERICAN INVESTMENTS IN PH ECONOMIC ZONES
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At the January 17 Philippine Export Zoning Authority (PEZA) virtual forum, PEZA Director General Charito Plaza invited American companies to choose the Philippines. U.S. Charge D’Affaires to the Philippines Heather Variava said the U.S. has offered to boost investments in clean energy, 5G Internet, and government digitalization.
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PEZA provides a one-stop-shop for export-processing companies including 420 American company locators with combined $6.761 billion worth of exports and employing 330,906 Filipinos. Ecozones represent a vital, tangible subset of a more broadly-based pattern of U.S.-Philippine economic engagement that is rooted in history and now geared to meet 21st century needs and realities. Indo-Pacific policy thinkers in government increasingly attach strategic value to business and commercial ties between our two countries, as a complement to enhanced security and political relations, and cooperation on global challenges of the pandemic, climate change, and other transnational threats.
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Strategic and Business Value of Strong PH-US Economic Ties
Strategic and Business Value of Strong PH-US Economic Ties Remarks by Hank Hendrickson US-Philippines Society Executive Director A Virtual Forum: PEZA Global Business Forum featuring the USA January 17, 2022 (ET) The US-Philippines Society...
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www.usphsociety.org
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CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE PHILIPPINES
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The US-Philippines Society co-sponsored a February 2 virtual forum featuring USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Craig Hart and Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez along with private sector executives National Resilience Council President Ma. Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation President Rene Meily and moderator Southeast Asia Forum Chair William Wise . Panelists described the effective partnership between the United States and the Philippines, and regionally, through technology, effective communication, community engagement and other tools to combat climate change. The panel cited specific examples of wide-ranging government and non-government US-Philippines partnerships, including the CAMP2Ex program, George Mason University-Ateneo de Manila University project on city evacuation, University of Hawaii and Philippine technical experts, Energy Secure Philippines and Climate Resilient Cities Initiative.
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Broad-based Partnerships to Combat Climate Change in the ...
Washington DC - The US-Philippines Society co-hosted a February 2 virtual forum featuring expert panelists USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Craig Hart, National Resilience Council President Ma. Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, and the Philippine...
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www.usphsociety.org
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THE STRATEGY OF DENIAL: A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION
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In presenting his new book, Strategy of Denial, to Philippine audiences in a March 10 “virtual discussion,” author Elbridge Colby outlined his call for U.S. policy planners to adopt a more sharply focused strategic framework for dealing with a resurgent China. Colby reminded participants that the post-Cold War unipolar global structure has been eclipsed over the past 20 years by the rise of China, with its growing military force and power projection capabilities. Colby’s thesis is that to ensure peace and security, and protect America’s vital interests in the Indo-Pacific, Beijing should be denied opportunities to establish regional hegemony. While not advocating creation of a NATO-like defense alliance, the author underscored the importance of an “anti-hegemonic coalition” to preserve territorial and policy independence of countries along China’s periphery, including the Philippines.
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Strategy of Denial: A Strategic Framework for the...
In presenting his new book, Strategy of Denial, to Philippine audiences in a March 10 "virtual discussion," author Elbridge Colby outlined his call for U.S. policy planners to adopt a more sharply focused strategic framework for dealing with a...
Read more
www.usphsociety.org
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PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EAST-WEST CENTER
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At the request of the East-West Center in Washington, the Society served as a peer reviewer for a series of ten articles on U.S.-Philippines relations. The papers, authored by academics from Ateneo’s Department of Political Science, covered four broad categories: politics and security, commerce, development, and education, and will be released in tandem with the E/W Center’s long-running “Asia Matters for America” initiative.
We extend special thanks to members and partners of the US-Philippines Society for lending their time and expertise to the peer review process, including Greg Poling of CSIS on Maritime Security; Dr. Frank Jenista on Historical Ties; Scott Butcher on U.S.-PH Security Issues; Atty Ron Baumgarten (Baker Hostetler) on Trade Relations; John Forbes of AmCham on Investment and Energy; USAID (with Craig Hart) on Development Partnerships; Dr. Ernesto Garilao of the Zuellig Family Foundation on Health Initiatives; and Dr. Bernardita Churchill of U.P. on two education papers.
The Society's participation in this project is part of a broader ongoing initiative by the American Embassy in Manila to commemorate the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Philippines diplomatic relations.
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LEGACIES: A FILIPINO VISIONARY AND A LITERARY GENUIS
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The US-Philippines Society joined Filipinos and Americans world-wide in mourning the loss of legendary Filipinos who advocated for Filipino causes through effective use of diplomacy.
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Ambassador Roberto R. Romulo
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The US-Philippines mourned the passing of Founding Director Bobby Romulo, In 2012, he helped to spearhead an initiative to form the US-Philippines Society and gathered support widely in the Philippines and the United States.
Bobby was unique in bridging the worlds of business and diplomacy, an advocate for globalization and leading practitioner of economic diplomacy, who wanted better access for the Philippines to technology, investments, and markets – but above all, Bobby was a champion of democracies.
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PH National Artist F. Sionil José
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Frankie José had unique ties to America and deep understanding of Americans and American culture—and idiosyncrasies. They stemmed from his wide contacts with Americans throughout his writing career, links to US universities, travel, and through “Solidaridad,” the legendary bookstore/publishing house in Ermita that drew so many American visitors. His American connection flowered through his and Tessie’s seven children who settled in the United States.
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EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary
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In observance of the 36th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines issued a letter reflecting on the events of February 1986 and the preceding Martial Law period. The letter notes that the May elections are approaching and addresses people “whatever your political color.” It is in that spirit, that we share the text of the CBCP letter.
While the US-Philippines Society remains committed to non-partisanship in electoral matters, an important element of the Society’s mission is raising awareness of Philippine history and the enduring ties between our two nations and peoples. Society programming over the past decade has explored many facets of that history. In that context and in light of the key role of Church leaders during the People Power Revolution, we call attention to the CBCP’s perspective now in addressing questions it sees as a distortion of that history and the impact on the post-EDSA generation. The letter concludes with an appeal for unity, truth and faith.
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ADVOCATING FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR
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On the first anniversary of the shootings in Atlanta directed at Asian Americans, the US-Philippines Society calls attention to the White House efforts to combat anti-Asian violence stating that the the tragic event "underscored how far we have to go in this country to fight racism, misogyny, and all forms of hate—and the epidemic of gun violence that enables these extremists." On March 2021, the Society led by Honorary Chair Maurice Greenberg issued a widely distributed statement condemning violence, harassment and bias in all its forms against the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, including Filipino-Americans. The U.S. passed the Hate Crime law in May directing the Department of Justice to expedite the review of hate crimes related to COVID-19 and authorizes grants to state and local governments to conduct crime-reduction programs to prevent and respond to hate crimes.
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U.S. Black History Month: A Filipino American Perspective
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Rene “Butch” Meily, a Filipino-American and author of an upcoming memoir, "From Manila to Wall Street and Back – An Immigrant’s Journey with Reginald Lewis" shares his personal experience working with his former employer, Reginald Lewis, a successful black American. Meily related their special kinship as people of color who pursued their versions of the American Dream, no matter how high the price might be.
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UPDATE: TYPHOON ODETTE LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE
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Since the December 16 landfall of Typhoon Odette in the central Visayas and northern Mindanao regions, the PH and US governments and development partners, including the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, have conducted ongoing rapid needs assessments and set up evacuation sites and safe shelters for thousands of families.
In response to the need for livelihood restoration, the US-Philippines Society through generous donations from American donors, and in partnership with the PDRF, is providing poultry and other livestock to farm families in the region.
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