President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr welcomed Vice President Kamala Harris on her first visit to the Philippines. The two leaders participated in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok the previous week.

“The relationship between our two countries is something that we both — both our countries have really come to depend upon. And the more the upheavals that we are seeing, especially in the region, this partnership becomes even more important,” stated President Marcos Jr.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and Vice President Kamala Harris, November 20, 2022, Malacañan, Philippines. Source: PH Office of the Press Secretary OIC Secretary Velicaria-Garafil.

VP Harris addressed the Philippine Coast Guard, government officials, and the fisherfolk community, during her visit to Palawan which lies along the West Philippine Sea "to underscore the importance of international law, unimpeded commerce and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea."

Excerpt from VP Harris speech aboard PH Coast Guard Ship in Palawan, Philippines:

"To protect the economic vitality of these communities, to protect the ecosystems they rely on, and to protect lives and livelihoods, we must uphold international rules and norms. And that is why our work here is so very important.

We must stand up for principles such as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, unimpeded lawful commerce, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea and throughout the Indo-Pacific.

To the Philippine Coast Guard, you are on the frontlines of standing up for the international rules-based order. Each and every day, as you patrol these waters, you uphold the rules and norms that are vital to the prosperity of the Filipino people and people around the world.

The United States and the broader international community have a profound stake in the future of this region. America’s prosperity relies on the billions of dollars that flow through these waters every day. And we are proud to work with you in your mission."

VP Kamala Harris and Sara Duterte-Carpio met during VP Harris visit. They discussed education policy and ways to improve literacy and access to high-quality education for children in the Philippines.

Philippine journalists on reporting tour met the US-Philippines Society in Washington DC. US-PH Society exchanges with visiting PH journalists on Oct 27 covered the Society’s mission of raising awareness of the Philippines in the U.S., supporting opportunities for trade and investment, promoting people-to-people ties, and strengthening the pillars of a broad-based bilateral relationship.

US-Philippines educational exchange has come “full circle,” with benefits to individuals, both countries and peoples, from early beginnings of Thomasites, teacher volunteers who boarded the USAT Thomas in San Francisco for a historic voyage across the Pacific. At the turn of the 21st century, educators answered the US government call to teach in the Philippines where they exemplified dedication to service and patriotism. Fast forward 120 years when Filipino teachers fill the educator shortages in the American education system. Both governments facilitate and empower migrants through initiatives that balance national needs and individual rights.

At an October 29 university visit, US-Philippines Directors Henry B. Howard (U.S. Education Finance Group) and Christian Decker (Planate Management Group) formalized a joint program offering scholarship grants and job opportunities for engineering students and graduates at the Universidad de Dagupan, Pangasinan, Philippines. An MOU was signed on December 18.

US-based Planate Management Group is an engineering and technology company providing facilities engineering and management services in Subic and across the globe including Ukraine. Universidad de Dagupan was founded in 1984 and was converted from a college to a university in early 2022 by the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Commission Chairman Prospero de Vera cited the Universidad as one of the best performing schools producing topnotchers in BS Electronics Engineering Licensure Examinations. Voltaire P. Arzadon currently serves as its first University president. Director Henry Howard has awarded over 200 scholarships to poor students in the Philippines.

When the Punlaan new school building construction was interrupted in March 2020 due to the pandemic, they continued with enrollment of scholars and students in the Hospitality and Culinary Arts Programs for Senior High School and Post Senior High School, adapting to online learning, fundraising for computers for students and offering hope to poor families. With anticipation, the new school building will open soon with face-to-face classes.

The New Punlaan School Building project, that began in 2018, will expand free-tuition vocational education and training to underserved women from poor families by increasing enrollment. The new facilities will include a modern library funded by the generosity of Honorary Chair Maurice Greenberg and the Starr Foundation through the US-Philippines Society. Ongoing fundraising efforts are spearheaded by Mrs. Vicky Cuisia and the dedicated board members of FPTI.