Raising Awareness of Today's Philippines in the U.S.
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A new decade of enriching PH and US ties
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YEAR-END REVIEW OF PH-US RELATIONS
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Since his June 30 inauguration, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. participated in high level bilateral and regional meetings including an address at the United Nations General Assembly and a September 22 meeting with President Biden at UNGA in New York. VP Kamala Harris' visit to the Philippines followed, November 20-22, to reaffirm America's commitment to the alliance and strengthening the overall relationship. Looking ahead in early 2023, the 10th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue and 2+2 ministerial meetings will build on the 2022 milestones and momentum for broad-based collaboration.
At a December 9 forum sponsored by the Society, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez shared his year-end perspective on the PH-U.S. relationship, and how both nations continue to enhance the relationship in light of the evolving nature of regional security threats. He outlined new areas of cooperation including the establishment of an energy security dialogue and food security program, launch of talks on the 123 Agreements to facilitate civil nuclear energy cooperation, USTDA environmentally sustainable critical minerals processing, construction of geothermal project and elevating PH-US health partnership. He confirmed that the Philippines will participate in all four pillars of the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.
Discussion topics included Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte's initiatives toward a comprehensive and cohesive educational system, exploring avenues to improving trade amid US-CH tariffs, nomination of a Health Secretary, update on the former Senator De Lima's case, ongoing major infrastructure projects, and resurgence of the agriculture industry, among others.
In his closing remarks, US-PH Society President Ambassador John F. Maisto cited the US-Philippines Society luncheon meeting with President Marcos Jr who invited “our friends and allies in the United States to be a balancing and stabilizing force for rapid growth that we are hoping to see in the Philippines.” Amb Maisto further described the role of the Society through transition periods, noting the unique and dynamic US-PH relations underscored by shared history, educational and familial ties, frank and open discussions between the two peoples.
PH Defense Under Secretary Jose Faustino met with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the end of Pacific Command meetings in Hawaii to discuss the path forward, as well as the practical and tangible ways by which the defense cooperation partnership can be strengthened and improved across multiple lines of efforts. Under EDCA, additional training and critical prepositioning for disaster response sites were identified.
A July Pulse Asia survey showed 89 percent of Filipinos trust the United States as ally and also believed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr should assert PH rights in the West Philippine Sea with 84% agreeing that President Marcos should form alliances with other countries and defend Philippine territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea.
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OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2022
Year-end Review of PH-US Relations
US VP Harris' Philippine Visit and Courtesy call with Pres Marcos Jr.
VP Harris Commends PH Coast Guard
VP Harris Meets VP Sara Duterte-Carpio
U.S Reporting Tour of PH Journalists
US-PH Linkages: Legacy and Future
Training and capacity-building of New Philippine Engineers
Update: New Punlaan School Building
Livelihood Recovery in Bohol in the aftermath of 2021 super typhoon
In the News
Resources
NEW MAILING ADDRESS
Our office has moved to a new location close by at:
1001 Connecticut Ave NW
Suite 704
Washington DC 20036
Contact us by email at info@usphilsociety.org or by appointment
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US VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS PHILIPPINE VISIT
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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.
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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.
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VP HARRIS ON UPHOLDING A RULES-BASED INTERNATIONAL ORDER
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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."
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Vice President Kamala Harris addresses the villagers and the Philippine Coast Guard, November 22, 2022, Palawan, Philippines. Photo courtesy of Vice President Harris
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VICE-PRESIDENTS HARRIS AND DUTERTE-CARPIO MEETING
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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.
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Vice Presidents Kamala Harris and Sara Duterte-Carpio, November 21, 2022, Manila. Photo courtesy of Vice President Harris
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U.S. Reporting Tour of Philippine Journalists
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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.
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Members of Philippine media with Executive Director Hank Hendrickson
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US-PH EDUCATIONAL LINKAGES: LEGACY AND FUTURE
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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.
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Enduring US-Philippines Educational Linkages Spanning...
Washington, DC - At a November 9 presentation at Georgetown University, author Kate Baker previewed her forthcoming book, "Bounden Duty: Wars, Schools, and Empire in the Philippines," centered on colonial-era efforts to establish a public school...
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www.usphsociety.org
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TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING OF NEW TECH ENGINEERS IN THE PH
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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.
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Photo: l-r: Dr. Feliza Arzadon-Sua, VP for Academic Affairs, Christian Decker, Henry B. Howard, and Dr. Voltaire P. Azardon, University President. Below photo: students welcomed the announcement at the ceremony held on October 29, Universidad de Dagupan.
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UPDATE: NEW PUNLAAN SCHOOL BUILDING
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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.
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LIVELIHOOD RECOVERY IN BOHOL
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Livelihood Recovery of PH Fisherfolk Community in the...
"To my fellow fisher folks, I hope that whatever learnings imparted throughout the training attended by us being the recipient of the fiberglass boats, we will take good care of it, and we will use them in our daily fishing activities and will...
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www.usphsociety.org
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