Raising Awareness of Today's Philippines in the U.S. |
JULY - OCTOBER 2022 HIGHLGHTS |
Celebrating our 10th anniversary
A decade of enriching PH and US ties
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US-PH SOCIETY MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MARCOS IN NYC |
Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. was welcomed on September 19 by the US-Philippines Society led by Ambassadors Frank Wisner and John Negroponte. The President, who visited NYC to address the United Nations General Assembly, gave a preview of his speech at the UN emphasizing his mission's “central purpose to attend the 77th United Nations General Assembly where we hope to reintroduce the Philippines to the world, introduce exactly what is needed now, not only for the Philippines, but for the rest of the world, as we slowly emerge from the last 2 1/2 years, and the crisis with the situation in Ukraine.”
On PH-US relations, President Marcos Jr. said, “I do not see a future for the Philippines that does not include an even stronger partnership with the United States. Our formal partnership of 70 plus years in terms of the defense treaties will continue, must continue to evolve as the geopolitical situation changes.”
“In the same manner, our business partnerships must also evolve to take into account new technologies,” the President stated. Read more
Following the luncheon meeting, President Marcos, Jr. attended a business forum at the New York Stock Exchange. His six-day New York official visit was capped with a September 22 bilateral meeting with President Joseph Biden.
On September 27, Annual Mutual Defense and Security Engagement Boards met in Hawaii, led by Lt. Gen Bartolome Bacarro, AFP Chief of Staff and Admiral John Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. At that meeting, the U.S. and Philippines agreed to over 500 activities to be carried out in 2023, an increase from 300 this year. In addition, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with acting Philippine counterpart Jose Faustino Jr. for discussions on broader security matters.
At an October 14 Philippine Economic Dialogue in Washington DC, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez reported on the President's productive meetings with the U.S. private sector.
"In his business meetings, President Marcos underscored that with our population growth and rising incomes, we want to invite U.S. companies to look at the Philippines equally as a valuable market and a potential contributor to the growth of American businesses. From the president's business engagements in New York City, the Philippines generated business interests across various industries with estimated investments amounting to almost $4 billion creating over 112,000 jobs that can be realized within the next three years.
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JULY - OCTOBER 2022
President Marcos Jr's First U.S. Visit
US-PH Presidential Meeting in NYC
US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson
Naming of USS Telesforo Trinidad
Sec Blinken's Manila Visit and Partnership for Clean Energy Future
Priorities of the Marcos Administration: An Early Look
Philippine Economic and Investment Outlook
Philippine Foreign Policy: A Perspective by Senator Marcos
Disaster Relief in Mindanao
Filipino American History Month
In the News
Resources
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US-PH BILATERAL MEETING IN NEW YORK |
U.S. President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met in-person on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York, September 22, 2022. Both leaders reflected on the importance of the alliance, strengthening the relationship, and expanding bilateral cooperation on a wide range of economic and regional issues including COVID-19 recovery, energy security, and renewable energy. According to the White House, President Biden reaffirmed the U.S.'s ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines. On the South China Sea, both leaders support freedom of navigation and overflights, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. |
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and President Joseph Biden, September 22, 2022, New York. Photo courtesy of President Joe Biden. |
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U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson to the Philippines |
A July 11 US-PH Society meeting with Ambassador-designate MaryKay Carlson provided for an in-depth discussion aimed to bolster private sector engagement, including in the energy, communication, digital technology and insurance sectors, within the context of the new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework initiative.
By end of July, Ambassador Carlson had presented her credentials to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr reaffirming President Biden's message that the United States is committed to the Philippines, its treaty ally. Amb Carlson attended President Marcos, Jr's State of the Nation Address, held discussions with senior Philippine legislative officials, Finance Secretary Diokno, Defense Undersecretary Faustino, the First Lady Liza Marcos and private sector leaders.
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Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson |
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U.S. Navy Celebrates the Naming of USS Telesforo Trinidad
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U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro co-hosted with the U.S. Embassy Manila a July 26 reception to celebrate with Filipino veterans the naming of a ship in honor of Fireman 2nd Class Telesforo De La Cruz Trinidad, the only Filipino in the U.S. Navy to be awarded the Medal of Honor. The Secretary announced in May 2022 the naming of a future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer after Filipino-American Trinidad for his heroic act to save his shipmates during a boiler explosion in January 1915 onboard the USS San Diego. During his visit, Amb Romualdez also hosted an event recognizing Sec Del Toro's role in the ship naming.
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Co-hosts Ambassador MaryKay Carlson and U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, Amb Jose Manuel Romualdez and former Defense Sec Delfin Lorenzana, Manila. |
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SECRETARY BLINKEN'S COURTESY CALL AND A PARTNERSHIP FOR A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE |
Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Manila, August 6, for high level meetings with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo to offer assurance of a deeper alliance and support in the new administration’s focus on post-Covid 19 recovery. Their discussions focused on bilateral efforts to advance cooperation on energy, trade and investment, climate change, food security, shared democratic values, and people-to-people ties. |
On his First Official Visit, Secretary of State Antony...
Meeting of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Secretary Antony Blinken Following his participation in the ASEAN Regional meetings in Cambodia, Aug 2-6, Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Manila, August 6, for important meetings with...
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THE MARCOS ADMINISTRATION PRIORITIES: ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT |
At a September 7 Southeast Asia Forum, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez provided insights into President Ferdinand Marcos' priorities. The administration's domestic agenda focuses on the economic well-being of Filipinos, addressing the rising inflation and achieving food security. Continuing on the legislative reforms enacted under the previous administration, President Marcos Jr. seeks continuity of sound fiscal policies including the passing of the remaining tax reforms toward a more resilient economy. To address evolving global challenges and bringing peace in the Asia region, the Philippines seeks to strengthen ties with partners and pursue more collaborative efforts. |
PH President Marcos Jr. to Fast Track Economic Recovery...
WASHINGTON DC - Reappointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr as chief envoy to the United States, His Excellency Jose Manuel G. Romualdez was the featured speaker at the September 7 online Southeast Asia Forum co-hosted by the US-Philippines...
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PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES |
Photo: l-r Ambassador Thomas Hubbard, NEDA A/Secretary Sarah Daway-Ducanes, USPH Society Executive Director Hank Hendrickson, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, BSP Governor Felipe Medalla, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez and US-PH Society Co-Chair Ambassador John D. Negroponte, Romulo Hall, Philippine Embassy Washington DC. |
The US-Philippines Society participated in an October 14 forum jointly organized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Investor Relations Group in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C. Key Philippine Cabinet members of the Economic Team engaged in follow-up discussions with U.S. investors and representatives of international finance institutions. Despite headwinds and geopolitical risks, the team presented an optimistic view for the Philippine economy that rebounded and accelerated in early 2022 spurred by domestic consumption and private investments.
Citing the 2022 first half average growth of a robust 7.8 percent that is among the highest in the region, Finance Secretary Diokno anticipates the Philippines to meet its target of between 6.5 per cent to 7.5 percent growth for the full year. Foreign direct investments are on track to reach FDI targets for 2022. Digitization has greatly improved tax collection efficiency resulting in 4.46 percent increase exceeding pre-pandemic level.
Bangko Sentral Governor Felipe Medalla assured the audience that while inflation remains high, the supply shocks are temporary. Forecasts show prices should stabilize by second half of 2023 and normalize in 2024. The Bangko Sentral monitors policy adjustments by the U.S. Fed and employs from its toolkit a range of measures to defend the peso as the U.S Federal Bank continues to increase interest rates. Among these are adjustment of interest rates, selling peso reserves and support of non-government measures. The banking system remains resilient and on solid footing even during the pandemic. Push for digitization of processes will bring about substantive benefits to the economy.
Budget Secretary Pangandaman presented the 2023 budget amounting to $92 billion an increase of 4.9 per cent and account for 22.2 per cent of GDP. Addressing the challenges to the 8-point socio-economic agenda of the Marcos administration, the House-approved budget allocates major funding in agriculture (USD 3.12 B), infrastructure development (USD 20.86 B), education sector (USD 14.47 B), health sector (USD 5.075 B), social safety net (USD 8.69 B) and also ICT and digitalization (USD 218.77 M).
The 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda serves as the strategic framework of the PDP 2023-2028, the country’s medium-term development blueprint. NEDA Assistant Secretary Daway-Lucanes laid out a path for economic transformation that involves participation from private sector and social institutions. This multi-level transformation includes creating quality and green jobs, mitigating the effects of the pandemic, ensuring sound macroeconomic fundamentals and good governance, upholding public order and safety, peace and security.
Co-Chair Amb John Negroponte raised the pressing issue concerning shortage of medical personnel in the U.S. as an opportunity for U.S. and Philippines two-way exchange. In his closing remarks, Executive Director Hank Hendrickson reflected on the Filipino American History month-long celebration and many concrete steps taken to recognize Filipino Americans including Fireman 2nd Class Telesforo Trinidad, present-day educators and medical professionals and PH Embassy's Chef Wing who won First Place People's Choice in the annual Washington culinary competition.
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PHILIPPINE FOREIGN POLICY: A PERSPECTIVE BY SENATOR IMEE MARCOS |
The US-Philippines Society co-hosted a September 26 luncheon roundtable with PH Senate Committee Chair on Foreign Relations Senator Imee R. Marcos. Director Henry B. Howard moderated a lively and frank discussion on PH-US relations and a broad-based approach to manage the relationship bound by a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, VFA and EDCA. |
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Senator Imee Marcos Unveils Seven-Point Plan
Washington DC - At a September 26 luncheon program sponsored by the US-Philippines Society and the Stimson Center's Southeast Asia Forum, Senator Imee Marcos unveiled a Seven-Point Plan for consideration by Philippine legislative leaders and the...
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DISASTER RELIEF IN MINDANAO |
Emergency Relief Operations to Assist Zamboanga Fire Victims
Over 264 houses were engulfed by fire affecting 281 families consisting of 1,175 individuals in Barangay Recodo, Zamboanga City on Thursday morning, September 22, 2022 (PH time). Affected families had little to nothing of their personal...
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FILIPINO AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH |
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The US-Philippines Society join President Joseph Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in celebrating the Filipino American History Month marking the anniversary of the arrival of first Filipino settlers in America in October 1587. We take this opportunity to highlight the contributions of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans to American Society.
At the request of US-Philippines Society, a Branzino Escabeche recipe as prepared by White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford is made available by the White House. Executive Chef Comerford joined the October 20 virtual event "Thirty Years of Building Legacy Together: The Biden-Harris Administration Celebrates Filipino American History Month," cooking live as attendees watched. The White House event marked 30 years since the first Filipino American History Month was celebrated and honored our community's shared legacy of service. Comerford became Executive Chef at the White House in 2005 after ten years working there. She holds a degree in food technology from the University of the Philippines and specializes in ethnic and American cuisine.
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247th Anniversary of the U.S. Navy: Remarks by Dennis...
247TH US NAVY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION MAKATI ELKS CLUB MAKATI CITY, PHILIPPINES OCTOBER 15, 2022 Remarks by Dennis L. Wright, Capt, U.S. Navy (ret.) Good afternoon. It is a real pleasure for me to be here with you today as we mark the 247th...
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Filipino American Ambassador Richard Buangan Sworn-in as ...
Richard Lee Buangan, of California, is a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Mongolia. He was nominated by President Joseph Biden on April 15, 2022 and...
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Philippine Embassy Chef Wins First Place 2022 People's...
Washington, DC - Thirty-seven embassy chefs from around the world showcased the unique flavors of their countries in a friendly culinary competition. Representing the Philippine Embassy and Sentro Rizal Washington DC, Chef Erwin "Wing" Villarias...
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