Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte in U.S.

[A] Mayor Sara Duterte in US Capitol as IVLP will kick off this week together with other 271 international visitors from 105 countries who will participate in 26 diverse and fascinating projects by the US Department of State.  

Cayetano: Better Philippines-US Relations

Office of Senator

Alan Peter S. Cayetano

Rm. 602 GSIS Complex Senate of the Philippines Roxas Blvd Pasay City

         

PRESS RELEASE

21 January 2017

Cayetano lauds Trump's support for independent foreign policy 

Sees better RP-US relations 

“We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world - but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first. We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow.” – President Donald Trump

We welcome the pronouncement of newly inaugurated United States President Donald Trump to seek friendship with other nations while respecting each country's own national interests.

We can see how, much like President Rodrigo Duterte, President Trump is driven by a strong fervor of patriotism and nationalism. They both focus on having an independent foreign policy that benefits their respective people and nations.

For our part, a truly independent foreign policy allows the Philippines to craft its own destiny with our national interest and the immediate improvement of the lives of our people as the paramount consideration. 

We look forward to a stronger relationship with the US, a kind that will be based on mutual trust and respect. 

We expect all agencies and instrumentalities of the United States of America to stand by and pursue this policy of mutual respect, cooperation, and non-interference.

We congratulate President Trump and his family and pray for his and America's success.

GOD Bless the New President.

GOD Bless America.

GOD Bless the Philippines!

New U.S. Ambassador to Philippines Aims to Strengthen Ties

New U.S. ambassador to PH aims to 'strengthen' ties

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The new U.S. ambassador to the Philippines says he looks forward to working with the Philippine government "to strengthen" the "very important partnership" between the two countries.

U.S. Ambassador-Designate to the Philippines Sung Kim arrived in Manila past 10 p.m. Thursday, and told reporters he was "thrilled" to be able to contribute to one of his country's "most important" and "most special" partnership.

"But for me, the most meaningful or most fundamental is the deep bond and the extraordinary warmth between the peoples of the two countries," he added.

According to his figures, there are about 4 million Filipino-Americans residing in the U.S., and 250,000 Americans living and working in the Philippines.

Despite the long flight from Washington D.C. to Manila, Kim pointed out he "didn't get any sleep" on the plane because of his excitement. "I have, for a long time, for many years, have wanted to serve in Manila."

Kim was one of seven individuals nominated by U.S. President Barack Obama to key administration posts in May. He was sworn in by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on November 3.

In his acceptance speech, Kim also called the Philippines the U.S.' "oldest ally in Asia" and reiterated continued friendship.

He listed the U.S. as one of the Philippines' "top trading partners" and reaffirmed a "common history of shared sacrifice, values, and interests" as well as "an ironclad mutual defense treaty."

Fresh start?

Kim will drop the "Designate" label after he presents his credentials to, and is received by President Rodrigo Duterte. The President has been vocal about his misgivings on relations with the U.S.

The President also insulted Kim's predecessor, Philip Goldberg, during a televised speech in Cebu City earlier this year.

"Kaya nga sabi ko noong si (U.S. Secretary of State John) Kerry, kasama kami ni(incoming Philippine National Defense) Secretary, si Delfin (Lorenzana), kausap namin si Kerry. Okay naman siya kasi, nag-away kami ng ambassador niya (Philip Goldberg). Iyong ambassador niyang bakla, p*****i**, buwisit ako diyan.  Nakikisali doon sa election, giving [a] statement. You're not supposed to do that."

[Translation:I was with (incoming Philippine National Defense Secretary) Delfin (Lorenzana). We talked to (U.S. Secretary of State) John Kerry, he was actually okay because I had a fight with his ambassador. I told him: your ambassador is a gay, son of a b**** I was pissed at him, for interfering in the elections, giving statements here and there. He wasn't supposed to do that.]

Duterte said Goldberg should not have "interfered" during the last presidential election, when the then ambassador reacted to Duterte's comments on the rape of an Australian missionary.

Foreign service career

Kim is a career member of the U.S. Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor. He is also a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State.

His prior experience includes serving as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea from 2011 to 2014. He was also the special representative for North Korea policy and the deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.

A graduate of University of Pennsylvania, Kim earned a juris doctor degree from Loyola University Law School in Los Angeles. He also has a master of laws degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

CNN Philippines' JC Gotinga contributed to this report.

U.S. Envoy Wowed by Flower Festival

By Dexter A. See 

Manila Standard Today

The magnitude of the Panagbenga, popularly known as the Baguio flower festival, which is the longest running festival in the country today will help attract more American tourists to visit the Summer Capital.

This was the assessment made by US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Golberg on Saturday at the sidelines of the street dancing parade, one of the highlights of Panagbenga.

DANCING IN THE STREETS. Student- participants in the Panagbenga

street dancing  competition  make their moves on Saturday, 

celebrating  the  20th  anniversary of the Baguio  flower festival. 

DAVID CHAN

Goldberg, who spoke in front of a mammoth crowd gathered at the Baguio Athletic Bowl for the grand street dancing parade, said Filipinos and Americans have a long history to speak of ranging from struggles during the World War II and eventual successful suppression of the Japanese forces and eventually to being robust partners in trade and commerce.

He said Baguio City has always been a home for the Americans outside Metro Manila because of the existence of the Ambassador’s Residence within the Camp John Hay which was the former American military base and a historical site. It  was the venue where Gen. Tomoyoki Yamashita, leader of the Japanese Imperial Army, signed his surrender paper to the allied forces on September 3, 1945, Goldberg added.

“We are awed by the active participation of the people in the flower festival and the resourcefulness in making the flowers a true representation of friendship, unity, team works and solidarity among the local residents and visitors,” Goldberg said.

The US envoy pointed out that with the city’s cool and romantic weather, pine-scented air and scenic spots coupled with the annual conduct of the flower festival, foreign tourists especially the Americans will be enticed to visit and contribute in improving the growth of the local tourism industry.

He said because of the city’s “natural air conditioning,” he might be spending more time in  Baguio attending to important concerns rather than in the US embassy in Metro Manila.

The grand street dancing parade Saturday is one of the major highlights of the annual Panagbenga which is now on its 20 year. Several contingents from the elementary, secondary, college and open categories will compete by showcasing their dance steps with the inter-play of flowers and recyclable materials to remind the people of their individual responsibility to preserve and protect the environment.

Some nine elementary, four high school and three open category contingents joined this year’s finals for the grand street dancing competition that lasted for around three hours along the 7-kilometer parade route from Upper Session Road with its junction with South Drive, Loakan Road and Military Cut-off up to the Baguio Athletic Bowl.

The US ambassador expressed his gratitude to the people, officials and visitors   for their warm welcome that contributed in making his stay in the city over the past several days a wonderful and fruitful.

Philippines and U.S. to Sign New Military Pact

By Rosemarie Francisco and Matt Spetallnick

Members of the Philippine marines are transported on a rubber boat from a patrol ship after conducting a mission on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, as they make their way to a naval forces camp in Palawan province, southwest Philippines March 31, 2014.

 "We're not doing this because of China," Evan Medeiros, Obama's top Asia adviser, told reporters.

The United States and the Philippines will sign a new 10-year security pact on Monday that will allow for a larger U.S. military presence as it struggles to raise its defense capabilities amid territorial disputes with China.

The agreement, which establishes a framework for a beefed-up rotation of U.S. troops, ship and warplanes through the Philippines, will be formally sealed just hours before U.S. President Barack Obama arrives on a two-day visit to Manila, U.S. and Philippine officials said.

White House officials touted the deal as part of a "rebalancing" of U.S. resources toward the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region.


The Philippines will be Obama's final stop on a four-country tour aimed at showing sometimes skeptical allies he is serious about the strategic shift.


It comes as China has strengthened its maritime presence in disputed areas in the South China Sea after seizing control of Scarborough Shoal in 2012.

The accord allows for enhanced "rotational presence" of U.S. forces in the country - but not a return of U.S. military bases, U.S. officials said.

It will allow U.S. forces to train and conduct exercises with Philippine forces for maritime security, disaster assistance and humanitarian aid, the officials said.
The White House said the pact did not specify how many U.S. military assets can be deployed but established a legal basis for deciding on a mission-by-mission basis.
Still, Manila's acceptance of an increased U.S. military presence, a politically sensitive issue in the independent-minded archipelago nation, reveals the scale of Philippine anxiety over China.


The Philippine Senate voted to evict the U.S. military from their bases in 1991, ending 94 years of American military presence in the Philippines, and has only gradually allowed the return of U.S. forces for limited operations.


RENEWABLE PACT

The Enhanced Defense Cooperation agreement will run for 10 years, shorter than the United States was originally asking for, two Philippine government officials said, asking for anonymity due to lack of authority to reveal details.


But the deal is renewable depending on the needs of the two oldest allies in the Asia-Pacific region, one source said.


It will be signed by Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg shortly before Obama meets Philippine President Benigno Aquino in Manila.


The agreement allows the United States to rotate ships, aircraft and troops for a period longer than the current maximum of two weeks during joint military exercises by the two nations, a senior Philippine military source told Reuters.
The United States is expected to gradually deploy combat ships, a squadron of F18s or F16s and maritime surveillance aircraft, the same source said.


Last year, there were 149 U.S. navy ship visits to the Philippines, up from 68 in the previous year, and that number is likely to rise further under the new pact.
"We are considering bases in Northern Luzon like Clark and Subic, and Fort Magsaysay, to accommodate the U.S. forces. We will set aside space in those bases for their troops," the military source said.


Clark and Subic were bases maintained by the United States northwest of Manila until 1991, when U.S. troops were evicted.


Eight years later, the Senate approved an agreement providing for temporary visits by U.S. forces, allowing the staging of joint military exercises.


The new accord also allows the storage of U.S. humanitarian equipment and supplies for disaster response, with some already in the country after super Typhoon Haiyan devastated central Philippines in November, the military source also said.


Pio Lorenzo Batino, undersecretary of Defense and chair of the Philippine panel negotiating with the United States, earlier said the agreement complied with the Philippine Constitution, which meant U.S. forces will have no permanent presence.
Philippine Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said she would scrutinize the pact, adding any agreement involving the posting of foreign troops and equipment required Senate ratification.


While most Filipinos support the pact to help counter China, there is some opposition on the left.


"We condemn in the strongest terms the brazen treachery of the Aquino regime which is set to sign tomorrow the US-PH Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement," said Renato Reyes of leftist group Bayan.

Another U.S. Travel Warning for The Philippies

Washington, DC - infoZine - The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to the Philippines, in particular to the Sulu Archipelago and the island of Mindanao. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning dated July 5, 2013, and reflects continuing threats in those areas due to terrorist and insurgent activities.

U.S. citizens should continue to exercise extreme caution if traveling to the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. In 2013, separatist and terrorist groups increased the tempo and scale of their activities and confrontations with Philippine security forces, with increased bombings, attacks on civilians and political leaders, and battles with security forces. In September 2013, elements of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) occupied portions of the city of Zamboanga and engaged in a lengthy battle with security forces which reduced large parts of the city to rubble. The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Front (BIFF) has been particularly active in the Cotabato City area, and in the Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat provinces, where the government maintains a state of emergency and a greater police presence.

These lands in Maasim, in the Philippine province of Mindanao, are now being turned into pineapple groves, providing jobs and income to local communities. Photo courtesy of USAID

The Embassy has imposed a strict restriction on all but the most essential travel to Mindanao, and Embassy employees must receive special authorization from Embassy security officials to travel to any location in Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, including urban centers.

U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in the Philippines should review the Department of State's Country Specific Information for the Philippines link, which contains additional information about conditions throughout the country.

All U.S. citizens in the Philippines are encouraged to enroll with the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program link or at the U.S. Embassy in Manila. By enrolling, you can receive the Embassy's most recent security and safety updates during your trip. Enrolling also ensures that we can reach you, or your designated emergency points of contact, during an emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines, tel. 63-2-301-2000. The American Citizens Services (ACS) section's fax number is 63-2-301-2017, and you may reach the ACS Section by email at ACSinfoManila@state.gov. The ACS Section's website link includes consular information and the most recent messages to the U.S. citizen community in the Philippines.

U.S. citizens traveling in the region are encouraged to stay up to date on conditions across the globe by bookmarking the Bureau of Consular Affairs website link, which contains the current Travel Warnings link and Travel Alerts link as well as the Worldwide Caution link.

3 Philippine Men Guilty of Importing Weapons to US

Here is more about it:

3 Philippine Men Guilty of Importing Weapons to US - ABC News