Hanggang Sa Muli: An Unforgettable Four Years

By U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim

It is with a heavy but full heart that I bid farewell to the Philippines, my home for the last four years.  As I think back to my November 2016 swearing in, I recall vividly the immense pride I felt at being appointed U.S. Ambassador to our oldest ally in Asia.  Coming from Los Angeles, the U.S. city home to the largest number of Filipino-Americans, I had experienced the unique generosity, warmth, and hospitality of the Filipino people.  But I could have never imagined the incredible journey ahead.  From our partnership to end the Marawi Siege, to the historic return of the Balangiga bells, to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic — time and time again I was amazed at what Americans and Filipinos could achieve together.  When I depart, I will take with me many indelible memories.

One of them was visiting Marawi City not long after the end of the siege.  While the massive destruction caused by the terrorists was heartbreaking, I saw the best of humanity in the strength and resilience of the Marawi people.  During a meeting with teachers and students, I was awestruck by their positive attitude, energy, and resolve to rebuild.  Since the onset of the conflict, we have provided more than Php3.1 billion to support the recovery of their communities.  Philippine military leaders briefed me on the siege and recounted the critical assistance we provided to help the Armed Forces of the Philippines defeat the IS-inspired terrorists.  Testifying to the strength of the alliance, President Trump, like so many of his predecessors, visited the Philippines within the first year of taking office, and the Philippines continues to be the largest recipient of U.S. military assistance in the Indo-Pacific region.

This alliance did not happen overnight.  On the battlefields of World War II, American and Filipino servicemen forged bonds that laid the foundation of our alliance, a bedrock of peace and security for our nations and the region.  In recognition of our deep gratitude to those who fought so bravely for our freedom, in 2018, I had the honor of presiding over the first-ever Congressional Gold Medal ceremony in the Philippines.  And this past year, we joined the Armed Forces of the Philippines and veterans groups to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the end of World War II, honoring the shared sacrifice and heroism of Filipinos and Americans, whether they defended Bataan, fought in Corregidor, or liberated Manila.  Their poignant stories will remain with me for the rest of my life.

In addition to our security alliance, we share a robust economic partnership that creates jobs, builds skills, and supports inclusive development.  U.S. companies are the largest employers and electronic exporters, and among the largest taxpayers in the Philippines.  From Bohol, to Davao, to Cebu, I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact U.S. companies are making by investing in their Filipino workforce.  In the face of the pandemic, U.S. companies stood by their Philippine partners, providing medical supplies, IT support, and food for frontliners.  The U.S. government has provided more than Php1 billion to support Philippine government COVID-19 efforts, including the recent donation of state-of-the-art ventilators manufactured in the Unites States.

I depart optimistic about the future of the U.S.-Philippines alliance in large part due to the outstanding Filipino youth I met throughout my tenure.  Alumni of our Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative inspired through their dedication to community and country, while Filipino teams impressed with technological innovations in global NASA competitions.  Enthusiastic U.S.-bound students I met at our EducationUSA fairs will spark new collaborations with American classmates.  As Honorary Chairperson with Fulbright Philippines, I learned from the best and brightest Filipino students and academics.  Recognizing the unlimited potential of these ties, our governments elevated higher education cooperation to a bilateral strategic priority.  This mutual investment reinforces our shared values as democracies and underscores that the Philippines’ greatest resource has, and always will be, its people.

Whether watching college basketball, meeting Filipino youth, or traveling to stunning destinations, I’ve been inspired and energized by the promise of this dynamic country and the depth of our special partnership.  The next time I wear a barong, enjoy lechon, crispy tilapia, or buko pandan with my wife and daughters, we will remember with fondness the wonderful friendships we made here.  It has been an honor and a privilege to serve in the Philippines these past four years.  With profound gratitude I bid the Philippines and my Filipino friends farewell and say maraming, maraming, salamat, and until next time – hanggang sa muli!

Manila, July 27, 2020 – U.S. Army and Marine Corps service members delivered an additional Php11.4 million ($230,600) in personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies to hospitals in 11 cities across the Philippines, working in partnership with the Philippine Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard.  This new donation brings total U.S. government COVID-19 assistance to the Philippines to Php989 million (more than $20 million).

“This latest delivery of U.S. government assistance for Filipino frontliners in the battle against COVID-19 is a testament to our ongoing commitment to help the Philippines defeat the pandemic,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim.

The assistance, delivered in cooperation with the Philippine Office of Civil Defense and Department of Health, will provide medical clinics from Luzon to Mindanao with much-needed PPE and other essential equipment to support frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19.  This joint U.S.-Philippine effort builds on decades of bilateral military cooperation in counterterrorism, humanitarian relief, maritime security, and many other fields.

Commodore Allan O. Corpuz, Philippine Coast Guard District Palawan commander, said, “We are but one in this unconventional war against this pandemic.  We are immensely grateful for your untiring service and support to our nation.”

Over the coming month, this medical equipment will be distributed to 16 medical clinics, hospitals, and local Departments of Health in Palawan, Batangas, Pampanga, Cebu, Sulu, Maguindanao, Zamboanga del Sur, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte.  The supplies include disposable gloves, masks, medical clothing, various types of face protection, and tools such as infrared thermometers.

The United States has provided more than Php228 billion ($4.5 billion) in development assistance to the Philippines over the past 20 years, including over Php29 billion ($582 million) in health assistance.

Manila, July 20, 2020 – The United States, through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is distributing Php14.8 million ($300,000) worth of regionally-manufactured personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and COVID-19 treatment centers across the Philippines.  This latest donation brings overall U.S. government assistance to the Philippines’ COVID-19 response efforts to nearly Php981 million ($19.8 million).

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said, “This delivery of PPE demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the Philippines to stop COVID-19.  During this month, which began with a commemoration of Philippine-American Friendship Day, we are honored to support our Filipino friends, partners, and allies with the PPE they need to assist communities confronting the pandemic.”

Recipients for this donation were determined by a needs assessment based on pandemic infection rates, current PPE supply levels, and projected future needs.  The United States will continue to support Filipino frontline workers.

Dr. Robert S. Pope, Director of DTRA’s Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, said, “We are proud to support brave Filipino medical workers to ensure they are safe and healthy while providing essential medical care to those affected by this deadly virus.  We value our longstanding partnerships in the Philippines.  One day, we will look back on these events and know that our partnership helped enable a robust response that saved lives and prevented further contagion in the Philippines and surrounding region.”

The PGH and the U.S. Department of Defense have a long history of mutual support dating back to World War II.  During the War, Filipino and American medical personnel worked together to treat soldiers and civilians during the Battle of Manila, following the liberation of PGH through joint U.S.-Philippine effort.

About DTRA:

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency enables the Department of Defense, the United States Government, and international partners to counter and deter weapons of mass destruction and improvised threat networks.   For more information, visit https://www.dtra.mil. For more information on DTRA’s Biological Threat Reduction Program, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEE4-WuJYRA.

The Philippines’ Future Floats in the West Philippine Sea

By U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim

The waters of the South China Sea are home to a dizzying array of marine resources, ranging from vast oil and gas reserves deep beneath the surface to the complex and beautiful ecosystems capable of supporting international seafood markets and unraveling scientific mysteries.  This is the patrimony of Southeast Asian nations, the lifeblood of their coastal communities, and the livelihood of millions of their citizens.  The United States stands alongside the Philippines and other Southeast Asian partners to uphold a rules-based order that ensures sovereign, sustainable, and productive access to the South China Sea and its resources.

At last month’s ASEAN Summit, ASEAN leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining the South China Sea “as a sea of peace, stability, and prosperity.”  To strengthen our support for sovereignty and freedom of the seas, this week, the United States announced an important change in U.S. policy regarding maritime claims in the South China Sea.

As U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo explained, the United States rejects any People’s Republic of China (PRC) maritime claims within the Philippine’s Exclusive Economic Zone or continental shelf, and claims in waters beyond 12 nautical miles from the islands in the Spratlys.  Beijing’s harassment of Philippine fisheries and offshore energy development within those areas is unlawful, as are any unilateral PRC actions to exploit those resources.  Under the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Award, which is final and legally binding, the Philippines enjoys sovereign rights and jurisdiction with respect to the natural resources in its EEZ.  As Secretary of Foreign Affairs Locsin remarked this weekend on the anniversary of the ruling, “The arbitral tribunal’s award of 12 July 2016 represents a victory, not just for the Philippines, but for the entire community of consistently law-abiding nations.”

Why is this important?  Here in the Philippines, the West Philippine Sea epitomizes the rich marine diversity of this country.  In its waters, scientists have discovered hundreds of species of fish, coral, seagrass, and other marine life existing in interdependent systems that teach us about the planet’s complexity, fragility, and resilience.  These habitats not only provide the fish that fill Filipino fishing vessels (and Filipino plates), they also serve as spawning grounds for schools that populate seas throughout Southeast Asia.  Philippine scientists believe some of the species unique to these waters may also hold the key to biomedical breakthroughs, while climate researchers can study ecosystem changes to measure human impact on the environment.

Marine conservation begins with securing territorial integrity; when any nation uses coercion, subversion, disinformation, and other underhanded tactics to further its position in the South China Sea, it denies our friends and partners the right to build a sustainable future.  ASEAN leaders expressed concern over activities and serious incidents in the South China Sea which have “eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions, and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region.”  The United States remains committed to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows, and will continue to defend the right of freedom of navigation in international waters and airways.  Earlier this month, the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group conducted dual-carrier operations with the Ronald Reagan and Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carriers, demonstrating U.S. commitment to mutual defense agreements and promoting peace and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific.  The United States supports Philippine Coast Guard capacity to defend its waters by supplying expert training and new equipment.

Since the 1990s, the United States has supported Philippine marine and biodiversity conservation efforts.  Our Php1.3 billion five-year Fish Right project works alongside Philippine partners to strengthen the sustainable use of critical coastal and marine resources to benefit more than 2 million people.  When the COVID-19 pandemic further threatened marine livelihoods, Fish Right helped develop Fish Tiangge, an online marketplace connecting buyers and 6,000 fisherfolk in three of the Philippines’ most important areas for marine biodiversity.  American companies are also contributing, with Bloomberg Philanthropies’ global development alliance promoting marine conservation and sustainable fishing in more than 150,000 hectares of biologically significant waters.

U.S. scientists and innovators are eager to join their Philippine colleagues in researching these waters to build a sustainable maritime framework – one that protects the West Philippine Sea’s rich and irreplaceable biodiversity while ensuring new generations benefit from its bounty and wonder.  Through the recently ratified U.S.-Philippines Science and Technology Agreement, together we are building new pathways to increased scientific collaboration in the West Philippine Sea and beyond.  Youth play a central role in achieving long-term marine sustainability.  We have partnered with alumni from the U.S. Young South East Asia Leadership Initiative exchange program for Sea and Earth Advocates (SEA) camps to train young conservation leaders and sponsored programs like the “Haquathon Summit,” where thirty-five teams developed tech-based solutions to save the seas.

Through these activities and our commitment to a free and open rules-based order that upholds the sovereign rights of all states regardless of size, power, and military capabilities, the United States will continue to support our Philippine friends, partners, and allies in conserving the rich marine biodiversity that make this island nation so special.

U.S. Independence Day: Foundational Freedoms for the Future

By U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim

On this day, 244 years ago, America gained her independence after a hard-fought campaign to secure life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  This year, instead of a typical July 4 celebration – enjoying a barbeque under a sky of blazing fireworks with my family – we celebrate virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Despite our physical separation, the founding principles that unite us as Americans are more important than ever.  The freedoms enshrined in our Bill of Rights – freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to assemble – are valued around the world.  Respecting these freedoms unlocks prosperity and enables cooperation between sovereign nations.

I am privileged to have called the Philippines home now for more than three years.  Each year, the concurrent celebration of U.S. Independence Day and Philippine-American Friendship Day serves as a poignant reminder of the deep and historical connections that we share.  From joint military exercises demonstrating our commitment to regional peace and stability, to unfailing humanitarian assistance and diverse people-to-people ties, over the past year, together, we have further enriched our friendship, partnership, and alliance.

Not long after we gained independence, the U.S. Congress approved the first deployment of an American warship to the Pacific, in 1817.  More than 200 years later, our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific endures.  Last year, we welcomed the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, with almost 300 Filipino-American sailors aboard, and the USS Montgomery, the first U.S. ship visit to Davao in decades.  The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton joined maritime training in Palawan alongside the Philippine Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.  U.S. and Filipino troops strengthened interoperability, battle readiness, and built personal bonds in the joint Balikatan and KAMANDAG military exercises.  KAMANDAG included the first largescale airborne drop since World War II, during which 500 U.S. and Philippine paratroopers participated in a “Friendship Jump” demonstrating solidarity and cooperation.  And proudly, over the past year, we commemorated the 75th anniversary of the end of the World War II.  At inspiring ceremonies, I met heroic American and Filipino veterans who, together, risked everything for liberty, bonding our two nations as allies for freedom.

Friends help each other in times of need, or as I’ve heard here, the weight becomes lighter when we help each other – “Ang mabigat ay gumagaan, kapag nagtutulungan.”  Secretary Pompeo said on Philippine Independence Day, “As we stood together during World War II and in the global fight against terrorism, our nations are partnering again to contain and mitigate COVID-19.”  I am proud of the more than PhP 978 million ($19.5 million) in COVID-19 U.S. government aid to the Philippines.  Complementing this support are donations of food, technology, and other assistance from U.S. companies, a testament to their deep commitment to flatten the curve.  In conversations with U.S. firms, I have been moved by their dedication to assist Filipino employees and impressed by their desire to sustain national economic recovery efforts.

Meanwhile, our people-to-people ties are stronger than ever.  For the third successive year, the number of Filipinos studying in the United States grew, and their accomplishments are outstanding.  Filipina Mary Pauline Fornea not only graduated with honors from the U.S. Naval Academy, she also won a bronze medal in the duathlon mixed relay during the 30th Southeast Asian Games.  Submarine officer Lt. Melanie Martins, from Pampanga, became the first ever Filipina-American to earn the U.S. Navy “Dolphins” submarine warfare insignia, signifying her competency to assume command in an emergency.  In my hometown of Los Angeles, Historic Filipinotown will soon have a landmark named “Talang Gabay: Our Guiding Star” to honor contributions of Filipino-Americans to the city.

On this day, as Americans celebrate our nation’s founding, we reaffirm our commitment to support overseas the principles we cherish so deeply at home.  Happy U.S.-Philippine Friendship Day, and happy 244th U.S. Independence Day!

Manila, June 5, 2020 – The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines announced today that the U.S. government is providing an additional Php201 million ($4 million) to help support vulnerable populations in Mindanao in the fight against COVID-19, bringing the total amount of U.S. pandemic assistance to the Philippines to over Php978 million ($19.5 million).

On June 2, U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim met virtually with Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) officials, led by Chief Minister Ahod ‘Al Haj Murad’ Ebrahim, who also chairs the BARMM Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19, and reiterated U.S. commitment to partnering with the Philippines to address COVID-19 in the region.  The meeting provided an opportunity for BARMM leadership to discuss challenges and present its COVID-19 contingency plan, while Ambassador Kim and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Lawrence Hardy provided updates on U.S. COVID-19 assistance.

“In these trying times, I am inspired by the resilience and courage of the Filipino people,” said Ambassador Kim.  “The United States and the Philippines have met and overcome many challenges together, and I am confident that working together we will overcome this challenge as well.”

With the additional $4 million in humanitarian assistance, USAID will protect vulnerable populations – those displaced by conflict and the recent earthquakes in Mindanao – from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  USAID and its partners will work with local governments, local health authorities, and communities so that vulnerable populations have access to the most accurate and up-to-date health messages.

USAID partners will reach over 100,000 persons with distributions of essential hygiene supplies, handwashing stations, hygiene promotion to reduce transmission risk and help communities re-open.  USAID will also continue to provide vital water supply in transitory sites in Lanao del Sur for families displaced by the Marawi Siege and in North Cotabato for earthquake-affected communities.

The United States has provided more than Php228 billion ($4.5 billion) in development assistance to the Philippines over the past 20 years, including over Php29 billion ($582 million) in health assistance.