UNITED States Secretary of State Antony Blinken recognized contributions of Filipino workers and Filipino-Americans, including one of his senior officials, in building a strong American foundation.
“Filipinos and Filipino-Americans are a fundamental part of the fabric of the United States,” Blinken said during dinner hosted for President Marcos Jr. and his delegation at the Blair House on Monday night (Tuesday in Manila).
He acknowledged the numerous Filipinos who are working in the US, including Michele Sison, his assistant secretary for international organizations, Michele Sison.
Marcos on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) met with some 200,000 American employers who have hired Filipinos, and thanked them for their trust and confidence.
“When you say that the, the ladies and gentlemen that we have here today represent 200,000, you do not represent 200,000 employees, you represent 200,000 families and you represent 200,000 communities in the Philippines,” Marcos said.
He was joined in the meeting by Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, and Department of National Defense officer-in-charge Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
In the same meeting, Ople told the US firms of “the interest of 200,000 Filipinos” who “adhere to fair and ethical standards and principles.”
Cruising company Carnival Corp. committed to hire some 75,000 Filipino seafarers in the next three to four years.
Carnival Corp. president and chief executive John Padget, in a meeting with the President, said his group of companies is set to hire the Filipino workers for their hospitality and competitiveness in the global workforce.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s the marine, deck, hospitality, restaurant… everything is based on the happiness, the smile, and the greatness of the Filipino employees,” said Padget, who represented Carnival Cruise Line, Holland American Airlines and Seaborn.
The Philippines is one of the leading source of seafarers in the world.
There are at least four million Filipino immigrants (temporary and permanent) in the United States, representing the fourth largest immigrant group after Mexicans, Indians and Chinese.
Through their remittances, the Filipino workers contribute to the economic development of both the US and Philippines with their skills, talents and expertise.
Marcos also met with the United States-Philippines Society (USPS) that pledged its commitment for greater cooperation towards economic growth in the Philippines.
USPS, co-chaired by US Ambassador John Negropotente. is a private sector initiative organized to expand interaction through basic research and/or applied research in the areas of security, trade, investments, tourism, environment, history, education and culture between the two nations.
