Report on the 2026 Board Meeting Program | | |
80th Anniversary Logo Launch with President Marcos | Board Meeting Resolutions |
| Logo of the 80th Anniversary of Philippines-United States Diplomatic Relations | | | |
80th Anniversary Logo Launch with President Marcos | | | Photo (l-r): Executive Director Hank Hendrickson, Co-chair Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, DFA Usec Leo Herrera-Lim, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, Co-chair John Negroponte, U.S. Embassy CDA Robert Ewing, Ambassador John F. Maisto, Ambassador Thomas Hubbard. February 9, 2026, Presidents Hall, Malacañan Palace, Manila | | |
US-Philippines Society Co-Chair Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala hosted a highly productive board of directors program in Manila, February 9-10. Centerpiece of the two-day program was a special presidential evening event marking the 80th anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-United States diplomatic ties hosted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. at Malacañan Palace on February 9th.
The celebratory event included the unveiling of a specially designed logo for the anniversary that will be displayed by both governments throughout 2026, and at our gala concert on July 1st at Washington’s DAR Constitution Hall.
The Malacañan celebration featured speeches by President Marcos, Society Co-Chair Ambassador John Negroponte, and American embassy Charge’ d’Affaires Robert Ewing. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose M. Romualdez moderated the program.
Official remarks and an informative historical video presented to an audience of cabinet officers, Society members, U.S. embassy officials and special guests, including First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, recalled eight decades of enduring ties between our two nations.
In his remarks, Amb Negroponte pointed out that, “The commitment to Philippine independence in the period prior to World War II and consummated by the shared sacrifice of the war years forged ties between two sovereign states in 1946, a pivotal period that we commemorate this year.”
The President and First Lady engaged graciously in conversations with Society directors and senior officials at a palace reception to cap the 80th Logo Launch.
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BOARD MEETING RESOLUTIONS
At a business meeting of the full board of directors on February 10 at the Ayala Corporation’s boardroom, Society co-chairs introduced a series of resolutions aimed at identifying priorities for 2026, bringing select new members onto the board, and recognizing contributions of current members.
The board committed to support plans for a gala concert in Washington, D.C. on July 1st to celebrate the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations, a project driven by Ambassador Romualdez and organized by the Society in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Washington, with USPHS Director Maan Hontiveros in a lead coordinating role for the production.
Another resolution welcomed new board members, including former ambassadors MaryKay Carlson and Sung Y. Kim, along with Jeffrey Greenberg of Starr Companies in New York City.
The board also resolved to promote a strong and mutually beneficial trilateral relationship among the Philippines, Japan and the United States, recognizing the value of strategic cooperation toward the maintenance of stability in the South China Sea and around Taiwan, as well as enhancement of economic, commercial and development ties. Take-aways from the Society’s February 12th Trilateral Conference in Tokyo will serve as a basis for follow-on programs to reach wider audiences in Washington.
| US-Philippines Society Board of Directors with U.S. Embassy CDA Robert Ewing, February 9, 2026, Makati, Philippines. Photo credit: U.S. Embassy Manila | | | |
Carlos P. Romulo Award
Pursuant to a board resolution, the co-chairs presented Director Carlos Mendoza with the Society’s Carlos P. Romulo Award in recognition of his leadership as Managing Director and Senior Country Officer of JPMorganChase in strengthening financial, commercial and civic ties between the Philippines and the United States. And, for implementing strategies that have positioned a leading American banking institution to play a major role in the Philippine financial sector, and as a significant generator of high-skilled employment with benefits for the peoples and economies of both countries.
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Policy Presentations
Society directors were joined by members and invited guests, including from the AmCham, Makati Business Club, Stratbase Institute, military and civilian officials from the U.S., the Philippines, and third-countries to a series of highly topical presentations, February 9-10 at the Manila Peninsula’s Conservatory venue. Presenters reviewed 2025 highlights and identified key priorities for both countries in the year ahead.
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With appreciation, we recognize Co-chair Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala for welcoming guests with remarks focused on the impact of geopolitical trends on the Philippines. Amb Negroponte joined the welcome, bringing a Washington perspective to the forum. Photo credit: U.S. Embassy Manila
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DFA Under Secretary Leo Herrera-Lim described Philippine foreign policy priorities for 2026 and plans for using its ASEAN chairmanship to advance regional cooperation. Photo credit: Stratbase Institute
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Ambassadors Romualdez, Hubbard, and Maisto described the Washington policy environment one year into the new Trump administration, Indo-Pacific alliance priorities, and the Venezuela operation.
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Ambassador Paul Jones delivered the Frank G. Wisner Memorial Address, describing the dramatic changes underway shaping a new world order.
CSIS’s Greg Poling and Commo Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard provided a comprehensive update on the South China Sea, along with insights into Manila’s response to maritime challenges.
USPHS Senior Advisor Brian Harding moderated a panel on National Security and Alliance Cooperation, which included presentations by the Philippine NSC’s Cornelio Valencia and RADM (ret) Rommel Jude Ong. The panel broadened the discussion on defense to include all four sides of the Philippines, with a new and important look at the Philippine Sea and adjoining areas to the east.
The first day (2/9) of our substantive agenda concluded with presentations by Rene “Butch” Meily, President of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, former DENR Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, and Chris Decker of Planate Management assessing the crucial issue of disaster risk management and resilience-building.
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Ambassadors Endo Kazuya of Japan, Jose Manuel Romualdez and CDA Robert Ewing
February 10, Makati, Philippines
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Agenda for day-two, February 10, focused on business, economics, development, education and training issues. Our thanks go out to the following:
Emilio Neri, Jr., Lead Economist of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, for his insightful briefing on the Philippine economy.
Under Secretary (DTI) Ceferino Rodolfo for bringing clarity to Philippine trade priorities for 2026.
Adam Schwarz of Asia Group Advisors for illuminating the development of an ASEAN trade framework and implications for the Philippines as 2026 ASEAN Chair.
Cindy Pasky, CEO of Strategic Staffing Solutions; Inna Sacci, Senior VP at URC; Jeffrey Goss of Arizona state University, and Fred Ayala, President of iPeople for highlighting the importance of education and training in the workforce, and for describing the value to the Philippines of international education partnerships.
Atty. Ronald Baumgarten of BakerHostetler for providing a video and slides with a Washington insider’s view on U.S. trade policies.
Ambassadors Endo Kazuya of Japan and “Babe” Romualdez, along with CDA Robert Ewing for highlighting the strategic and commercial advantages of increased trilateral US-PH-Japan cooperation.
| | | DTI USEC Ceferino Rodolfo | | US-PHILIPPINES SOCIETY |usphsociety.org | | | | | |
