THE PHILIPPINE BUSINESS DAILY MIRROR
ENVOYS AND EXPATS
US-PHILIPPINES SOCIETY:
Harnessing historic bonds, forging a dynamic future
By Mike Policarpio
In 2021, diplomatic ties between the Philippines and the United States take a momentous turn, as both nations commemorate 75 years of friendship, partnership and alliance.
They encompass a wide spectrum of cooperation in various sectors: from business and commerce, military and security, education and culture, and various others in between.
While two-way relations are described as ironclad-strong, owing to the deep engagements of both countries forged through time and destiny, the US-Philippines Society has been instrumental in strengthening bilateral links of both countries. The private, nonprofit organization endeavors to further interaction and understanding from both fronts covering the entire gamut of engagements between Washington, D.C. and Manila which are seen to benefit the American public and the Filipinos.
From the society’s establishment in the American capital on May 7, 2012, founders of the nonprofit, independent, and binational group have been realizing their vision of elevating the profile of the Philippines in the US. Referencing its web site usphsociety.org, its officials and members are driven to “build on the rich and longstanding historical bonds between the two nations, and help to bring that unique relationship fully into the 21st Century, at a junction when US policy interests are increasingly focused on East Asia.”
Executive Director Hank Hendrickson recently accorded an exclusive interview to the BUSINESSMIRROR, as he discussed the workings of the US-Philippines Society, as well as its position on current realities and relevant issues against changing dynamics affecting the long-standing alliance of the two sovereign countries.
ENVOYS&EXPATS: For further appreciation of the society’s purpose of being, what are some of its most significant undertakings benefiting the Philippines?
HENDRICKSON: One of the things the US-Philippines Society is chartered to do is promote economic, business and trade ties between our two countries. There are also some strategic reasons in terms of providing balance for the Philippine economy: to have strong partnerships all around, not just to rely on one country.
We have provided assistance to the Philippines when it faced challenges of building resilience after Supertyphoon Haiyan in November 2013. In the US, we campaigned to raise millions of dollars in funds for projects targeted in areas hit by the natural disaster. The society was heavily involved in areas of immediate reconstruction and recovery, as well as in health, education and livelihood. Major donors were our Honorary Chair Hank Greenberg and the Starr Foundation. A strong partnership with Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia and the Philippine Embassy bolstered these efforts and other key initiatives during that period.
The Vietnamese community in America also provided assistance through the society, because they remembered, when they were “boat people” refugees, the helping hand offered by Filipinos and wanted to “give back” during their time of need.
The US-Philippines Society also supported in recovery and development programs after the Marawi City siege of 2017. With major funding from Project Handclasp Foundation supported by American companies as well as charities and aided by US Navy sailors, the society provided livelihood assistance for internally displaced persons there, the children’s education, and the set-up of a health center in an evacuation site. We work very closely with partners, including the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, which is co-chaired by two of the society’s leading Filipino members: Manuel V. Pangilinan and Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.
The way we do these things is really through partnerships, because we are a small organization, and we have very good people, leadership and support, especially from our co-chairs Pangilinan and Ambassador John Negroponte. Our work is bound with US universities, think-tanks, embassies in the diplomatic side, as well as development and recovery-assistance groups based in both countries. When we put everything together, it can make a difference.
|