The United States is honored to support the country’s immense growth potentials amidst diversity.
Speaking during the 114th Baguio Charter Day anniversary program held at the Baguio Convention Center, US Ambassador Mary kay Carlson claimed that in her more than thirteen months of stay in the country, she was able to learn about the country’s rich history and diverse culture coupled with the immense growth potentials that is evident.
She narrated that in her travels to the different parts of the country from Pagudpud up north to Zamboanga down south and many other places in between, she learned to appreciate how rich the country’s history and heritage are.
The US Embassy official said that the Us government is inclined to support the Marcos administration’s clean energy program with the assistance to be extended to the further development of the wind farms in Ilocos Norte that will serve as one of the major sources of clean energy.
Calrson also owns the distinction of being the first US ambassador to see for herself the Balangiga bells in their rightful place at the San Lorenzo de martini church in Samar.
According to her, she was also able to visit the Timex factory in Cebu where thousands of Filipinos from the entry level to the executive suites are working together for the brighter future of both the Philippines and the US.
Ambassador Carlson stipulated that she was wowed by the resilience of the youth in all the stops that she made in the dozens of places that she visited in the different parts of the country.
She is impressed by the empowerment of the young entrepreneurs who are able to excel in the different small and medium enterprises that they handle in the Philippines and the US.
However, of all the places that she visited in the country, Baguio holds a special place in the ambassador’s heart because the place is similar to her hometown in Little Rock, Arkansas where the two places have in common the hills and mountains and the stately pines.
Further, she recognized that despite having American names in its tourist destinations among others, the city remains distinctly A Filipino city with its rich indigenous culture and leaders that have a vision for the future.
She added that the US is also proud to partner with the Philippines and Baguio in realizing the vision for a better future for the people amidst diversity.
Among the important partnerships that had been entered by Baguio-based institutions include the partnership between the University of the Cordilleras and the University of Cincinnati in terms of cyber -security and the establishment of an American space at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to provide access for cadets to learn about the latest development in US scholarships and available resources.
Moreover, American businesses see Baguio as a potential expansion area such as the Likes of Texas Instruments and MOOG Controls Corporation and business process outsourcing companies like SITEL, Convergys and Synergy.
She underscored that the above American companies is just a testament of the flourishing Philippines and Us economic partnership.