U.S. ambassador to PH meets with Filipinos in Honolulu

MaryKay Carlson, a career diplomat (third from left, front row), huddled with some members of the Filipino community. SCREENGRAB HNN

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson met with Hawaii Filipino business owners, young professionals and politicians on Saturday, Oct. 1.

After meetings with U.S. defense secretary Lloyd Austin and Indo Pacific Command’s top officers, Carlson, a career diplomat huddled with some members of the Filipino community at a restaurant in Chinatown, Hawaii News Now’s Annalisa Burgos reported.

Melody Calisay, who has an import business,  said she was able to share with Carlson “my future concerns especially I’m a businesswoman.”

Carlson explained that the U.S. government is trying to improve access to veterans services, visa processing (“reducing wait times”) and other consular issues.