New PH ambassador meets Washington, DC-Area Filipinos

New Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez delivers remarks in his first town hall meeting with the Filipino community held at the Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy on December 8. CONTRIBUTED

WASHINGTON, DC – New Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez met members of local the Filipino community on December 8 at the embassy’s Romulo Hall.

Members of the Filipino communities from Metro DC and nearby states filled the Romulo Hall of  the Philippine Embassy to meet Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez. CONTRIBUTED

“Next to the shared sacrifices of Filipino and American soldiers in the defense of freedom and liberty during World War II, your productive presence in this country serves as the anchor for the enduring alliance between the Philippines and the United States,” Romualdez said.

As the head of the Philippine Embassy, Romualdez concurrently serves as the Philippines’ emissary to the countries in the Caribbean region, including Jamaica, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Lucia.

During the Q&A, the ambassador addressed several issues, including immigration; the Philippines’ positions on South China Sea and climate change; US assistance in the rehabilitation in Marawi City; human rights situation in the Philippines; and the e strategy to engage the Filipino American youth, among others.

The town hall meeting was streamed live on the Embassy’s official Facebook page.