The Philippines and the United States commemorated eight decades of diplomatic relations, trade, and cultural ties with the release of a new edition of a booklet outlining the depth of their longstanding partnership.
The Philippines and the United States marked a significant milestone of 80 years of diplomatic partnership on September 24, 2026, with the launch of the second edition of a commemorative booklet titled “The Philippines Matters for America, America Matters for the Philippines.” The event took place at the Glasshouse in Goldenberg Mansion, Manila, attended by notable dignitaries including First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton, and Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Maria Andrelita Austria.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were formally established on July 4, 1946, coinciding with Philippine independence. The publication, led by the US East-West Center, an educational and research organization, highlights critical aspects of the bilateral relationship such as trade, investment, educational exchanges, partnerships, and supply chains.
US Ambassador Lee Lipton highlighted key partnership areas such as the Luzon Economic Corridor, Pax Silica initiative, artificial intelligence, and nuclear energy, emphasizing a forward-looking agenda to deepen relations. Undersecretary Austria underlined the strategic importance of the anniversary, noting the shared democratic values and strong people-to-people ties that have defined the partnership.
The booklet provides data affirming the robust economic linkage, reporting a bilateral trade volume of $41.7 billion in 2025, a 13% increase from the previous year. The US remains the Philippines’ top trading partner for agricultural products, accounting for 15% of Philippine agricultural imports and 18% of exports. US foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Philippines reached $6 billion, with Philippine investments in the US totaling $532 million.
Employment impacts from these investments are significant, with exports to the Philippines supporting over 65,000 US jobs predominantly in California, Texas, and Washington. Since 1949, US assistance has fostered economic development, peace and security, and health improvement in the Philippines. As of mid-2025, US health aid targeted global health security, tuberculosis, maternal and child health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, and more.
The booklet also highlights the vital role Filipino healthcare professionals play in the US, comprising 5% of nurses and 3% of the overall healthcare workforce, making Filipinos the largest immigrant healthcare worker group in the country. Filipino Americans number approximately 4.6 million, representing 18% of the Asian American population, with significant communities in California, Hawaii, Texas, Washington, and Nevada.
Educational exchanges remain vibrant, with over 4,500 Filipino students studying in US higher education institutions and 326 American students studying in the Philippines in recent years. Tourism statistics reveal 1.1 million American visitors to the Philippines and 315,000 Filipino visitors to the US in 2025, contributing significant economic benefits to both nations.
The year 2026 also marks the 75th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the two countries and the 250th anniversary of US independence, underscoring a historic and enduring alliance.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/1003903/ph-us-mark-80-years-of-partnership-with-new-booklet/story/
