On Philippine-American Friendship Day, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asserted the Philippines’ commitment to its ties with the country’s staunch ally, the United States.
In a tweet on Tuesday, the President said that the deep connection between the Philippines and the United States was built on “trust and collaboration”.
“On this joyous occasion of Philippine-American Friendship Day, we commemorate the deep connection between our nations, built on the foundation of trust and collaboration,” the President said.
He said that the two countries should continue “to stand together” toward a prosperous future.
“As allies, let us continue to stand together, embracing the values of democracy, freedom, and equality, forging a path towards a more prosperous and inclusive future for all,” Mr. Marcos said.
The United States marks its Independence Day from Great Britain every fourth of July, which is a major holiday for Americans.
Also known as Philippine Republic Day, Philippine-American Friendship Day is a working holiday in the country.
For a while, the Philippines also celebrated July 4 as its Independence Day from the US, which granted its former colony its complete freedom on that day in 1946 after 48 years of rule through the Treaty of Manila. Charles Dantes
The alliance between the Philippines and the United States remains a hot topic in the Asia-Pacific region owing to the tensions between the US and China.
Previously, the Philippines approved the four additional Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the country.
Beijing claimed that the additional military bases will be used by the United States to “take advantage” of the current geopolitical tension and push its anti-China agenda.
But President Marcos has clarified that the additional bases were meant to bolster the nation’s defense and humanitarian assistance and disaster response.