On Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged Filipino-Americans to inspire their kids to visit the Philippines to experience the country's rich cultural heritage.
"Let them see for themselves what the Philippines is about, what is our culture, what is our history. I’m sure the first and second and third generation Filipino-Americans are more than happy to learn about their proud Philippine ancestry," he said.
"Sooner or later, we will be able to welcome you back home to the Philippines, especially those who have re-acquired their Filipino citizenship," he added.
Meanwhile, during his meeting with the Filipino community in Washington D.C., the President thanked overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for their significant contribution to the country's economic growth, especially through remittances during the pandemic.
"Noong pandemya ay ang bumuhay talaga sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas ay mga OFW. At kaya’t… Kung hindi po sa inyo ay siguro mas mahirapan po na makabangon ang Pilipinas, kaya’t ulit maraming, maraming salamat sa inyo," Marcos told Filipino community.
The president also recognized the deep-rooted history and contribution of Filipinos in the United States, including World War II veterans and current members of the US Navy and other military services.
He expressed gratitude to US President Joseph Biden for providing opportunities for Filipinos to thrive in the US and vowed to improve the quality of jobs in the Philippines to reduce the need for Filipinos to work abroad.
"Kasama ko po ang ating mga miyembro ng Gabinete upang ipagtibay ang ating pagkakaibigan sa Amerika, United States at saka ng Pilipinas… Naging bahagi po sa usapan namin ay nagpasalamat naman ako sa kanila dahil sa dami ng Pilipino na nandito sa Amerika, na nandito sa US ay lahat naman naging maganda ang buhay at… tinanggap kaagad ng ating mga kaibigang taga-US," said the President.
The President emphasized the government's unwavering commitment to improving the lives of all Filipinos, not only in the Philippines but also in other parts of the world.
