PHOTO RELEASE NO. 53-2023

15 May 2023, Honolulu –   Consul General Emil Fernandez paid a courtesy call on Governor Josh Green of Hawaii at the State Capitol today, where the two discussed several issues involving Philippine-Hawaii relations.  Consul General Fernandez underscored the healthy state in Philippine-U.S. ties, as evidenced with the rise in recent high-level exchanges including the official visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Washington D.C. early this month. He also noted the two countries’ more vigorous cooperation in the defense sphere, including this year’s iteration of the Balikatan exercises which witnessed the participation of over 12,000 American soldiers.  For his part, Governor Green cited the contribution of Filipinos to the state.  He recalled visiting the Philippines in his teenage years, when his father worked on infrastructure projects, and disclosed that his wife, Jaime, was raised by her Filipina aunties after her mother passed away at a young age.  The Governor hopes to travel to the Philippines soon during his term in office.  (END)

(Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor)