PRESS RELEASE
WDC-67-2026

03 November 2026

Embassy Press and Information Section

info@phembassy-us.org

Ěý

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Â鶹ԭ´´ in Washington, D.C., showed its support to its Filipino veterans, their families, and to the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP) as FilVetRep held the 2026 Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on October 20, 2026, to posthumously honor eight Filipino and one American veteran of World War II.

Held as part of celebrating Filipino American History Month, the ceremony served as a poignant reminder of the shared history and enduring alliance between the Philippines and the United States.

The awards were given to the families of Edgar Escat Garoza, Fermin Libres Piezas, Rafael Ocampo Resus, Jr., Angel Galan Juanito, Luis Gutierrez, Gilbert Garduno, George Lawrence, Basilio Alvarado Quinitio, and Robert Alexander Pearson.Ěý

Representing the Embassy and on behalf of Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, Deputy Chief of Mission Felipe Cariño, III shared in his remarks, “This recognition is especially meaningful as the Philippines and the United States of America mark 80 years of formal diplomatic relations and 75 years of the PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty. These milestones remind us that the strength of our relationship rests on more than agreements between governments. It has been shaped by shared history, shared sacrifice, mutual commitment, and enduring people-to-people ties between Filipinos, Filipino Americans, and Americans. The service of our veterans stands among the earliest and most powerful chapters of this shared brotherhood, as Filipinos and Americans stood together in defense of freedom and democracy.”

FilVetRep Chairman Major General Antonio Taguba (Ret., U.S. Army) opened his closing remarks by recounting the history of FilVetRep and its efforts to secure the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal. He also underscored the importance of recognizing the contributions of those whose service was not fully reflected in the original roster of honorees, including women and Filipino nurses who served valiantly during World War II. He concluded by congratulating the award recipients and expressing his gratitude to the families for preserving and carrying forward the legacy of their veteran loved ones.

The Congressional Gold Medal is awarded collectively to World War II veterans under Public Law 114-265, recognizing their outstanding wartime achievements and honorable service to the United States during World War II. The Medal stands as a symbol of valor, integrity, and selfless service to the nation.

The event was attended by veterans’ families, community leaders, and members of the Filipino-American community, who together paid tribute to the courage and legacy of the Filipino soldiers who fought alongside U.S. forces during World War II.

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PRESS RELEASE
WDC-66-2026

28 October 2026

Embassy Press and Information Section

info@phembassy-us.org

Ěý

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Washington, DC, in partnership with the Filipino American Cancer Care (FACC), hosted a specialized cooking and nutrition class for members of the Organization of Filipino Private Staff (OFPS) in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area on October 25, 2026. Designed as a practical capacity-building initiative, the training aimed to empower women migrant workers by enhancing their culinary skills and deepening their understanding of healthy nutrition.Ěý

Welcoming the participants, Labor AttachĂ© Saul De Vries highlighted the importance of learning healthy food preparation. “For Filipinos, being able to serve good food is a way of demonstrating love, bringing family and friends together, and welcoming visitors,” he said. He also expressed gratitude to FACC and Chef Evelyn Bunoan for supporting the initiative, noting that the program was developed in alignment with FACC’s advocacy for cancer survivors.Ěý

Welfare Officer Mae Codilla congratulated the OFPS on the unique opportunity to learn directly from a widely acclaimed culinary expert. Chef Evelyn was trained at Le Cordon Bleu in London with Master Chef certificates in French Culinary Arts and Patisserie. She is also the founder of the Cancer Help Eat Well (CHEW) Foundation, a public charity dedicated to educating cancer patients and caregivers on maintaining a healthy diet throughout treatment and recovery.

During the interactive, hands-on session, Chef Evelyn – assisted by her husband, Oscar Bunoan – guided attendees through essential culinary techniques, ranging from ingredient preparation to food presentation. She emphasized the importance of using fresh and natural ingredients and explained how preparing meals without artificial additives helps preserve natural flavors and supports a balanced diet. She further highlighted the role of proper nutrition in overall well-being, particularly for individuals undergoing treatment or recovering from a life-threatening illnesses.

Also present during the workshop were some officers of FACC led by Founder and President Josie Moralidad Ziman who assisted with event operations and provided live entertainment for the participants.

PRESS RELEASE
WDC-65-2026

28 October 2026

Embassy Press and Information Section

info@phembassy-us.org

Ěý

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Deputy Chief of Mission Felipe F. Cariño III met with officials of Organization of the American States (OAS) for a ceremonial handover of the Philippines’ voluntary financial contribution to the “Securing Efforts for a Comprehensive Unified Response to Enhance Stability in Haiti” (SECURE-Haiti) initiative.

“The Philippines remains committed to supporting the efforts of the international community in Haiti, including through the OAS, consistent with our advocacies of peacekeeping and the rule of law. We hope that our contribution will help pave the way for concrete and lasting improvements on the ground,” DCM Cariño said in advance of the meeting.

The SECURE-Haiti initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of the Haitian National Police to confront gangs and gang-related violence. Under this project, the Philippine contribution will support the establishment of a modern tactical police training center, aimed at building the operational readiness of law enforcement to address these challenges.

The Organization of American States is the world’s oldest regional organization, uniting the independent states of the Americas for cooperation under the pillars of democracy, human rights, security, and development.

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PRESS RELEASE
WDC-64-2026

27 October 2026

Embassy Press and Information Section

info@phembassy-us.org

Ěý

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Migrant Workers Office-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (MWO-OWWA) in Washington, D.C. briefed 53 OFW community leaders from the United States and the Caribbean on new programs and digital services of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and OWWA during a virtual Talakayan on October 21, 2026.

Labor AttachĂ© Saul De Vries opened the forum by thanking OFW leaders and volunteers for helping their fellow migrant workers while warning that such assistance should never be used for personal profit. He noted that the opportunity to help should not be used as an opportunity to profit from another person’s difficulty. He urged participants to guard against illegal recruiters, unauthorized fees and online job scams, rely on official sources for information, and promptly report suspected contract violations, abuse or human trafficking.Ěý

De Vries also highlighted the DMW’s continuing digitalization efforts, including online contract verification, aimed at making transactions with MWO more accessible and efficient.Ěý

MWO Administrative Staff Erika Jersey Oliveros, meanwhile, explained the process for obtaining exit clearances – either the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) or an OFW Pass – through the DMW online portal or the eGovPH app. She noted that digital platform streamlines access to government services and stressed the importance of following official registration and account verification procedures for the issuance of OEC and OFW Pass.

Welfare Officer Mae Codilla discussed OWWA’s Workers Assistance Program, outlining the agency’s on-site services for labor disputes and urgent assistance and explaining the documentation and case-reporting requirements for requesting support.

OWWA Administrative Staff Freya Palad provided updates on online membership renewal and the onsite issuance of OWWA eCard. She encouraged the participants to remind their fellow OFWs to keep their OWWA membership active to maintain access to coverage and benefits.Ěý

Dr. Diondy Palagtiw, Officer-in-Charge of OWWA’s Planning and Program Development Division, presented the Lifelong Learning Education Assistance Program for OFWs (LEAP-OFWs). The initiative provides financial support and a pathway for workers to convert overseas employment experience into recognized college degrees through the Commission on Higher Education’s Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (CHED-ETEEAP).

Moderated by Mr. Jo Mari Rifareal, the forum is part of MWO-OWWA WDC’s continuing effort to keep OFWs informed, connected and protected through official government channels.