Photos: Celebrating Former President Duterte's 80th Birthday at Times Square in New York

On March 27, Thursday, supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte gathered at Times Square in New York to celebrate his 80th birthday. According to Jo, a co-organizer of the event about 300 people attended the event. Ex-president Duterte is now in the custody of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands he recently faced a pre-trial chamber at the ICC, suspected of the crime against humanity of murder, allegedly committed in the Philippines. Former president Duterte is scheduled for a confirmation of charges hearing on September 23, 2025. During the celebration supporters demanded that Mr Duterte be allowed to return to the Philippines.

Photos from SDS New York Facebook Page.

US Stands with the Philippines to Achieve Peace, Economic Prosperity

On Friday, March 28, United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reaffirmed his country’s commitment to its alliance with the Philippines and the economic partnership between the two countries.

Hegseth said he talked to US President Donald Trump before the courtesy call in Malacañang.

“He (Trump) and I both want to express the ironclad commitment we have to the Mutual Defense Treaty and the partnership – economically, militarily,” Hegseth told President Marcos, referring to the partnerships between the US and the Philippines in the economic sector and the military.

For his part, President Marcos said Hegseth’s visit to the Philippines strongly affirms the US government’s commitment to strengthening ties between the two nations and maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific region.

During the courtesy call, Hegseth also told the President the “very real reason why our first trip and our first visit is here to visit you in your great country.”

“Because as we’ve talked about, ‘peace through strength’ is a very real thing. Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country, considering the threats from the communist Chinese,” Hegseth said.

“Friends need to stand shoulder-to-shoulder to deter conflict, to ensure that there’s free navigation. Whether you call it the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea, we recognize that your country has stood very firm in that location and defense of your nation,” he added.

“Your visit to the region and especially the fact that you have come to the Philippines as your first stop is very strong indication and sends a very strong message of the commitment of both our countries to continue to work together to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific region, within the South China Sea,” the President Marcos told Hegseth.

Hegseth assured President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that the US continues to recognize the Philippines’ firm stance in the South China Sea and its efforts to defend its sovereignty.

The President led the Cabinet officials in welcoming Hegseth. Present during the courtesy call included Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año.

Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr., Presidential Communications Office Secretary Jaybee C. Ruiz, and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. were also present.

US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carlson and other US officials joined Hegseth during the event.

During the event, President Marcos stressed the deep, century-long relationship between the Philippines and the US.

He said the US is a treaty ally and a key force for peace in the Indo-Pacific region.

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Philippine Embassy Conducts First Consular Outreach Mission for 2025 in Miami, Florida

The Philippine Embassy team, led by Consul General Donna Rodriguez (center), together with VFS Global executives and Filipino Community volunteers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. conducted its first consular outreach mission for 2025 in Miami, Florida, from 21 to 24 March 2025.

Consul General Donna Rodriguez administers the oath of allegiance during the Embassy’s consular outreach mission in Miami, Florida, on 24 March 2025.

The Embassy’s team, led by Consul General Donna Rodriguez, provided essential consular services, including the processing of 153 passport applications and 14 notarial and other services. Consul General Rodriguez also administered the Oath of Allegiance to 71 successful dual citizenship applicants. 

The Embassy’s consular team capture the biometrics of senior Filipino passport applicants.

The outreach mission is an integral part of the Embassy’s consular services for Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in US states under its jurisdiction. Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez has emphasized the Philippine government’s commitment to protecting and promoting the welfare of Filipino nationals, and the provision of much-needed consular services significantly contributes to the achievement of this goal. 

The outreach was held in partnership with VFS Global, an outsourcing company for visa, passport, and other consular services. VFS Global hosted the mission at their Global Miami Visa Center at 2655 S Le Jeune Rd PH 1-A, Miami, FL 33134. It is an initiative to explore possible areas of cooperation between the Embassy and VFS Global to facilitate the provision of more efficient and effective consular services for Filipino nationals under the Embassy’s jurisdiction. 

For more information on consular services and upcoming outreach missions, please visit the Embassy’s website www.philippineembassy-dc.org.

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