US embassy road show in MOA kicks off Mar 1

MANILA – The US Embassy in Manila is promising a one-stop shop of information and entertainment during a two-day roadshow in Pasay City.

"We want to bring the embassy to the people. We go to malls all around the Philippines and we bring our embassy officials and we have great performances and presentations on all kinds of programs and services that we offer and everything is for free," said Elizabeth Meza, Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer of the embassy.

Dubbed as "America in 3D: A Roadshow in Diplomacy, Development, and Defense", the event will happen on March 1 and 2 at the Mall of Asia.

"It's our signature outreach. We take the embassy on the road. We recognize that it kind of look like a fortress behind this big wall, and most people may associate the embassy maybe once or every 10 years when they apply for a visa. And we are so much more than that," said Meza.

The embassy will set up booths and a main stage and will play host to a variety of performances featuring local artists like Jed Madela, Luke Mijares, Razorback and the Flippin SOUL Stompers among others.

"On top of that, we have great interactive presentations about visas and how to study in the United States, and other programs of interests. We'll have interaction points where embassy officials will be on hand to just talk to people and have conversations," Meza said.

They will also have activities for children, a car show, a cooking demo, and Chalk Art Festival. They will also introduce something new to the roadshow like the green screen photo booth.

"I think what's interesting is our green screen photobooth so groups could come and take a picture in front of a green screen and then we'll put it on our Facebook page within behind an iconic US landmark," she said.

Another extra something for the event is "Uncle Sam" and "Lady Liberty" wandering around the mall as part of the embassy's Instagram program.

Meza said part of the roadshow is to also highlight the current city hosting the event.

"We try and improve and we also try and highlight the city that we're in. Because we're in Pasay City, this time in Mall of Asia, we've invited some local performance from the city so people will kind of have the chance to experience a little bit of what the Philippines has to offer and what the local city has to offer," she said. With ANC

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

US embassy closed on June 12

MANILA, Philippines - The United States embassy in Manila and its affiliated offices will be closed to the public on Wednesday (June 12) as the Philippines observes Independence Day.

US Secretary of State John Kerry sent his congratulations to the Filipinos on the 115th anniversary of the Philippine independence.
  
"The United States is proud of our rich history and enduring alliance with the Philippines, an important democracy and strategic partner in the dynamic Asia-Pacific region," he said.

"Today, our two countries enjoy ever-broadening cooperation on challenges from countering extremism to strengthening economic ties. Through our Partnership for Growth, we can help sustain the Philippines impressive economic growth and our joint efforts in the Open Government Partnership are advancing good governance, accountability, and vibrant civil societies."

The Embassy and its affiliated offices will resume their services on Thursday (June 13).

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

US embassy closed on Thursday

MANILA, Philippines – The United States Embassy in Manila will be closed to the public on Thursday (November 22) in observance of Thanksgiving holiday.

Its affiliated offices will also be closed due to the American holiday.

The embassy and its affiliated offices will resume operations on Friday (November 23).

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in the United States annually on the fourth Thursday of November.

Thanksgiving Day marks the beginning of the US “holiday season,” which ends after News Year's Day.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

US Embassy closed on June 12

MANILA, Philippines - The Embassy of the United States in Manila will temporarily close this coming Tuesday, June 12.

An announcement on the embassy's website <http://manila.usembassy.gov/phlindependenceday.html> said the embassy and all its affiliated offices will temporarily be closed to the public in observance of Philippine Independence Day, which is a national holiday.

Regular offices will resume at the US embassy the next day, June 13, Wednesday.

source: interaksyon.com

American fugitives deported

MANILA, Philippines -- Two Americans wanted for crimes in their country were deported Friday night.

Alexander Theodore Bean, wanted by the US District court of Montana for conspiracy to distribute heroin and possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and Russel Ree Henricks, wanted by the Court State of Alaska for attempted sexual abuse of minor, were escorted by immigration agents on Philippine Airlines flight PR102 for Los Angeles where they will be turned over to American authorities.

They were seen off by staff of the US embassy in Manila.

They took the same flight as celebrities Aga Muhlach, Ruffa gutierrez and Charisse Pempengco.

Both fugitives had been overstaying in the country, Bean arriving on September 10, 2011 and Henricks on August 1, 2011.

The US embassy had requested the help of the Department of Justice, through the Bureau of Immigration, to find and apprehend the fugitives after their passports were revoked.

source: interaksyon.com

Black Eyed Peas' apl.de.ap named US Embassy adviser

Filipino-American singer-rapper Allan Pineda, a.k.a. apl.de.ap of the American alternative hip hop group "Black Eyed Peas," was named an informal advisor to the US Embassy in Manila.

US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. named Pineda an advisor following the group's concert Tuesday night in Pasay City.

"Ambassador Thomas spoke at the Black Eyed Peas concert last night at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds. He has named Apl.de.ap (who is Filipino-American) an informal advisor to the Embassy," the embassy said in an entry on its Facebook account Wednesday.

Earlier, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III personally thanked Pineda for his efforts to improve the state of education in the Philippines by helping in the building of more classrooms in the country.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino talked to Pineda on Monday at a dinner hosted by Aquino's cousin Rafael Lopa.

Pineda was born in Angeles City, Pampanga to a Filipino mother and an African American father. At age 14, he was adopted by an American family.

Later as an eight-grader, he met William Adams (will.i.am) and the two of them began rapping and performing together around Los Angeles.

The Black Eyed Peas released their first album in 1998. The group has already received several Grammy Awards and has sold around 60 million albums worldwide. - VVP, GMA News

Source: gmanews.tv