Outgoing US envoy says ‘Kumukutikutitap’ stays in her heart

January 17, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Outgoing United States Ambassador MaryKay Carlson is leaving her post in Manila with “Kumukutikutitap,” written by a national artist, as the song that will stay in her heart along with all the memories she has of the Filipino people.

In a farewell message yesterday, she said she will also miss many things including Filipino food and festivities and how Philippine-US relations continued to grow stronger in the past years.

“So, what’s my song? Over the last three-plus years, I sang Louis Armstrong’s ‘A Kiss to Build a Dream On’ many times (because it’s short and has a long instrumental interlude!),” she said.

“But as I depart the Philippines, the quintessential Filipino holiday tune ‘Kumukutikutitap’ by Ryan Cayabyab is the song I take in my heart – along with fond memories of sparkling parols, friends and family, and the sheer joy that accompanies the longest Christmas season in the world,” she added.

Carlson noted that serving as the US ambassador to the Philippines “has been an honor – the highlight of my 40-year career. Maraming, maraming salamat at hanggang sa muli.”

According to her, before she arrived in Manila in 2022, she spoke with every living former US ambassador to the Philippines and numerous others who all told her “of the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people; the importance of our shared history and values; and the rewarding and consequential work we do together as allies and partners.”

“I received great advice, but was surprised by one persistent question: What’s your song?” she said as people “earnestly counseled me to select a song I would be willing to sing in public.”

“But I had never sung karaoke! Thankfully, I quickly learned that renowned Filipino hospitality extends to being very forgiving of one’s vocal range,” Carlson said.

“It’s not about how well you sing; it’s about the shared experience that helps build meaningful relationships. In the Philippines, contacts become colleagues; colleagues become friends; and friends become family.”

As she ends her tenure as ambassador, she said she will also miss the fresh mangoes and lumpia and how she saw the US and Philippines’ shared obsession with basketball.

She emphasized that building and maintaining trust is essential in every strong relationship and to her, diplomacy is “building relationships of trust born of mutual respect to achieve common objectives based on shared values.”

“The US-Philippines relationship as friends, partners, and allies has never been stronger or more consequential.”