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Pia Lee Brago - The Philippine Star
February 7, 2026 | 12:00am
Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez and US embassy Chargé d’Affaires Robert Ewing launch the logo marking the 80th anniversary of US-Philippine diplomatic rela-tions at the SM Mall of Asia Globe in Pasay City on Feb. 5.
US Embassy photo
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States have launched a new logo marking and celebrating 80 years of diplomatic relations.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez and US embassy Chargé d’Affaires Robert Ewing unveiled the logo on Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Globe in Pasay City, kicking off a yearlong campaign “to celebrate the unwavering ties between the United States and the Philippines as friends, partners and allies.”
“Eighty years ago, our two nations formalized a partnership rooted in shared values, mutual respect and a deep commitment to democracy and freedom. We are proud of what we have accomplished side by side – balikatan – from standing shoulder-to-shoulder in times of conflict, to advancing economic growth, to joining forces on health, education and disaster response priorities,” Ewing said at the launch of the commemorative logo.
“This logo represents a living partnership that has evolved with time and has grown, adapted and deepened,” Romualdez, for his part, said.
“What makes the Philippines-United States relationship truly special is that it is not only anchored on treaties and institutions. It is anchored in people. In many ways, we are not just allies – we are family,” he added.
In a joint statement, they said the United States and the Philippines established diplomatic relations on July 4, 1946 with people-to-people ties being the bedrock of the relationship.
Board of Peace
US President Donald Trump has invited the Philippines to join a new international body known as the Board of Peace tasked with overseeing the postwar management of Gaza.
Romualdez said Thursday that Trump sent a personal letter to President Marcos inviting him to be a member of the board with a mandate limited to Gaza until the end of 2027.
The Board of Peace was formally launched in January, following a November vote by the United Nations Security Council through Resolution 2803 that welcomed a US-brokered, 20-point framework to end the war in Gaza.
“We will study it – what kind of commitment it will require from us – before we make a decision,” Romualdez told “Storycon” on One News yesterday.
The ambassador confirmed that the Philippines will not be able to afford the $1-billion “voluntary” fee to be a permanent member of the board, but noted that the country may provide construction workers and health care personnel.
‘Reject Trump’s invite’
The Makabayan bloc urged the government to reject the invitation to join Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza.
“This initiative is not about peace, it is a mechanism to legitimize US occupation of Gaza, enable profiteering from reconstruction and bypass the United Nations in favor of a US-dominated framework that serves imperialist interests,” ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Louise Co and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Jane Elago said in a joint statement.
Tinio, Co and Elago said that Trump’s Board of Peace is a scheme to profit from the destruction that US bombs and US-backed Israeli aggression have inflicted on Gaza.
They said the composition of the board’s executive committee exposes its true nature, particularly citing Tony Blair, whose role in the illegal invasion of Iraq resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law representing family business interests.
“These are not peacemakers – they are profiteers and architects of imperialist wars,” Makabayan said. — Josiah Antonio, Janvic Mateo, Jose Rodel Clapano
