In the spirit of Filipino American History Month, the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Virginia (FACCVA) and the Hampton Roads Alliance brought together leaders from the Philippines and Virginia in Hampton Roads for a unique Philippine Trade Mission on October 23-24, 2024. This two-day event highlighted the Virginia Philippines Economic and Security Partnership Forum, aimed at building bridges of economic and security cooperation between the two regions.
Hampton Roads, home to one of the most vibrant Filipino communities on the East Coast, welcomed distinguished guests, including Brigadier General Roy Anthony O. Derilo, Army Attaché; Kenneth Yap, Commercial Counsellor of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center; Julius Doruelo, Trade and Investment Analyst from the Philippine Trade and Investment Center; and Captain James Francis P. Lugtu PN (GSC), alongside representatives from the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry. These dignitaries met with local officials and business leaders to discuss expanding trade, investment, and security collaboration.
“We are honored to have hosted this trade mission and to have welcomed such distinguished guests from the Philippines,” shared Angelo Reyes, President of FACCVA. “This is the first time the Philippine Embassy has visited Richmond and the Hampton Roads business community, underscoring our commitment to fostering relationships that support economic growth and shared security goals for both regions.”
One of the mission’s firsts included representatives from the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., meeting Virginia officials in the state capital, Richmond. The delegation held pivotal discussions with Virginia Commerce and Trade representatives, including Deputy Secretary Wyatt Toehlke, and Secretary Craig Crenshaw, Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, and Secretary Kelly Gee. A highlight of the gathering was the presentation of a Filipino American History Month Proclamation, honoring the contributions of Virginia’s Filipino American community.
The delegation then headed to Hampton Roads, where further connections developed. Meetings with Norfolk City Mayor Kenneth Alexander opened discussions about expanding the Sister City relationship with Cagayan de Oro (CDO) into a more substantial economic partnership. Chesapeake’s Deputy City Manager Brian Solis also met with the delegation to discuss establishing a new Sister City partnership with Chesapeake, Virginia.
Doug Smith, President and CEO of the Hampton Roads Alliance, emphasized the significance of these dialogues: “The Alliance is proud to play a role in fostering these valuable economic and security partnerships. This mission represents an exciting step toward building stronger economic and security alliances that will benefit both regions, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen these ties in the future.”
In addition to diplomatic and economic discussions, the mission provided insights into the security dynamics of the Philippines and the South China Sea, with General Derilo offering a unique perspective. Talks also spanned trade and investment in infrastructure, technology, and defense.
To further amplify these efforts, Angelo Reyes and FACCVA have partnered as a promotional partner with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), marking initial steps toward bringing PEZA to Virginia and laying the groundwork for future investment opportunities.
The trade mission’s success during Filipino American History Month emphasized the cooperative spirit shared by the Philippines and the United States, highlighting a mutual commitment to economic and security collaboration.
