Zambo mayor, doctor in U.S. commemorative book

PRAISES CONTINUE to pour in for Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco who is among the 50 Filipinos exchange alumni of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) featured in a commemorative book “Faces of Exchange” launched recently by the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines in celebration of the IVLP’s 80th year.

Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco and Zamboangueño veterinarian physician Anton Mari Lim are both featured on the commemorative book "Faces of Exchange" recently launched by the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines. (Zamboanga Post)

Climaco thanked the U.S government for recognizing her efforts and being included in the book. She also lauded Washington’s continued support in various programs and projects through the U.S. States Agency for International Development and the U.S. Embassy in Manila.  “Thank you so much for this (recognition) and we value so much (the) magnanimous support and assistance of the U.S. government to Zamboanga and our people,” she said.

Another Zamboangueño, veterinarian physician Anton Mari Lim, is also included in the list. 

The IVLP is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Through short-term visits to the U.S., current and emerging foreign leaders in various fields of experience the U.S. firsthand and cultivate lasting relationships with their counterparts. 

And throughout the program’s 80-year history, more than 225,000 people have participated in the IVLP, each with a story to tell. The “Faces of Exchange” features the Filipino alumni who promote rights, nurture communities, and redefine service. 

Each story narrates how the IVLP alumni, and their exchange experiences, help shape the Philippines by capitalizing on their knowledge and skills, these alumni promote rights by ensuring justice, equality, freedom, and representation; and are committed to improving quality of life, these alumni devote their lives and work tom help shape and nurture communities into inclusive, sensitive, and empowered institutions and dedicated to improving their communities, these alumni redefine service by expanding access, creating solutions, and introducing innovations.

The U.S. government exchanges in the Philippines started in 1948 with the launch of the Fulbright program.  Today, approximately 300 Filipinos participate in U.S. government exchanges annually.  There are currently more than 9,000 Filipinos and Americans who are alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchanges between the Philippines and the United States.  

These alumni include youth, mid-career professionals, and senior officials who represent all sectors from both countries.  The connections forged between Filipinos and Americans through these exchange programs have helped build mutual understanding and strengthened a robust bilateral relationship.  Upon their return, exchange program alumni have contributed to the development of the Philippines and continued to connect and work with alumni from around the globe.

As part of the U.S. Department of State’s commitment to this “global community,” alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs are invited to join the exclusive global network, State Alumni.  Alumni leverage the community to stay in touch with fellow alumni and with the U.S. Embassy in Manila, so that their exchange experience continues when they return home.

Another unique attribute of U.S. exchange alumni in the Philippines is the dynamism of the Filipino exchange alumni associations.  Through 30 alumni associations, alumni actively leverage their exchange experiences to develop programs and projects to address some of the Philippines’ most pressing needs and our shared goals.  

These include improving the quality of education, promoting inclusive economic development, advancing rule of law, promoting peace and security, and enhancing environmental resource management.  Exchange alumni may engage in these projects by getting in touch with their respective associations. Last year, the U.S. exchange alumni associations generated 158 projects that engaged more than 3,800 people. (Zamboanga Post)