U.S. Embassy News Release
May 22, 2007
U.S. Ambassador Kenney Visits Iloilo, Guimaras:
Focuses on U.S. Programs to Benefit Region
U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney visited Iloilo and Guimaras on May 21 to tour U.S.-sponsored programs, meet U.S. Peace Corps volunteers, and open a U.S. Embassy-sponsored soccer clinic for youth. The U.S. Government has long had many important partnerships and initiatives in Iloilo and Guimaras in areas as widely varied as agriculture, livelihood, and education. During her visit, Ambassador Kenney visited the Nueva Valencia School on Guimaras Island, where a Peace Corps Volunteer teaches environmental education. During her two years at the school, the volunteer created an organic garden, started an Eco Club for students, and taught the community about recycling.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has very active programs in Iloilo and Guimaras to help small farmers improve their livelihood, develop the dairy industry, and conduct research on mangoes. Ambassador Kenney toured the Bureau of Plant and Industry’s National Mango Research Center on Guimaras Island, a laboratory that received a $2 million grant from the USDA to conduct research on pest management. During the visit, they received a briefing about the mango industry and saw some of the research being conducted at the center.
Ambassador Kenney also visited the annual Manggahan Festival with Guimaras Governor J.C. Rahman Nava, where she saw the wide variety of mango and other products from Guimaras that are being sold domestically and exported to the United States. Pictured above are the Ambassador and Governor Nava visiting a booth during the festival.
A U.S. Embassy program brought two American soccer champions – one a Filipino-American – to the Philippines to share their passion for the sport. The two professional female players, who were on the U.S. Women’s National soccer team, represented the U.S. in the Olympics, and won medals in the women’s World Cup games, are hosting clinics in Manila, Iloilo, and Bacolod for youths and coaches in partnership with the Philippine Football Federation. During the Ambassador’s visit to Iloilo, she kicked off the clinic during a short ceremony, and watched the excited youths learn tips and techniques from the experts.
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