Ambassador Lipton hosts 250th U.S. Independence Day celebration in Manila

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton and his wife, Erika Lipton, hosted the “Freedom 250” U.S. Independence Day Reception in Manila on July 2.

“It is an honor of a lifetime to be appointed by President Trump to serve my country in Manila.  We’re so excited to be here and elevate the United States’s Alliance with the Philippines to new heights,” Ambassador Lipton said during a toast with Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Leo Herrera-Lim and Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.  “We have an amazing relationship with the Philippines spanning over one-third of the United States’s 250-year history and we’re here to make it even better.”

“Freedom 250” is a yearlong campaign commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.  The campaign celebrates America’s founding principles and the integral role of diplomacy in shaping the United States’ impact on the global stage.

July 4 holds dual significance as it also marks Philippine-American Friendship Day.  The United States and the Philippines have maintained a special partnership rooted in a shared history, mutual economic and security interests, and enduring bonds between Americans and Filipinos.

The evening’s program showcased American and Philippine excellence in music with a performance by the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band, capping its latest tour in the Philippines after a series of public performances and masterclasses in June.  The Department of Foreign Affairs Chorale led the singing of the American and Philippine national anthems.