Marilyn Cahatol

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson, speaks during the formal turn over of the Specialized Education and Technical Building to the PCG with Field Training Center of Excellence, at the DOTC Road, Barangay Santol, Balagtas, Bulacan on September 11, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Zen Hernandez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176853417050820230911-pcg-technical-school-turn-over-JC-17.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson, speaks during the formal turn over of the Specialized Education and Technical Building to the PCG with Field Training Center of Excellence, at the DOTC Road, Barangay Santol, Balagtas, Bulacan on September 11, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson bid her farewell to her post, saying the US&#x27; relationship with the Philippines during her time “has never been stronger or more consequential.&quot;</p><p>“Serving as the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines has been an honor – the highlight of my forty-year career. Maraming, maraming salamat at hanggang sa muli,” Carlson said in a statement.</p><p>“The U.S.-Philippines relationship as friends, partners, and allies has never been stronger or more consequential,” she said.</p><p>US President Donald Trump nominated former businessman <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/10/9/trump-nominates-new-us-envoy-to-philippines-0839">Lee Lipton </a>as Carlson’s replacement.</p><p>Carlson said that under her watch as an ambassador, &quot;the two countries have worked together – &#x27;on hyperdrive&#x27; – to achieve progress in trade and economic cooperation, bolstering our shared prosperity.&quot;</p><p>She cited US&#x27; trade missions and the launching of the Luzon Economic Corridor in collaboration with Japan &quot;driving infrastructure development, job creation, and sustainable growth.&quot;</p><p>US committed more than $313 million in foreign assistance to the Philippines in 2025, she said. </p><p>She added that US engaged in at least 500 security-related activities in the last three years, including a series of annual exercises and Balikatan, and established Task Force Philippines “to facilitate comprehensive, archipelagic defense and disaster response coordination.”</p><p>She said US’ also provided funding and technology transfers to the Philippine Armed Forces and Coast Guard support for defense modernization.</p><p>Carlson said &quot;the United States introduced targeted maritime assistance programs, promoting freedom of navigation and countering coercion in the West Philippine Sea.&quot; </p><p>The US official had been vocal about her stand against China&#x27;s aggression against the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea during her time.</p><p>&quot;And we stood together to save lives with military airlifts that delivered family food packs and emergency supplies to Filipinos throughout the country,&quot; she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/16/missing-sabungeros-kin-to-atong-ang-face-arrest-defend-yourself-in-court-1034">US envoy condemns China Coast Guard harassment vs Filipino fishermen at Sabina Shoal</a></div><p>Carlson said she is “confident that our hard-working embassy teams and vast network of American and Filipino friends, partners, and allies will continue to build relationships of trust that benefit our nations.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rx5TFuze65E?si=H3uOdpdJKTTnfm4W" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson bid her farewell from the position, saying the giant country’s relationship with the Philippines during her time “has never been stronger or more consequential."</p>

United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson bid her farewell from the position, saying the giant country’s relationship with the Philippines during her time “has never been stronger or more consequential."

‘Serving has been an honor’: US Ambassador Carlson bids farewell to PH post

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‘Serving has been an honor’: US Ambassador Carlson bids farewell to PH post

Marilyn Cahatol,

Zen Hernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 16, 2026 11:51 AM PHT

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MaryKay Loss Carlson

US Ambassador

United States

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