The Public Affairs Section (PAS) is responsible for conducting the U.S. Government’s information and educational and cultural exchange programs. The Press Office monitors Philippine media and coordinates press events for Embassy personnel and visiting USG officials. The Press Office also issues press releases on USG policy and Embassy activities and distributes a wide range of materials describing and explaining USG policy, including the wireless file.
The American Center Manila (formerly Thomas Jefferson Information Center) is a high-tech information resource center. The center features a core reference collection of books, documents, and other print material, as well as videotapes. The staff has access to Internet and a variety of online and CD-ROM databases to retrieve and disseminate electronically up-to-date information from and about the U.S. to Philippine policymakers, journalists, scholars, and business and community leaders.
The International Visitor Program, run by PAS, sends Filipino leaders from many fields to the United States on short visits to confer with counterparts. PAS also runs the Fulbright Program. Both programs are designed to build bridges of mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and the Philippines.
The Regional English Language Office supports public diplomacy outreach through English language teaching and learning programs and materials. Programs in the Philippines include the English Access Microscholarship Program, English Language Fellow Program, English Language Specialist Program, and E-Teacher Scholarship Program. Resource materials are available for teachers and learners including webinars, print and audio books, songs and games, and downloadable online resources including English Language Teaching Forum magazine, a quarterly journal for professionals teaching English as a Foreign or Second Language.
Section officers:
John Groch, Counselor for Public Affairs
Heather Fabrikant, Information Officer
Nina Lewis, Cultural Affairs Officer
Other links:
- American Center Manila (formerly known as Thomas Jefferson Information Center)
- Philippine American Educational Foundation
- International Visitor Leadership Program
- American Historical Collection