SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday evening (US Time) lauded the Filipinos in the United States for their essential role in revitalizing the Philippine economy.

During his meeting with the Filipino community here, Marcos said that the overseas Filipino workers in the United States "injected" $14.89 billion" into the Philippine economy in cash remittances in 2022, making the United States the Philippines' biggest single source of remittances.

Marcos then recognized the hard work of Overseas Filipinos in the US. He thanked the Filipinos in the US for making a "positive image of the Philippines and of the Filipino people."

"I know that you all came to the United States for many different reasons, mostly economic. You sought greener pastures and a better life for yourselves and your families, but this did not stop you from giving back to your homeland, to the Philippines," Marcos said.

"I cannot help but feel proud of your achievements. Be grateful for all that you do that create a positive image of the Philippines and the Filipino people in America," he added.

There are now more than 4 million Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the US, of which 1.3 million reside in the jurisdiction of the consul general of San Francisco. Out of that figure, around 700,000 Pinoys live and work in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Marcos said Filipinos abroad, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), have an outstanding reputation because of their good traits.
He hailed the Filipino nurses, doctors, first responders, and essential workers in the US who have demonstrated the "timeless Filipino virtues of compassion, companionship, and teamwork," especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.