President Marcos recognized the contributions of Filipinos in the United States of America (USA) as he asked them to continue being ambassadors of goodwill for the country and the people.

Marcos said this as he met members of the Filipino community in Los Angeles, California, on Nov. 18.

In his speech, the President started by saying he appreciates the remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), which rose by 2.2 percent.

"You have helped our country and people weather some of the most difficult global and regional financial and economic crises in years," he said.

"It has been invaluable, and for that, we cannot thank you enough," he added.

Aside from their remittances, Marcos asked them to encourage their families and friends to visit and invest in the Philippines, adding that it is the best time to visit the country.

He said the government had introduced many improvements and innovations, making visiting the country's various tourist sites one of the best experiences, coupled with incomparable Filipino hospitality.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive reiterated his dreams of one day making working overseas just one of many options available to Filipinos. He asked those in the US to continue backing his administration.

"We cannot make this dream come true all by ourselves; we need your support, and we know that you will gladly walk and continue working with us in realizing our goal," he said.

"So, help us realize this dream. Continue being the ambassadors that you have been for our Filipino culture and relentless champions of the Philippines as a tourism, trade, and investment destination in Asia," he added.

President Marcos likewise asked them to proudly claim and celebrate their Filipino identity and heritage and teach them to their children and grandchildren.

Addressing hate crimes

According to Marcos, Filipinos must continue to be ambassadors of goodwill for the country and people despite hate crimes and incidents being committed against some members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Marcos assured them that the Philippine Embassy and Consulates in the United States will continuously monitor these reports and will provide assistance to those affected in cooperation with US authorities.

There are approximately 4.4 million Filipinos in the United States, with the majority residing in Southern California, making this geographic spot in the world the home of the biggest Filipino diaspora in the US and outside the Philippines.

Filipinos frequently rank high in terms of income and educational attainment, based on many US Census statistics, emphasizing their influence both in the US  and the Philippines.