Outgoing US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson has promised to continue championing for both countries' ties as she is leaving a post that has made the alliance become "stronger and more consequential" than ever.

In a farewell statement on Friday, Jan. 16, Carlson remembered how she was persistently asked by all previous US ambassadors in Manila she talked to about her favorite song.

Upon her arrival in Manila, she said people earnestly counseled her to select a song she would be willing to sing in public. There, she realized that Filipino hospitality extended to being very forgiving of one's voice.

"It’s not about how well you sing; it’s about the shared experience that helps build meaningful relationships. In the Philippines, contacts become colleagues; colleagues become friends; and friends become family," she said.

"Building and maintaining trust is essential in every strong relationship. To me, that’s diplomacy: building relationships of trust born of mutual respect to achieve common objectives based on shared values," she added.

Carlson then looked back at the strides that the US and the Philippines made together during her stint.

Just in 2025, the US committed more than $313 million in foreign assistance to the Philippines to stop the spread of diseases, promote maternal and child health, counter illegal fishing, foster energy security, and promote economic development.

On the military and security front, she said, "Our ironclad alliance is stronger than ever, ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific."

"We increased the complexity and size of our premier annual exercise, Balikatan, and established Task Force Philippines to facilitate comprehensive, archipelagic defense and disaster response coordination," she said.

Both countries also engaged in more than 500 security-related activities and exercises in each of the last three years, which had enhanced joint interoperability and readiness to deter emerging threats.

"The United States introduced targeted maritime assistance programs, promoting freedom of navigation and countering coercion in the West Philippine Sea. And we stood together to save lives with military airlifts that delivered family food packs and emergency supplies to Filipinos throughout the country," she noted.

Getting back to the question raised to her about a song, Carlson said, she had sung Louis Armstrong's "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" many times.

But as she departs the country, the quintessential Filipino holiday tune "Kumukutikutitap" by Ryan Cayabyab is the song she said she will take in her heart.

"[That] along with fond memories of sparkling parols, friends and family, and the sheer joy that accompanies the longest Christmas season in the world," she added.