President Marcos thanked United States Ambassador MaryKay Carlson for her service as she paid a farewell call at Malacañang on Thursday, Jan. 29, citing her role in strengthening the Philippines–United States alliance during her more than three-year posting.

In a Facebook post after the courtesy call, Marcos said the Philippines “expresses its appreciation to Ambassador MaryKay Carlson for her service and contributions to strengthening the Philippines–United States alliance.”

“As she concludes her tenure, we wish her every success and look forward to continuing our close cooperation with the United States,” he added.

Earlier, Carlson said she would continue to advocate for closer ties between Manila and Washington even after stepping down as envoy.

“I’ll always be a champion for ever-stronger US-PH relations — as my vocation even if not as my profession,” Carlson said in a Jan. 19 post on X.

In a longer farewell statement released by the US Embassy on Jan. 16, the envoy said the relationship between the two countries “has never been stronger or more consequential.”

“The US-Philippines relationship as friends, partners, and allies has never been stronger or more consequential,” she said, citing a recent poll showing that 82 percent of Filipinos trust the United States as their premier security partner.

Carlson said her posting underscored the importance of trust, shared values, and people-to-people ties in diplomacy, describing the Philippines as a place “where contacts become colleagues; colleagues become friends; and friends become family.”

“To me, that’s diplomacy: building relationships of trust born of mutual respect to achieve common objectives based on shared values,” she said.

She also pointed to deep cultural links between Filipinos and Americans, from a shared love of basketball to food, and noted the continued presence of more than 170 Peace Corps volunteers across the country.

Carlson said cooperation accelerated “on hyperdrive” in recent years, with expanded trade and investment engagement, including the launch of the Luzon Economic Corridor in partnership with Japan.

She said the United States committed more than $313 million in foreign assistance to the Philippines in 2025 alone, supporting health, food security, energy security, and economic development.

On defense and security, Carlson said the alliance was reinforced through expanded Balikatan exercises, the establishment of Task Force Philippines, and more than 500 joint security activities annually over the past three years.

“Our ironclad Alliance is stronger than ever, ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” she said, adding that Washington also provided maritime assistance to counter coercion in the West Philippine Sea and supported disaster response efforts.

Carlson noted that 2026 will mark several milestones for both countries, including 80 years of diplomatic relations, the 75th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty, and the 10th anniversary of the arbitral ruling upholding Philippine maritime claims.

“While I will no longer be in the U.S. Ambassador’s chair, I’ll continue to champion US-Philippines ties,” she said.

Calling her assignment the highlight of her four-decade diplomatic career, Carlson ended her statement with thanks to Filipinos.

“Serving as the US Ambassador to the Philippines has been an honor,” she said.

“Maraming, maraming salamat at hanggang sa muli (Thank you very much and until the next time),” she added.