EMBASSY MANILA TO REACH OUT TO LOCAL HIGH-SCHOOLERS DURING

UNCLAS MANILA 004716 SIPDIS STATE FOR ECA/A/S; EAP/PD AGRIMES, DFIRESTEIN; EAP/MTS NDEAN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL RP SUBJECT: EMBASSY MANILA TO REACH OUT TO LOCAL HIGH-SCHOOLERS DURING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK REF: STATE 0183414 ¶1. International Education Week in Manila will kick off with a series of visits by Embassy officers to 15 local public and private high schools. Coming from diverse educational and occupational backgrounds, the officers will give presentations that provide Filipino students (and teachers) with a fresh perspective on the U.S. system of higher education. While a significant number of Filipinos choose to study in the U.S., we need to counter the perception that post-9/11 security measures have made securing a student visa difficult and onerous. Thus, the core message of the school visits will be the message encapsulated in the Bureau of Consular Affairs tagline, "Destination USA: Secure Borders, Open Doors." ¶2. As a capstone to the week-long series of outreach visits, Post will host the members of the student governments from these 15 secondary schools at the Embassy. The student leaders will meet with senior Embassy staff, tour the historic grounds, receive a Study USA briefing by the U.S.-Philippine Fulbright Commission's educational advisor, and learn more about the informational and educational resources available through the Embassy's Information Resource Center. KENNEY