Albay Gov. Grex Lagman welcomes US officials to the province, recalls his family’s ties with America 

Albay Gov. Grex Lagman had special guests when he hosted the Governor’s Night to showcase the beauty, power, and resilience of Albay culture.

Among the guess at the event were representatives from the US Embassy in the Philippines, namely John Groch, Public Affairs Counselor; Jennifer Goldstein, Deputy Cultural Attache; Eren Joy Bautista, Public Engagement Specialist; and Ma. Monina Valdez, Experential Learning Coordinator at the Public Affairs Section with YSEALI alumni.

Lagman said the officials shared learning opportunities in the United States for the youth of Albay.

He also recalled that his later mother Cielo Burce-Lagman aand his aunt Isa Corcoran had both won scholarships as American Field Scholars (AFS) in the 1960s.

Both had competed a year in high school in the US under the AFS program before returning to the Philippines for college.

Looks like the Albay leader will have closer ties with the US!

“Happy and honored to host the Governor’s Night complete with a Cultural Presentation showcasing the beauty resilience and power of Albay Bicolano culture.

Thanks, PA Sheina Onrubia-Dela Cruz, VG Glenda Ong Bongao, Board Member Dante Arandia, BM Atty. Melissa Arias Abadeza, BM Jacem Palmiano, BM Vic Ziga Jr., Coun. Carol Ziga-So and PGA Department Heads for sharing this night with me. Special thanks to PTCAO’s Dorothy Fernandez Colle and staff and PPDO’s Yob Onrubia!

I welcomed the representatives from the US Embassy in the Philippines: Mr. John Groch-Public Affairs Counselor, Ms. Jennifer Goldstein-Deputy Cultural Attache, Ms. Eren Joy Bautista-Public Engagement Specialist and Ma. Monina Valdez Experential Learning Coordinator at the Public Affairs Section with YSEALI alumni. These officials shared learning opportunities in the United States for the youth of Albay.

Would just like to say that my late mother Ma. Cielo Burce-Lagman and her younger sister (my aunt and baptismal godmom) auntie Isa Corcoran both applied and won scholarships as American Field Scholars (AFS) in the 1960s. Mama was an exchange student and studied for a year in Conrad High School in Wilmington, Delaware after graduating as salutatorian in Tabaco High School. Both of them then studied in UP for their college education after finishing a year in high school in the US under this AFS program,” Lagman posted.