MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City government recently renewed its sister city agreement with the government of Guam in a signing ceremony held at the Guam government House on July 12, the Philippine Consulate General in Agana reported.
Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and Guam Gov. Eddie Baza Calvo signed the memorandum of agreement that reaffirms the close relations between the two local governments.
In 2000, then governor Carl Gutierrez signed a similar agreement with then Quezon City mayor Ismael Mathay, Jr.
In his brief statement before the signing, Calvo underscored the close friendship between the people of Guam and of the Philippines and the fact that Filipinos helped rebuild the island after World War II.
He said his ancestors went to the Philippines and settled in Ermita and only came back to Guam after his father’s great-grandfather died there.
He also mentioned that his wife traces her roots to Ilocos Norte.
Aside from having ties with the Philippines, Calvo also mentioned that a lot of Guamanians now are going to the Philippines for medical treatment, particularly at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City.
Belmonte thanked Calvo for the opportunity to renew Quezon City’s ties with Guam.
She also said the city government is willing to explore more ways to further promote Philippine medical tourism in Guam and to assist in improving the medical services being availed of in the Philippines by Guam’s residents.