 It is my honor to be here for the opening of Balakatan 2023, the 38th iteration of our largest military exercise with our oldest treaty ally in East Asia, the Republic of the Philippines. The United States and the Philippines have been treaty allies for over seven decades. This year's Balakatan will be the biggest ever, an indication of the growth of our alliance and how it continues to evolve to meet our shared goals. Balakatan is the marquee annual event for our alliance and I'm thrilled to be here this morning to mark the opening of this important exercise with you. Our alliance spans beyond the exercise that will start today. In fact, it extends well beyond security. Later today, as our military forces get some rest after their first day of exercising together, Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin will meet their Philippine counterparts, Secretary Manalo and Secretary Galvez in Washington DC for our first defense and foreign affairs two plus two ministerial meeting in over seven years. In Washington, our respective leaders will discuss not just our security alliance, but also other central tenets of our bilateral relationship, including the significant economic partnerships that bring prosperity to both of our nations and the shared history and cultural ties that connect us as friends. The fact that the opening of Balakatan and our two plus two dialogue are happening on the same day, thousands of miles apart, speaks to the strength and significance of the US-Philippine relationship as friends, partners, and allies. It is inspiring to think that US and Filipino service members were shoulder to shoulder on that terrible day 81 years ago and yet that continues today where we see Filipino and American service members again shoulder to shoulder. And I like to think that our grandfathers and grandmothers will think their sacrifice well worth it when they see us all here today continuing to work together as friends, partners, and allies. The United States and the Philippines share a vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific that is more connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient. Each of you standing, each of us standing, shoulder to shoulder, Balakatan, help make this vision a reality. Thank you very much and best wishes for a successful exercise, Muraming Selamat Po. Thank you very much, ma'am. Thank you.