From the Manila Bulletin (Sep 28): US-Philippine Alliance On Upswing

A senior Pentagon official says the US-Philippine military-to-military relations have reached a new and exciting level while citing the critical role the alliance plays in keeping peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region. “I would say this is one of the most important alliances we have," said Mark W. Lippert, US Department of Defense (DoD) assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security, during a conference on the Philippines hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. “It's a critically important part of our security discussions in Asia. The mil-to-mil relations have been on an upswing over the past decade," said Lippert, adding that “the countries now are poised for a new chapter."

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/375196/usphilippine-alliance-on-upswing