For most Filipinos, the West means the United States. Despite recent news headlines, the time is ripe for the Philippines to look farther West and reconnect with Europe. The European Union has become the second-biggest trading partner of the Asean or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but the Philippines has been slow to capitalize on that.
Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd (left, standing) receives a token of appreciation from European Union (EU) Delegation Head, H.E. Ambassador Franz Jessen, during the dinner meeting for the members of the European Union delegation hosted by the DOLE Secretary at the Bayleaf Hotel in Intramuros, Manila. FILE PHOTO