At Meta’s Silicon Valley headquarters (from left): Senior Trade Commissioner Celynne Layug; Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona; Consul General Neil Ferrer; Meta Director of Public Policy Molly Montgomery; and Economic Assistant for the Consulate Jennifer Sto. Domingo.
San Francisco PCG photos

MENLO PARK – Consul General Neil Ferrer met with executives of Facebook’s parent company Meta at its Silicon Valley headquarters in Menlo Park, California on May 15, 2024, as part of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco’s economic and tech diplomacy work in Silicon Valley.

Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona trying on the Meta Quest 3 with Mariah Terhaar, Executive Assistant to the Meta Vice President for International Policy.

Meta’s Director of Public Policy Molly Montgomery, and Executive Assistant to the Vice President for International Policy Mariah Terhaar welcomed Consul General Ferrer, Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona, Senior Trade Commissioner Celynne Layug, and Economic Assistant Jennifer Sto. Domingo to their headquarters.

Molly Montgomery, Meta Director of Public Policy, gives Consul General Neil Ferrer a tour of the Meta headquarters in Menlo Park, California.

Consulate officials also had the opportunity to remotely meet with Clare Amador, Meta’s Public Policy Head for the Philippines and Thailand, to know more about the tech company’s engagements with the Philippines.

Montgomery introduced Meta’s vision for the Metaverse, a set of interconnected virtual experiences that has the potential to revolutionize social connection, work, and entertainment.

Consul General Neil Ferrer trying on the Meta Ray-Ban.

Consulate officials also tried Meta’s technologies, including the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Ray-Ban.

Amador presented on Meta Philippines’ ongoing collaborations and investments in the Philippines. Collaborations include promoting digital safety, empowering small and medium enterprises through online tools and training, and supporting overseas Filipino workers. Meta is investing in the international submarine cable system that will connect the Philippines and the United States.

The Philippines has a remarkably high social media penetration rate. Over 87 million Filipinos actively use Meta platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp for communication, entertainment, and business. This widespread adoption highlights the significant role social media plays in the Philippines’ digital economy and entrepreneurial landscape.

(PCGSF Release)