Local lawmakers welcome their American counterparts during a cocktail buffet reception Thursday night in Makati City. Pictured (from left) are Senator Francis Escudero, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, US Rep. and Indo-Pacific Subcommittee Chairperson Young Kim, Rep. Randy Barr of Kentucky, Rep. Jonathan Luther Jackson of Illinois, Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco, and Rep. Jasmine Crokett of Texas.