Philippine first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos joined U.S. first lady Melania Trump and spouses of other world leaders at a luncheon focused on children’s education, technology and online safety during the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Araneta-Marcos attended the “Fostering the Future Together” luncheon Tuesday at the St. Regis New York. The initiative seeks to expand children’s access to education and technology while promoting protections from online harms.
In a social media post, Araneta-Marcos said the gathering reflected a shared goal of helping children “learn, grow and thrive” while staying safe in an increasingly digital world. She said the issue is particularly important for Filipino children facing harmful content and other online risks.
The initiative, launched by Melania Trump during last year’s U.N. General Assembly, focuses on digital literacy, education technology, artificial intelligence in education and online safety. The White House said the coalition includes 57 member countries.
Araneta-Marcos also attended a Sept. 21 luncheon at U.N. headquarters, “School Meals for the Future: Leaders Accelerating Progress,” organized by the World Food Programme and the Rockefeller Foundation.
She said the discussion brought together leaders and advocates working to strengthen school-meal programs and improve children’s nutrition. Araneta-Marcos linked the conversation to the Philippines’ Walang Gutom program, which aims to improve food access for vulnerable households.
“A school meal is never just lunch,” she wrote in a social media post. “When we nourish a child, we also nourish their dreams.”
During the visit, Araneta-Marcos also met with Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, business leader Loida Lewis and Maja Olivares-Co, according to her social media posts. She shared photographs from a Central Park jog and from her flight from Manila, where she said she greeted Filipino travelers and airline crew members.
Her New York visit coincided with the U.N. General Assembly’s high-level week. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro is leading the Philippine delegation to the meetings, which run through Sept. 27. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delegated the U.N. engagements to Lazaro to focus on domestic matters, according to the Presidential Communications Office.
Lazaro’s meetings have included discussions on artificial intelligence, climate finance, migration, biodiversity and maritime security. She also met with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who recognized the Philippines’ continuing engagement with the United Nations and support for multilateral cooperation.
