Honolulu’s mayor is in the Philippines to promote the city and encourage investment, tourism and cultural exchanges.

Mayor Peter Carlisle will be in the country today to Wednesday. He returns to Honolulu on Thursday.

He says Honolulu’s historic, cultural and family ties with the Philippines are deep and strong. The event is sponsored by the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.

Carlisle will meet with officials and business leaders in Honolulu’s sister cities of Baguio, Cebu, Laoag, Manila and Vigan. He will also attend meetings in Badoc and Pasuquin. In Manila, he’ll meet with U.S. Ambassador Harry Thomas and tour the city’s rail transit system.