Palo, Leyte, Philippines

Palo, our oldest Sister City, is on the beautiful Philippine island of Leyte and includes 33 outlying villages. Palo and Palo Alto have been sister cities since 1963. Palo is well known as the site of the 1944 landing of General MacArthur and the Allied troops that launched the liberation of the Philippines during World War II. For decades, thanks to generous donations from the Palo Alto and broader Silicon Valley community, Neighbors Abroad has been able to sponsor a host of impactful, often life-changing projects for and with our Palo family, including:
  • Establishment and support of a long-running Children's Library, the only public library in the region and one of Neighbors Abroad's longest-running projects. To extend our reach, we helped create satellite locations of the original library to give children in remote areas access to books. We continue to expand our offerings and seek ways to give access to the library to all underserved areas of Palo, including by providing more books in Tagalog. 
  • Financial support for our Palo Scholars (for more information, click through our student testimonials at right). We have supported college students from Palo for decades and are working to expand the program to support high school students pursuing technical and vocational careers. One of our annual scholarships honors the late Iraida Espinosa, a former Neighbors Abroad president and longtime Palo Alto teacher. The Iraida Espinosa Scholarship is given to a college student studying teaching and education. 
  • Expanding science and technology offerings for Palo students, pre-school trough high school.
  • A collaboration with Guiuan Development Foundation (GDFI) to promote sustainability and environmental protection in and around Palo, Leyte.
In summer 2025, a delegation of Neighbors Abroad board members, local civic leaders (including two former Palo Alto mayors), and passionate community members traveled to Palo. Their visit deepened ties and advanced ongoing projects like the Children’s Library. Delegates came home inspired—carrying new cultural insights, ideas for future partnerships, and heartfelt memories. Learn more on the delegation page here.  
2025 delegation members, left to right: Doug Smith, Ellen Valentine, Wayne Thompson, Nodelyn Smith, Marilee Moy, May Chevalier, Lydia Kou, Kayla Shepherd, John St. Claire III, Tyler Shepherd, Nancy Shepherd

The Palo Scholars Program
​Changing Lives One Scholarship at a Time

For decades, Neighbors Abroad has provided financial support for college students from Palo who otherwise would not be able to pay for books and expenses. Many of our students have gone on to professional careers--as teachers, engineers, social workers--thereby giving back to the community by helping to shape the next generation of Palo leaders. Click through testimonials from some of our scholars below:
“As a graduating student, I am required to complete an internship that involves living in a boarding house away from my parents. I am using my scholarship money to pay for my boarding house and for other school-related expenses. This scholarship has enabled me to provide for myself financially.”
Marry Rose T. Montaño
4th year student, Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW), Neighbors Abroad Scholar
“I have a sister who is also a college student. My parent's income is not enough to sustain both of us in college. I am thankful to have been part of this program and hope that Neighbors Abroad continues to provide scholarships to all students like myself.”
Gemmalyn Tejones
3rd year student, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Leyte Normal University, Neighbors Abroad Scholar
“It was a blessing to receive this scholarship which has provided for all of my educational needs, for example, school uniform, books, school supplies, transportation fees, and food..”
Divine Grace Mina
4th year student, Bachelor of Technology and Livelihood Education, Eastern Visayas State University, Neighbors Abroad Scholar
“I am very grateful that I was chosen to receive a scholarship that has helped with school expenses and allowed me to pursue and achieve my goals. Even in a small way, I have also shared this blessing with my brother and my parents.”
Reymond Honrales
4th year student, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at Eastern Visayas State University
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Board member Nodelyn Smith presents the Governor of Leyte, Jericho Petilla, with a carbon offset certificate during the 2025 delegation to Palo. 
ABOUT NEIGHBORS ABROAD

Neighbors Abroad fosters Palo Alto's domestic and international engagement through friendship, education, commerce, and sustainability. 

​We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
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Neighbors Abroad
355 Alma Street
Palo Alto, CA 94301
EIN: 94-6103013
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