MANILA - United States Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Manila. Kerry's plane touched down at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport shortly before 1 p.m. Kerry's 2-day visit is part of his Asian trip. This afternoon, he will join his Philippine counterpart, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, for a briefing at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Tonight, he will be in Malacañang to pay a courtesy call on President Aquino and attend a state dinner. He will cap his visit with a trip to typhoon-hit Tacloban City. Just last week, the Philippines formally requested the United States to designate the country under temporary protected status (TPS). If approved, the TPS will allow eligible Filipinos to stay and work in the US in order for them to assist in continuing recovery efforts after super typhoon "Yolanda." ANC NEWS NOW, December 17, 2103