AFS started in the Philippines in 1956. Over a period of 24 years (1957-1979), 1 047 young Filipinos went to the United States for one year and 609 American teenagers came to the Philippines as AFS exchange students.

In 1980, AFS Philippines ceased its operations and remained closed for the next 20 years. To keep the AFS spirit alive, AFS returnees organized themselves initially into a student organization, then to an association, and in 2000, into the AFS Returnees Foundation Philippines , Inc. (ARFP).

In 2001, ARFP revived AFS exchange programs in the Philippines by implementing the ASEAN High School exchange program in cooperation with AFS Japan. Forty-one Japanese and 20 FIlipino exchange students have participated from 2001 to 2003.

Return to the Philippines

2003 marked the formal return of AFS in the Philippines in its present form, the AFS Intercultural Programs Philippines (AFS-IPP). In 2004, the first batch of Filipino exchange students under the AFS-Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program was sent to the United States. Currently in its fourth year, the YES program provides full scholarships for a year of living and studying in the US to a select group of teenagers from countries with significant Muslim populations.

AFS Intercultural Philippines is currently operating under the leadership of Mr. Raymund Zamora, National Director, and Ms Rahiema B. Guerra, President of the AFS Intercultural Programs Philippines Board of Trustees.