Vol. No. 004Vol. No. 004--12, No.312, No.3 March 2012March 2012

Online versions available on http://www.navy.mil.ph

"We all suffer for each other, and gain by each other's suffering; for man never stands alone here, though he will stand alone hereafter; but here is he is a social being, and goes forward to his long home as one of a large company."

~Cardinal Newmna

The blazing heat of the summer sun blasted off the start of Admiral’s Cup 2012 on 01 March 2012. Promoting Sportainability in Wellness towards Readiness is the theme that propelled the Admiral’s Cup 2012- Palarong Pambayanihan. The Admiral’s Cup is the mother of all sports fest in the Philippine Navy.

Sailors and Marines were divided into six contingent groupings that will compete in various fields of sports events. It aims to foster fellowship and camaraderie through sports activities, promote physical wellness to help obtain a high level of personnel readiness and support the national Sports Development Program by hosting a venue to spot, recruit and train potential and regular PN Team members who will serve as Instructor-Soldier-Athletes (ISA).

In the advent, a Barrio Fiesta concept served as the venue of the opening ceremony. The competing teams showcased their talents and skills in cheer dance. Aside from that, the units sent their best in the field of Boxing and Track and Field. But the competition will not be complete without the participation of beautiful muses from the different teams. Both traditional and contemporary sports are programmed for this year’s PN sports event.

Considering the hectic schedule of PN Personnel, the activity has been set-up and scheduled within three-month period in

Congratulations The newly promoted Flag Rank officer take their oath before the President Benigno S Aquino III

at the Rizal Hall, Malacanan Palace

RADM MIGUEL JOSE S RODRIGUEZ Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil Military

Operations, J7

RADM EDGARDO D TAMAYO Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics, J4

COMMO ELMER C CARILLO

Commander, Naval Construction Brigade

COMMO ALEXANDER S LOPEZ Commander, Joint Task Force Malampaya

COMMO CRISPIN P MERCADO

Deputy, Office of the Inspector General, AFP

COMMO ABRAHAM F CELZO Commander, Naval Forces Southern Luzon

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Lenten Recollection feeds our soul Lenten Recollection feeds our soul Lenten Recollection feeds our soul

The summer signals the Admiral’s Cup 2012

Photo taken by: PH2 Hansen V Ebreo PN

We’re all sons and daughters of God. Along this premise, it is customary in our spiritual practices to observe the season of Lent. Lent is a time of fasting, moderation and self- denial. For our brothers and sisters in the Catholic Faith, the Lenten Season began for them a period of reminder of the value of repentance.

Considering the spiritual well being of every Sailor and Marine, the Philippine Navy conducted a two-day Lenten Recollection at the Carmelite Missionaries Center of Spirituality, Kabangan Road, Brgy. Irumin, Tagaytay. Attended by the Head of Offices and the Flag Officer in Command himself, VAdm Alexander P Pama, the objective of the said activity was to enhance the spiritual life of HPN Staff Officers and their spouses. An event initiated by the Chief Chaplain Navy, a series of lectures and workshops were conducted by priests and nuns for the participants.

The recollection was a sort of spiritual retreat. Usually, a programmed schedule of a group with a speaker and an ample time for reflection and prayer that allowed one to pause from his/her normal daily routine and dedicate a day or hours of the day reflecting on life and its ultimate purpose.

In the season of lent, the Navy’s Command Team was able to reflect about personal life, family, career and duty and a life of service to God. The total reflection made every participant guided by the Divine Wisdom that everything will not be possible without God. Perhaps, it is true that spiritual undertaking is indeed the ultimate fulfillment of our soul.

Online versions available on http://www.navy.mil.ph

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March 2012March 2012

Editorial Board VADM ALEXANDER P PAMA AFP Flag Officer In Command, Philippine Navy RADM ORWEN J CORTEZ AFP Vice Commander, Philippine Navy RADM EDGAR L ABOGADO AFP

Chief of Naval Staff COL MAXIMO J BALLESTEROS PN(M)(GSC) Assistant Chief of Naval Staff for Civil Military Operations, N7

Publication Staff LTCOL OMAR L TONSAY PN(M)(GSC)

Editor in Chief CPT JOSE P DINGLASAN PN(M)

Associate Editor

Editorial Assistants

ENS REY S TIBAY PN ENS FRANCIS LOU B WONG PN

Technical Assistant

Layout Artists Randolf B Clarito CE

MSgt Rolando D Caballero PN(M) CD2 Noel M Arines PN SK3 Janice Q Bachiller PN S1DK Jonathan L Buhia PN ASN Maezel B Talagtag PN ASN Michael D Namit PN

PH2 Julian D Delos Reyes PN PH2 Hansen V Ebreo PN S1YN Rechiel H Alcaraz PN CPL Wenly M Ortega PN(M) ASN Ariel B Francisco PN Ms Annabel P Miranda CE

The Flagship of the 7th Fleet of the United States Navy the USS Blue Ridge(LCC 19) arrived in Manila for a Goodwill Visit 0n 23- 27 March 2012. LCC 19 is the lead ship of

the two Blue Ridge-class command ships of the U.S. Navy, and is the command ship of the United States Seventh Fleet. Her primary role is to provide Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) support to the commander and staff of the United States Seventh Fleet under VADM Scott H Swift USN, Commander.

The 4-day port visit of LCC 19 became an avenue for Community Relations Activities, Staff to Staff Talks, Sporting events, Professional Military Exchanges and a reception dinner. Upon arrival, the 7th Fleet Commander paid a courtesy call on the FOIC PN, VADM Alexander P Pama, and then on Manila Mayor Alfredo S Lim. Docked in Manila Harbour, USS Blue Ridge hosted a reception dinner on its first night. Staff to staff talks was conducted prior to the reception. On the second day, 50 students of Naval Reserve Officer Training Course were selected by the Naval Reserve Command to have a rare opportunity to tour USS Blue Ridge. Before its departure on the following day, the officers and men of the Philippine Navy cooperated with the crew of LCC 19 in Community Relations Activity in Taguig National High School, Taguig City wherein the school buildings were re-painted. Simultaneously, the athletes of both navies conducted a basketball clinic and a first aid workshop/seminar. In view to the “Araw ng Kagitingan”, men and women of USS Blue Ridge visited and cleaned the American Cemetery in Taguig City.

The Goodwill visit of USS Blue Ridge is part of its routine port calls as it conducts maritime patrol in the Pacific Ocean.

Another all-Navy contingent to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force to Haiti were deployed on 16 March 2012. Composed of 12 Officers and 143 Enlisted Personnel, the new set of contingent replaced the 14th all-Navy Contingent in Haiti. For months, the contingents underwent proper training at Camp Aquino in Tarlac. They’re tasked to provide perimeter security to the Force Headquarters of the UN Mission to Haiti, provide administrative and logistics clerical services to the Force Headquarters. They are expected to serve for at least 6 to 9 months before they will be replaced by the next AFP

Peacekeeping Force Contingent. Headed by Colonel Arthur M Biyo the former Naval Adjutant, the Officer Delegates made a courtesy call to the Flag Officer in Command, Vice Admiral Alexander P Pama, prior to their deployment. Peacekeeping aims to promote conditions for lasting peace. For UN Peacekeeping, the United Nations Charter gives the United Nations Security Council the power and responsibility to take collective action to maintain international peace and security. As such, the international community usually looks to the Security Council to authorize peacekeeping operations. Most of these operations are established and implemented by the United Nations itself, with troops serving under UN operational control. The Council authorizes regional organizations such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Economic Community of West African States, or coalitions of willing countries to undertake peacekeeping or peace-enforcement tasks. Per record, Major General Natalio C Ecarma was the first Commander and Head of Mission of the UNDOF in Golan Heights, Syria- the 2nd Filipino after Lt Gen Jamie de los Santos appointed to the highest position for the UN Peacekeeping Force.

The summer signals ... From page 1

order to allow the units to send their players by batches. In such manner, the operational readiness of most operating units will not be hampered by the absence of personnel-athletes. The games for the competition were aligned with the Philippine Sports Commission sporting rules and regulations, particularly in the events that require speed, distance, target and endurance.

Navy Peacekeepers to UN

Goodwill visit New Chief of Offices:

Office of the Naval Adjutant Outgoing – Colonel Arthur M Biyo PN(M)(GSC) Incoming – Lt Colonel Nestor R Marcelino PN

(M)(GSC) The Naval Provost Marshall

Outgoing – Colonel Arthur M Biyo PN(M)(GSC) Incoming – Captain Toribio D Adaci Jr PN(GSC)

Naval Accounting Service Office Outgoing – Mrs. Nenita O Bagasbas CPA-MBA Incoming – Mr. Danilo C Moro CPA-MBA

Photos taken by: PH2 Hansen V Ebreo PN

Photo taken by: PH2 Hansen V Ebreo PN