Visiting US Navy men to help clean up three schools in Lapu-Lapu

AT LEAST 30 US Navy personnel from the visiting USS Pearl Harbor will help fix and clean three public schools in Lapu-Lapu City next week as part of its community service activities during their five-day goodwill visit here.

The ship arrived in the Cebu International Port yesterday.

The US Marines and US Navy sailors will join Philippine Navy personnel in conducting the yearly Brigada Eskwela activity on Tuesday , said Ensign Ison, Naval forces Central (Navforcen) spokesman.

US Navymen will help clean and repair the Canjulao Elementary School, the Looc Elementary School and the Looc High school. It will be a simultaneous activity in which troops and personnel of Pearl Harbor will be divided into three groups, Ison added.

The USS Pearl Harbor, an amphibious landing ship, carries 22 US officers, 356 enlisted personnel and more than 300 Marine personnel.

On Monday, USS Pearl Harbor officials will make courtesy calls on Camp Lapu-Lapu officials, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

A soccer game will be held with Philippine Air Force personnel on Wednesday. The ship is scheduled to leave Cebu on May 31.

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Tweeny M. Malinao | Cebu Daily News/ Philippine Daily Inquirer | May 27, 2012 | Article Link

French naval vessel in Cebu for goodwill visit

THE French Navy ship FS Vendemiaire arrived in Cebu City yesterday morning as part of their nine-day goodwill visit to the country.

The vessel's 92-strong crew including officers headed by its captain Commander Jean-Christophe Olieric were received by the Naval Forces Central (Navforcen) and the French consulate officials in Cebu.

Other Navy officers and representatives of the French Consulate boarded the ship for a brief meeting that ended at past 11 am. Media were requested by the French Consulate not to board the ship for security reasons.

Ensign Joseph Ison, Navforcen spokesperson, said there will be goodwill games between the French Navy and Navforcen and a ship tour today as part of their five-day goodwill visit.

Ison said there won't be any exercises during their visit.

Goodwill visits, Ison said, is one way for the Navy to learn the culture, expertise and capabilities of the French Navy.

Navforcen personnel will also have a chance to familiarize themselves with French’ weaponry, machineries and other capabilities of their ship.

The French vessel's visit marks its first in Cebu. It visited Manila in 2009.

FS Vendemiaire is a light monitoring frigate or warship of the French Marine Nationale. It has missiles, guns, a turret and a helicopter.

They are docked at berthing space no. 5 at the Cebu International Port. They will also be having a series of courtesy calls at the Capitol, Cebu City Hall and Centcom today.

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Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus

2/13/2012

Cebu Daily News

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Photo courtesy of SnipCebu.Com

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US Navy ship visits the Philippines

The USS Chafee of the US Navy visits Cebu this last weekend of January 2012.
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US Navy
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