The Philippine Navy warship participating in the world’s biggest military exercise on sea in Hawaii is continuing to draw visits from foreign navies.
Philippine Navy spokesman Cdr. Benjo Negranza said the Malaysian, Indian and Mexican Navies have visited the BRP Antonio Luna, which is currently taking part in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercise.
BRP Antonio Luna commanding officer and Naval Task Group 80.5 commander Captain Charles Merric Villanueva welcomed his counterpart Captain Saket Khanna of India’s INS Satpura and Commander Mohd Asri Bin Dasman of Malaysia’s KD Lekir.
The visitors were accorded a tour around the Jose Rizal-class frigate and exchanged mementos and plaques, a gesture aimed at sustaining good relations with partner navies.
The Mexican Navy contingent led by the commander of ARM Juarez, Captain Alberto Ortega Padilla, also boarded Antonio Luna where a cross-deck activity was held.
Negranza said Filipino cuisine took center stage during the cross-deck activity aboard the ARM Juarez, which was participated by the mess team of the Philippine Navy contingent led by Ensign Janrey Artus.
The mess department personnel of BRP Antonio Luna prepared local favorites such as chicken-pork adobo and laing, and a sweet complement of yema cake. These dishes were presented to the commanding officer and the crew aboard ARM Juarez.
Negranza said the activities on the sidelines of the ongoing RIMPAC in Hawaii enabled the Philippine contingent to showcase a taste of Filipino cuisine to its foreign navy counterparts.
“It was also an opportunity to observe their best practices in terms of food preparation aboard ship while in-port and underway,” he said.
The ongoing RIMPAC exercise provides a unique training opportunity for navies while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among the participants critical to ensuring the safety of sealanes and security on the world’s oceans.
Twenty-six countries, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in the RIMPAC that began on June 29 and will last until August 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.
Image credits: rhk111