The United States 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) arrived in Manila on Wednesday, March 13, for the ship’s first port visit to the Philippines since 2016.
The 7th fleet team and Blue Ridge crew, including Filipino-American soldiers, will also engage in community service and cultural exchange events ashore.
“Our nations are longstanding allies and our navies have worked together for generations,” said Vice Adm. Phillip Sawyer, commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet. “Our visit to Manila strengthens the bonds between our navies and our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Blue Ridge commanding officer Capt. Eric Anduze said that they were “very proud to be back in Manila after a long absence.”
“The Philippines has been an ally of our country for many years, and being able to show our appreciation for that friendship is something we always look forward to. Continuing to foster and maintain our deep relationships here is paramount to what we do in 7th Fleet,” he said.
During the visit, 7th Fleet and Blue Ridge sailors will spend time with local veterans, sharing stories and camaraderie with each other at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. Representatives from both the U.S. and Philippine navies will participate in staff talks aboard the ship, expanding interoperability between the two forces and providing a venue for professional exchanges, a US Embassy release said.
-Fil-Am sailors excited with PHL visit –
Filipino-American sailors who are part of the USS Blue Ridge crew will also “have a chance to reconnect with their heritage during the port visit.”
One of them is Charmaine Dalusung who will see the country she was born in for the first time since she was a child.
“I am very excited to come back to my first home,” said Dalusung. “It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen the friends and family I grew up with, so I’m extremely grateful to the Navy for giving me the opportunity to reconnect with my roots and culture.”
The Blue Ridge recently completed a nearly two-year extended dry-dock selected restricted availability period and numerous certifications, to ensure she remains ready to provide security in the Indo-Pacific region. The Blue Ridge serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7, Task Force 76, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force.