The Maritime League’s Vice President and Maritime Review Editorial Board Chairman, Vice Admiral Emilio C Marayag Jr AFP (Ret), secured anew the trust and confidence of the members of the Association of General and Flag Officers, Inc. during its Annual Membership Meeting and Election held in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on November 24, 2023. He clinched the Association’s top position…
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CAPT TOMAS D BAINO was a Trustee, a member of the Executive Committee (EXECOM) of the Maritime League, and a member of the Editorial Board of the Maritime Review. CAPT Baino was a registered naval architect and civil engineer in the Professional Regulation Commission in the Philippines. He was the former Commanding Officer of the Naval Shipyard, Philippine Navy and…
INTRODUCTION This article is a product of research work that will differentiate the function of the Army Combat Engineer Brigade from the Navy Amphibious Construction Brigade of the SEABEES. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Army Combat Engineer A sapper, in the sense first used by the French military, was one who dug trenches to allow besieging forces to advance towards the enemy defensive…
Much has been written about this honorable and patriotic man. He is known as the man who is making the PCG radiate. “R.A.D.I.A.T.E.S.” as an acronym for Responsible, Accountable, Disciplined, Inspired, Able, Team-spirited, Servant leaders, which he always reminds to the men and women of PCG, for them not to forget to pursue professional excellence, have commitment to public service,…
Many, up to now, refer to AFP Reservists as “Reservist lang” by which they mean we are not part, or of a lower class compared with the regular force counterpart. They seem to think that we do not share the same “courage” and “heroism” as with a regular soldier, when the time comes for an actual battle to call on…
On 31-July-2022, former Philippine President Fidel V Ramos passed away due to a heart condition at age 94. On 9-August, a State funeral with full military honors was accorded to him at the Libingan ng Bayani. FVR, as the Filipinos refer to him, was quite health-conscious. At one meeting with him at his Makati office, he recommended that we add…
It was not so long ago when a fine young man had joined the Maritime League, and that man eventually became one of the League’s Trustees. He is LTJG Christian R Chua PN (Res), a junior officer by rank, but to his colleagues, he is a true soldier, gentleman, leader and a fine officer who can be trusted. We would…
Born in Quezon City, Commandant Vice Admiral Leopoldo V. Laroya PCG began his military career in 1983 when he entered the Philippine Military Academy. Through hard work and discipline, he earned his degree in Bachelor of Science and graduated in the upper percentile of “Maringal” class (number 12 out of 135) in 1988. His competencies enabled him to expand his…
INTRODUCTION. In 1992, the naval facilities in the provinces of Cebu and Guimaras were built by the Philippine Navy through the vision and effort of a senior naval officer, Rear Admiral Edgardo B Gallos AFP (Ret), whose heart and mind had dedicated his life and honor in the service of the Philippine Navy. As a young senior Naval Captain and…
In commemoration of the 106th Anniversary of Fireman Second Class Telesforo Trinidad receiving the Medal of Honor, the USS Telesforo Trinidad Campaign (USSTTC) announces the launching of its initiative to name the first U.S. Navy Warship after an American national of Filipino descent who served in the U.S. Navy. Trinidad holds the distinction of being the first and only Asian…
Our ‘Seafarer Stories’ new column hosts seafarers’ views who present briefly the key challenges of life and work onboard, providing a picture of what a career at sea actually means. In this context, we are happy to host an interview with Yrhen Bernard S. Balinis, an ordinary seaman from Philippines, who inspire us with his story. Yrhen shares his life-changer…
More than a score ago, when he took the helm of the Philippine Navy as its 23rd Flag Officer in Command (FOIC), VADM Eduardo Mario Ramirez Santos had set his eyes on the future. The 21st Century was then beginning, the dawn of a new era and a myriad of challenges to the Philippine Navy. From the disputed Islands in…
VADM GIOVANNI CARLO J BACORDO AFP is the 38th Field Officer In Command (FOIC), Philippine Navy (PN), sworn in on 03-February-2020 by President Rodrigo R Duterte. The CON has operational control and is responsible for overall operations of the Navy, including the Marine Corps, and the Philippine Coast Guard (in wartime), and directly reports to the Chief of Staff of…
Born on 8-September-1965 in Polomok, South Cotabato, the 27th Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard, VICE ADMIRAL GEORGE VILLAREAL URSABIA JR PCG was raised by his parents – the late George Kiamco Ursabia Sr and Guia Villareal-Ursabia to be a person with discipline, perseverance, and a hard worker in pursuing greater heights. He internalized these values, which lead him to…
A Philippine Navy officer made history as the first woman to become a Commodore (equivalent to Brigadier General or one-star rank in the Army, Air Force, and Marines). Promoted to the rank was Captain Luzviminda Camacho, Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Office of Legislative Affairs. Aside from being the first woman to get the rank, Camacho…
Arduous Beginnings Nicknamed “Tangkad,” Col. Mariano G. Robles could easily be picked out in a crowd or even battlefield. But it was his sharp analytical mind and photographic memory that stood out even more than his 6’4” stature. His other nickname, “Long,” was both a reference to his towering height and his unheard of ability to hit long-range targets with…
The path to becoming the 37th Flag Officer in Command was one set upon by VADM Robert A Empedrad AFP without full intention. In fact, several times in the course of his long career, his plan had not God’s plan. “It’s not my intention to join the PMA. Gusto ko talaga maging (I really wanted to be) an electronic engineer,”…
I am often lost for words to truly describe my experience spending precious time with my classmates in Naval Command and Staff Course Class 86. All my life I wanted to be a soldier, but the Almighty God did not give me an answer to such calling, and the reason why is very much obvious to me. Simply…
The Outstanding Boholanos Around the World (TOBAW) Awards is the most prestigious award given to honor Boholanos who have shown professional excellence in their chosen field of endeavor, and whose community and humanitarian involvement have significantly contributed to the Boholano community, nationwide, or internationally, through philanthropic efforts and/or volunteerism. The 10 TOBAW Awardees were given recognition on 22-July-2018, coincident with…
Commodore Joel Sarsiban Garcia PCG, PhD, HD, Al-Haj is a graduate of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) and took up Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, major in Navigational Science. He is currently taking up Bachelor of Laws, Facultad De Derecho Civil, Royal & Pontifical at the University of Santo Tomas. He is a Doctor of Philosophy in Public…
The Korean Register (KR), an IACS member classification society, has announced that Mr. Lee Jeong-kie has been elected as its new Chairman and CEO. Mr Lee was elected at the extraordinary meeting of KR’s general assembly that oversees the running of KR and comprises 86 voting members. He assumes the role of Chairman and CEO, following the death of Mr….
The idea of giving credit where credit is due on the separation of the Coast Guard from the Navy came about when I got the suggestion last year that we should award VAdm. Mariano J. Dumancas Jr. (FOIC, PN1990-93) with a citation for exactly agreeing to help achieve that result in 1992. I missed to include that idea in our…
In a recent visit to the Philippines, retired US Navy Captain Dan Gruta was invited by Joel and Tessa Yuvienco, co-owners of Ekindling Inc. (a blended learning company) to conduct a mentorship session with the school children (K- 12) of Filipino seafarers at the San Pancras School at AMOSUP’s Seaman’s Village in Dasmarinas, Cavite. Capt. Gruta accepted the offer with…
On 17 November, US President Barack H. Obama visited the Philippine Navy’s flagship, US-made BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the first US Coast Guard Hamilton Class 3,250-ton frigate combatant ship that was transferred to the Philippines in 2011. The second frigate was transferred in 2012, and named BRP Ramon Alcaraz. President Obama spoke with Captain Vincent Sibala PN (USNA’93) on the…
Ship management trade association InterManager has joined the ranks of shipping industry organizations that are recognizing Asia’s growing maritime influence and have looked east for leaders. Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. (PTC) Vice-Chairman and CEO Gerardo A. Borromeo was elected as the new President of InterManager, an international trade association for in-house and third party ship managers. Borromeo is the first…