The Manila skyline appears on the horizon as the USS Blue Ridge, the oldest operational ship in the US Navy and 7th Fleet command ship, approaches for a port visit to the Philippine capital. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class DYLAN McKAY / US Navy)
MANILA, Philippines — The USS Blue Ridge, the flagship of the United States 7th Fleet, arrived in Manila on Wednesday marking its first port visit to the Philippines since 2016.
According to the US Embassy, the port visit of the Blue Ridge, the oldest operational ship in the US Navy, and the 7th Fleet team will give the Philippines and the US opportunities to renew its longstanding ties with the Philippines.
“Our nations are longstanding allies and our navies have worked together for generations,” Vice Adm. Phillip Sawyer, commander of the US 7th Fleet, said. “Our visit to Manila strengthens the bonds between our navies and our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
The US Embassy also noted that this visit would provide many Filipino-American sailors to reconnect with their Filipino heritage.
“I am very excited to come back to my first home,” Seaman Charmaine Dalusung, who was born in the Philippines, said. “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.”
During the visit, Blue Ridge commanding officer Capt. Eric Anduze will meet with officials of the Philippine Navy for a tour of the flagship to explain its mission and goals.
“We are very proud to be back in Manila after a long absence,” Anduze said. “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.”
The US Embassy said that the 7th Fleet and the Blue Ridge sailors would also talk with local veterans to share stories and camaraderie with each other at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.
Meanwhile, representatives from both countries will engage in staff talks on board the USS Blue Ridge which aims to expand interoperability between the two and provide a venue for professional exchanges. /atm