BRP Alcaraz sailors get chance to reunite with families

Seaman First Electronic Technician Glenn Bristol is reunited with his wife and daughter FRANCES MANGOSING

SUBIC BAY, Philippines — The arrival of BRP Ramon Alcaraz is a story of reunion and coming home.

When BRP Alcaraz – the Philippines’ newest warship –  arrived after a nearly two-month journey from the United States, it also meant reuniting with its sister ship, BRP Gregorio del Pilar. Both are Hamilton-class ships decommissioned from the US Coast Guard.

BRP del Pilar gave BRP Alcaraz a welcome off Bolinao last Saturday and escorted it to Subic. The two warships are docked in Subic for now.

But for Filipino sailors on board the new warship, it meant a reunion with loved ones after a 14-month stay in the US. The 88-man crew were sent to the US for intense training with the US Navy.

When Seaman First Electronic Technician Glenn Bristol left for the US in June last year, his daughter Jamie Elizabeth was only five months old.

But when they finally met again Tuesday, his daughter barely recognized him even if they talk regularly via telephone and Skype.

“She talks with her dad on the phone. When asked if whom she got after, she always answers it’s her dad,” Glenn’s wife Mary Jane said.

Now one year old and seven months, Jamie Elizabeth wouldn’t leave her mother’s arms even if her father tried to hug her.

“She even says I love you when we talk over Skype and on the phone but now she doesn’t recognize me,” he said with a laugh.

Bristol said his family was already used to him being far away from home. Before he left for the US, he was assigned to the patrol force in southern Philippines, which operates in Zamboanga and Basilan areas.

Jamie Elizabeth is his first daughter.

“I bought her a lot of stuff toys,” he said.

A resident of Cavite City, Bristol said that if granted a leave, he will spend his vacation with his family.

After the welcome ceremony of the BRP Alcaraz in Alava Pier here, sailors from the ship were sighted hugging and kissing their loved ones. Even if the BRP Alcaraz was anchored in Subic Bay last Sunday, it was their first time to dock at a Philippine port after 14 months.