Fil-Ams at Pearl Harbor welcome PHL navy's new warship

The Philippine Navy's newly acquired warship, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, received a warm welcome from the Filipino-American community at the Pearl Harbor in Hawaii last week. Some 95 men and women of the Philippine Navy sailed into Pearl Harbor in Honolulu on July 27, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday. "Laden with leis, Hawaii's quintessential symbol of warm aloha, the Consulate and the Filipino community leaders, led by Philippine Celebrations Coordinating Committee of Hawaii (PCCCH) Vice Chairperson Melga Gendrano, welcomed the officers and crew of BRP Gregorio Del Pilar led by Captain Alberto Cruz," the DFA said in a news release. The BRP Gregorio del Pilar is making its maiden voyage to the Philippines following a three-month training of its crew from Alameda, California. The ship remained in Honolulu until July 29, the DFA said. Among the well-wishers who welcomed the ship and its crew were members of the Filipino-American community in Hawaii, including Filipino-American members of the United States Air Force, Army, Marines, and Coast Guard. The DFA noted President Benigno Aquino III, in his July 25 State of the Nation Address, hailed the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar's acquisition and voyage in the Pacific as an augur to the long-held vision to enhance the capabilities of the country's armed forces. Former US Coast Guard cutter The BRP Gregorio del Pilar was formerly a US Coast Guard Hamilton-class cutter. The Philippine acquired it under its Foreign Military Sales program. "Once the largest ship of the US Coast Guard, the Hamilton is the first gas-turbine jet engine-powered vessel in the Philippine Navy fleet, making it the fastest, biggest, most powerful, and the flagship vessel of the Philippine Navy," the DFA said. It is "a high endurance cutter with a close-in weapons system" and features a helicopter flight deck with a retractable hangar, giving it capabilities for rescue operations and maritime law enforcement. - VVP, GMA News