The USS Blue Ridge in Gen. Santos City
The USS Blue Ridge visited the Philippines sometime last year as part of a three-country goodwill tour (known as Project Kaibigan) to deliver – through a partnership with the Armed Forces of the Phils – donated goods such as clothes, toys, food & medical supplies, provide free health clinics for citizens in poor or remote communities; and conduct engineering projects to construct and improve schools and public buildings. Their first stop: GEN. SANTOS CITY.These are some of the pictures I took of that visit which I am sharing to the public for the first time.
Philippine Military personnel in formation to welcome the sailors of the USS Blue Ridge & US 7th Fleet staff including embarked Marines, as well as Seabees from the Naval Mobile Construction Batallion (NCMB)3 who are in town to complete construction on a new school bldg dedicated to Changco Elementary School in Barangay Bawing.
Blue Ridge Commanding Officer Capt. Jeff Bartkoski at the podium. Behind him are the members of the 22-member US 7th Fleet Band which plays & sings a diverse range of American music from pop to R&B, and country to rock-and-roll. This band operates from Yokosuka, Japan.
City Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. welcoming formally the USS Blue Ridge to his city.
The tents where guests and civilians including some navy personnel witnessed the welcome ceremonies. This is also the recreation area of the visiting Americans, containing billiards and other table games. Behind these are smaller tents allocated to US-branded fastfoods like McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Shakey’s & Dunkin’ Donuts. There was also a mini-spa for those needing a Pinoy massage or “hilot“.
The strong winds made it harder for these dancers from the Mindanao State University High School to control their “pasandalans” (native colorful rectangular flags) during their Welcome Muslim Dance but they managed to give it their best.
The Welcome Brigade from the City Mayor’s Office of Gensan.
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Bariles is a Filipino word for “Tuna”, the primary source of income of the people of General Santos City which hosts 6 of the Philippines’ 8 tuna canneries and more than 80% of its tuna processing plants.
webduck Says:
This was a wonderful photo journal of the visit by the Blue Ridge. My husband works for the US Navy on these kinds of ships as a pipefitter. Thank you for presenting a positive article about the ship’s visit, and what they do. A very interesting article. Thanks!
Posted on January 28th, 2008 at 9:34 AM
BARILES Says:
Thanks for your kind words. I had fun going up and down the ship trying to keep up with our tour guide that time. I was so breathless from that encounter that i realized I really need to exercise and lose weight. Which I did. Now I have the whole fleet of the USS Blue Ridge to thank for the “healthier me”. (wink)
Do subscribe if you find time.
Salamat.
Posted on January 28th, 2008 at 9:54 AM
BrAvO SiX Says:
i just love these kind of stuffs..US fleets are so amazing most especially their aircraft carriers and destroyers….
pretty awesome..!
Posted on June 14th, 2009 at 7:34 AM
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[...] On January – 28 – 2008 – Please wait FOREWORD: My experience on board the USS Blue Ridge last 2007 was courtesy of the US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, whom I now consider as a friend…. [...]
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