Naval base in Visayas renamed

Manila Bulletin, Sunday, 13 December 2009

By: Phoebe Jen Indino

CEBU CITY - By virtue of the Philippine Navy General Order No.
229, the Naval Forces Central (NavForCen) which covers the Visayas
Islands was renamed the other day,as the Naval Base Rafael Ramos (NBRR)
in recognition to one of the founding
fathers of the Philippine Navy. Col.Rafael T Ramos.

Vice Admiral Ferdinand S.Golez, the Flag Officer-in-Command of the Philippine
Navy was the principal sponsor of the renaming ceremony of the NavForCen
home base to NBRR which was then the Naval Operating Base Mactan
NOBM)hosted by Naval Forces Central commander Commodore Honorio
Robert Balanon Jr, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

According to Judyline Cañoneo, information officer of the home base,
previously, the Naval Bases and Marine Facilities of the Philippine Navy
were named after its geographical location, however due to Golez's initiatives,
which aim to honor the memory of many naval personnel who have
greatly contributed prestige and honor to the development of the Philippine
Navy,the home base was named after them.

Moreover, the contribution of Ramos in the Philippine Navy was
highlighted on April 1938 during the time of President Manuel L. Quezon's
administration where the AFP - which is solely the Philippine Army at that
time - was alarmed when a news report about a "mysterious flotilla"was
sighted maneuvering in Davao Gulf.