GAME NA GAME

Photo by Jasper Barcelon
Abante, Sabado, Setyenbre 11, 2010

Nakisalo sa boodle fight si Pangulong Benigno ‘Noynoy’
Aquino III kasama ang mga miyembro ng Philippine Navy
kasunod ng isinagawang Anti-Terrorism Demo sa Sangley
Point Naval Base kahapon.

The Navy Sail Plan

By Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao
Manila Bulletin, Saturday, September 11, 2010

Based on its adopted Governance Charter, the Navy proceeded
to look at itself, using five perspectives, as it charted a
course towards the future, in this case 2020, when it expects
to give substance and realization to its Vision. Using these
five perspectives, it had to think hard and deep about the
priorities it must focus on, and give significant importance
to, in order to realize its Vision.

Understandably, the first perspective it chose relates to
personnel. The Navy considered this as its fundamental perspec-
tive, upon which it sets great store; and it listed only one
strategic priority under this perspective, which is as follows:
"highly competent and motivated professionals." Here one sees
the immediate connection with at least one of its core values,
Professionalism, in its Governance Charter.

The second perspective is organization. Under this perspec-
tive, three priorities are listed. The first is "sound/appro-
priate maritime doctrines," which obviously are of top importance
in a military organization. The second is "responsive naval
reservist program;" and the third is the all-embracing "dynamic/
responsive naval organization." Any lay observer would immediately
understand the importance given to this third priority; but if he/
she were almost totally unfamiliar with the Navy or any of the
other units in the AFP, he/she would at first glance be surprised
by the importance given to the reservist program: This, in itself,
points to the Navy's imperative to have an active, positive outreach
program to the civilian sector, with which it has to work closely
and productively.

The third perspective is resources. The first priority under
this perspective is "adequate financial resources," which
should pose a great challenge, taking into account the tight
budgetary circumstances under which the Philippine government
operates. And the second priority is closely associated with
the first priority; it relates to the imperative of a "balanced
financial program," with the key word, balance, being pregnant
with possibilities, even within the tight budgetary realities
imposed on the Navy.The fourth perspective is capability. This
has four strategic priorities listed under it: "Responsive naval
support system;" "reliable naval facilities;" "up-to-date naval
capability;" and finally, "optimal level of operational readiness.
" All four are closely related with one another. All demand resour-
ces, not only of the financial type, but also those closely associa-
ted with "balance," which includes, the level of motivation and
competence already indicated in the first perspective referring
to personnel.

The fifth and final perspective is accomplishment, which in other
strategy maps would refer to service to the constituency. Under
this perspective, the Navy lists two priorities: A "secured mari-
time environment" and "highly satisfied stakeholders," which at
the end of the day are the Filipino people.

It is immediately apparent, even to an ordinary lay observer,
that the five perspectives are closely connected with each other:
Personnel connect directly with organization; and organization
has to bank on resources, which help shape and determine the
capability of the organization, i.e., its capacity to serve its
constituency. Since the perspectives closely connect with each
other, it follows that the different priorities listed under
the different perspectives are also inter-dependent: one set of
priorities directly leads to another. Thus, success in the pursuit
of a set of priorities would greatly facilitate the pursuit of
other priorities. This feature of connectedness and interdependence
between the different perspectives and the different priorities
listed under them has enabled the Navy to draw up its strategy map.
Since this is the Navy, it has chosen to call its strategy map
"The Philippine Navy Strategic Sail Plan 2020.

"One more feature stands out in the Navy Sail Plan: as in any
proper strategy map, it lists on top three strategic themes, under
each of which it shows the priorities in different perspectives
that are more closely connected with each other. The strategic
themes are: Mission responsiveness, maritime security, and
prestige. These themes further underscore the interdependence
of the priorities in the Sail Plan. They also give the added
advantage of giving only a few "headlines," which need to be
remembered and used as easy summaries and references for the
entire Sail Plan. Remembering only these three "headlines"
than all 12 strategic priorities in the Navy Sail Plan should
be an easier imperative to meet.

‘Filipino mafia’ on US warship

By ELENA L. ABEN
Manila Bulletin, Monday, September 6, 2010,

Aboard the United States’ 100,000-ton nuclear-powered
aircraft carrier, USS George Washington which is now on
a four-day port visit in Manila, is a “Filipino mafia.”

This, in light banter, is how Filipino sailors described
their bond as part of the 5,000 crew of what is known as
one of the world’s largest warships dubbed “City at Sea.”

Capt. David “Too Tall” Lausman, USS GW commanding officer,
told a group of reporters given a tour of the ship as it
docked at Manila Bay their visit also serves as a homecoming
for its Filipino sailors, who comprise about 30 percent of
the crewmembers.

The USS George Washington and embarked Carrier Air Wing 5
(CVW 5) along with guided-missile destroyers, USS John S
McCain (DDG 56) and USS McCampbell (DDG 85), arrived before
dawn last Saturday near Corregidor island where she was met
by the Philippine Navy ship, BRP Leopoldo Regis (PG 847) and
escorted her to the vicinity of the SM Mall of Asia (MoA).

This is the warship’s second port call to Manila, the last
being in August, 2009, when its sailors also took the time
to enjoy Philippine culture.

“As you know from last year, about 30 percent of the crew
have direct ties to the Philippines either through aunts,
uncles, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, great uncles,
great grandmothers, etc., and this is really a homecoming
of families and cultures because they are waiting to come
back to their homes as well,” Lausman said.

He noted that during their last port call in Manila, “there
was a lot of unique family reunions” and there are some
again this year.

“I know there’s a lot of families that’s going to be welcomed
aboard for a personal tour while we’re on port and some of
them (sailors) are going on leave,” said Lausman, even
recounting that some of the returning Filipino sailors talked
about a special family gathering or reunion in their neighborhoods.

Asked how he would rate the Filipino sailors’ performance on
the ship, Lausman quickly responded,

“I don’t need to say anything, this is a great warship, they
did it.” He added, “This is great. I’m very proud to be their
shipmate.”

Meanwhile, the Filipino sailors expressed their excitement in
coming home to the country as they also shared their life on
the ship and how they anxiously await their chance to see or
visit their families, relatives, and friends even for t a brief time.

“I am glad that I get this opportunity to visit my family and
friends,” said Olongapo-born Aviation Ordnance Airman Steven
Hoffman of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 28.

“It has been six years since I was in the Philippines, so it
would be nice to see how things have changed and to talk with
my family about the things I have done in the US Navy,” he said.

For Chief Aviation Support Equipment Technician Carlo Roberto
Toledo, a port visit to Manila is the chance of a lifetime for
sailors who are from the Philippines.

With the big number of Filipino and Filipino-American sailors
on board the giant warship, some of those interviewed laughingly
said there is, in fact, what some of the crewmembers from other
nations tagged as “Filipino mafia” not for anything else, but
because of the strong brotherhood that exists among them.

Aviation Ordnance expert Gza Ione Larican, a petite lass from
Isabela province, said Filipino sailors on board USS George
Washington “stick together, that is why they call us “Filipino
mafia.”

“It doesn’t matter if someone says something bad or good, we
just stick together,” Larican said, adding while they support
one another, they also blend with fellow sailors of other
nationalities.

She also described how Filipino sailors show their friendliness
as they say hi to everyone they see or meet along the hallway
and resiliency as they just go on even in some instances they
experience a bit of discrimination.

“We always try to be happy,” she said.

But aside from the Filipino sailors, the rest of the crewmembers
of the warship, according to Lausman, are also excited to come
to Manila, having fully enjoyed their first visit last year.

He said the first area of interest of the sailors is a trip to
the SM Mall of Asia, the fourth largest shopping mall in the world.

“They are ready to go shop, shop, shop and eat. Eat. eat. And
hey enjoyed that last year, and I think some of the shop owners
are waiting for them to return as well,” said Lausman.

The sailors will also get the chance to tour Corregidor, go
scuba diving, among others.

Philippine Navy at US Navy, lilinisin ang estero

Report from Henry Atuelan
Bomba, Lunes, Setyembre 06, 2010

Magsasanib-puwersa ang mga miyembro ng Philippine Navy
at United States Navy na lulan ng USS George Washington
upang maglinis ng estero sa Maynila bukas.

Partikular na lilinisin ng grupo ang Estero de San Miguel
sa Maynila at pagkatapos, magsasagawa sila ng sports
activity sa naval station sa Taguig City.

Matatandaang Sabado nang dumaong sa bansa ang aircraft
carrier na USS George Washington para sa apat na araw na
goodwill visit sa bansa.