RP-US military exercises kick off today

By Ding Cervantes

The Philippine Star, Thursday, 14 October 2010

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines – Apart from their annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise which opened yesterday in Olongapo City, Filipino and US military forces are kicking off their joint Amphibious Landing Exercises (Phiblex) here today.

In a statement, the US embassy said the opening rites for Phiblex are slated at 10 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Hotel here.

“The two-week long training will be held simultaneously in various locations in Luzon covering the areas of Cavite, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zambales and Pampanga,” the US embassy said.

The bilateral exercises, according to the embassy, “are designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness, and continue professional relationships” between the Philippine and US armed forces.

The Philippine Marine Corps and Air Force will join US Marines from the Japan-based 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force and US sailors from the Essex Expeditionary Strike Group in both the ground-air and naval integration training, it added.

In addition to these exercises, the Philippine Marines, together with other military units, will join US military personnel in community activities such as medical and dental missions, construction of schools and repair of classrooms, and beautification projects in selected communities, the US embassy said.

Phiblex activities open to media coverage include live-fire training at Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac.

The Phiblex closing ceremonies are slated on Oct. 22 at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Meanwhile, CARAT is the US Navy’s 7th Fleet annual exercise with the Philippine Navy to improve interoperability between them.

CARAT includes amphibious landings, humanitarian civic action, subject matter expert exchanges, naval operations symposia, community service projects, and diving and salvage operations.

Navy volleyball team confident of victory

By Jose T Ramos

The Manila Times, Thursday, 14 October 2010

Philippine Navy head coach Zenaida Ybañez is confident her team will dominate this year’s 2010 National Volleyball Open women’s division. “Our next two opponents are both strong but I’m confident with the way we’re playing right now,” said Ybañez after the Navy’s easy victory over Rizal Technological University (RTU) on Wednesday at the EARIST gym in Santa Mesa Manila.

The Navy, relying heavily on Angela Benting, Nerissa Bautista, Michelle Laborte and Suzanne Roces, scored a 25-13, 25-21, 25-21 win against RTU to stay unscathed in three games to top the women’s division.

Benting and Bautista, who led Adamson University to V-League title recently, joined forces by combining 24 kills all-throughout the three sets as the Navy delivered RTU its second straight setback.

“My players did not force themselves to save energy against De La Salle University tomorrow [Thursday],” said Ybañez, a member of the 1993 women volleyball squad that won gold in the Singapore Southeast Asian Games.

In the other games, La Salle beat winless University of the East (0-2), 25-17, 25-10, 25-16, for back-to-back victories while reigning champion Philippine Army (1-1) trounced Air Force (1-2), 25-14, 25-20, 25-27, 25-17.

US troops due for 'CARAT'

By Bebot Sison Jr.

The Philippine Star, Wednesday, 13 October 2010

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – Some 4,000 American troops are arriving at the Subic Bay Freeport starting today to take part in the 2010 Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise will be held on Oct. 14 to 22 here and in other areas in Luzon.

Subic authorities said six US Navy battle ships and three aircraft are joining the military and civic activities that will also involve about 1,000 Philippine Navy men and Marines.

Under the 2010 CARAT exer cise are “in port” training, including subject matter expert exchanges and civic activities like medical, dental and other humanitarian services, and “at sea” training such as search and seizure procedures, maritime interdiction operations and surveillance, and naval gunfire support.

Navy wins over Army

By Josef T Ramos

The Manila Times, Wednesday, 13 October 2010

PHILIPPINE Navy stunned reigning women’s champion Philippine Army via three-setter, 26-24, 25-17, 28-26, clinching its second win in the 2010 National Volleyball Open at the EARIST gym in Santa Mesa Manila.

Hard-hitting spiker Nerissa Bautista poured in 18 kills and 3 blocks, including two crucial hits in the endgame strengthening the Navy’s bid to capture the women’s crown.

With the win, the Navy is now on top of the women’s team standings with 2-0 win-loss card. The Army absorbed its first loss in first game.

In the other women’s match, Cherry Rose Macatangay helped the Philippine Air Force to bounce back from a first game loss by beating Rizal Technological University (RTU), 25-6, 25-12, 25-10 posting a 1-1 win-loss slate.

RTU dropped to 0-1.

In the men’s division, Philippine Air Force, the men’s defending champion, beat University of Perpetual Help, 25-18, 25-6, 25-12, while the Philippine Army outclassed Philippine Navy 25-22, 25-19, 25-17, and Jewels beat Yellow Brick Road, 27-25, 19.