Photography's Role in Military Operations

Manila Bulletin, Monday, April 25, 2011

The Philippine Navy's Naval Communications Electronics Information Systems Center (NCEISC) recently celebrated its 14th anniversary at the Naval Base Heracleo Alano Base, Sangley Point in Cavite City. For the first time, they had incorporated basic photography lecture in one of their seminars.

According to Lt.Salvador M. Sambalilo PN, operations officer, "Photography plays a very crucial role in the military organization even during the world war period because it has documented or captured military operations and activities. A typical example for this is the controversial picture taken in the takeover ofthe Iwo Jima island. Today, photographers are still part of the military organization."

The NCEISC has 11 stations located around the Philippine archipelago. Through Lt.jg. Liezl Vidallon PN of the Navy Public Affairs Office(NPAO), she has recommended RoyVan Morales to conduct the photography lecture for NCEISC.

Roy Van Morales has conducted several photography lectures for the Philippine Navy and Marines. He has done several basic, photojournalism, and war photography in the past for NPAO under Lt.Col. Edgard A.Arevalo PN (M). He is also the co-founder ofSubic Bay Photography Society (SBPS) and is a part of Canon's AdvocacyTeam.

"Photography can be part of people's lives especially in the military since a daily activity can be part oftheir publications," soodMorales. "Not all has a military photographer in their department and if, for some reasons, the assigned photographer can't perform his duty, someone else can do it if all the personnel have the knowledge in operating a camera," he added.

NCEISC is headed by Lcdr. Marcos Y. Imperio PN. He has been the commander for the past four years. "I never thought that photography can be very significant in our unit until I took the seminar myself. It is important that at least one in any organization knows how to take a great

photo for documentation not only in military operation but also in our daily routines, community service or receiving dignitaries or guests," shared Lcdr. Imperio.

NCEISC is a unit of the Philippine Navy that handles the information and communications technology requirements of all the naval bases or units in cooperation with the other branch of service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

More than 70 participants including NCEISC officers coming from 11 remote stations around the Philippines, together with civilian employeesand enlisted officers based in Sangley Point in Cavite City were present during the two-day seminar.

Sailing Duo Rescued By Philippine Navy

The Philippine Navy was able to rescue American national Ruben Staver and his Singaporean friend Foo Hay Chim, off Scott Point, Sofronio Espanola, Palawan. Photo courtesy PHILIPPINE NAVY, Naval Public Affairs Office

by Lois CalderonSunday, April 24, 2011

Singapore - A Singaporean and an American on a boating trip in the South China Sea were rescued by the Philippine Navy after their yacht was damaged by strong waves.

In a statement on its website, the Philippine Navy said that the Singaporean has been identified as Mr Foo Hay Chim and the American is Mr Ruben Staver. It did not provide any further details about the duo.

The navy said that they were rescued at about 5.30am on Friday.

The navy said it acted on a call for assistance at about 11pm on Thursday from the Palawan Coast Guard that a yacht was in distress and was in danger of sinking. After a six-hour search, the yacht was spotted off Arreceffi Island in Palawan. The rescued Singaporean and American were taken to the Coast Guard Detachment of Narra.

The navy said the yacht, Fly Ruben Fly, was sailing from Kudat in Borneo to the western Philippine island of Palawan.

When found, the yacht had run aground and was half submerged, the navy statement said.

Philippine Navy Lieutenant-Commander Algier Ricafrente told MediaCorp that the pair was found in "good physical condition".

"Based on the medical check-up conducted after they were rescued, aside from the sunburn they incurred during their voyage, they were in good physical condition," added Commander Ricafrente, who is also the Philippine navy spokesman.

Navy officials said they have arranged for the two to be flown to Manila to report to the Bureau of Immigration.

The two, however, "opted to proceed to Manila independently with the assurance to coordinate with our office in Palawan after presenting themselves to the Bureau of Immigration to arrange for the recovery of their yacht," Mr Ricafrente said in a text message to MediaCorp.

The Singapore Government has yet to be informed of the incident, he said.

Courtesy of Today

Philippine Naval fleet ready for evacuation assistance at Taal Volcano

Xinhua, Saturday, April 23, 2011

As the seismic activity at the Volcano Taal has been keeping active, the Philippine Navy ordered a nearby fleet to stand by, in case Taal Volcano erupts anytime, according to the military sources on Saturday.

About a company size of troops from the Philippine Fleet are on standby throughout the holy week to provide evacuation and rescue assistance to more than 1,000 caretakers who are reportedly left behind in the danger zone, Jose Luis Alano, Commander of the Philippine Fleet, said in a press release on Saturday.

The Philippine Fleet is the nearest Naval facility that can respond immediately in case Taal Volcano erupts. Aside from the troops, the Fleet Support Force is prepared to deploy rubber boats, trucks, life vests, a team of divers, and an ambulance with a medical team.

Taal Volcano, an island situated in the middle of Taal lake in Batangas province of north Philippines, has more than 5,000 residents, most of whom were already evacuated to safer grounds.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology ( PHILVOLCS) recorded 19 earthquakes in the past 24 hours, one of those event which occurred at 4:31 a.m. Saturday was felt at Intensity III. The temperature at the Main Crater Lake has increased from 30.5 degrees Celsius to 31.5 degrees Celsius.

PHIVOLCS advises the public to keep away from the Main Crater, because sudden hazardous steam-driven explosions may occur and high concentrations of toxic gases may accumulate.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

People's Daily Online

Ogie Alcasid doing a Bob Hope

By Victor Reyes

Malaya, Tuesday, April 19, 2011

SINGER-actor Ogie Alcasid will be doing a Bob Hope through the Bayanihan Peace Caravan 2011 that will hold musical concerts for soldiers in a bid to boost their morale amid allegations of high-level corruption in the military.

Comedian-actor Hope used to headline shows with other celebrities and stars, including Marilyn Monroe, to entertain US servicemen deployed overseas through United Service Organizations (USO) tours. He made some 60 USO tours to various destinations, including Vietnam at the height of the Vietnam war, for which he was honored by the US Congress as the "first and only honorary veteran of the US armed forces."

Alcasid, president of the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), signed a memorandum of understanding with the AFP for the holding of the Rockrakan para sa Kapayapaan concert which kicks off on April 27 at the military’s general headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.

Alcasid will be accompanied by singers Noel Cabangon, Cookie Chua, Syato Banda and Mitch Valdes. Cabangon is the OPM’s vice president for external affairs while Valdes is the group’s chairman of the board. Chua, vocalist of the disbanded Color it Red band, is a member of the 500-man organization.

Performing with them are the Philippine Marine Corps, Philippine Navy Seabees and Philippine Air Force 710th Special Operations Wing and Ltjg. Chat Alvaro, singer of the song "Bayanihan" that was inspired by the military’s internal peace and security plan Bayanihan.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said the concert will be held in selected areas nationwide. He said they are now finalizing the dates and venues.

Alcasid said the activity is meant to show support for the troops. "We feel for the soldiers. You know, when all these things (allegations of corruption) came out, we thought that the morale of the soldiers went down. This is meant to restore (their morale). It’s just our way of showing that we’re for you, we are behind you," he said.

Alcasid, recently appointed by President Aquino to the People Power Commission, said his organization is also supporting the peace initiatives of the 120,000-strong military establishment. He said his group’s concerts have nothing to do with his post which pays him nothing. "I’m doing this as an ordinary citizen. You know, all of us can complain about many things that are going on in our society, even in government. But if you’re not gonna do anything about it (that’s useless)…I’d rather do things that can be of help and these (concerts) are one of them."

Malaya.com.ph