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.

Navy goes from rescue to relief operations

By Elena L Aben

The Philippine Navy has shifted from disaster response, rescue and recovery operations to road clearing and relief operations as typhoon "Juan" continued to move forward South China Sea.

Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, Navy Public Affairs Office (NPAO) director, said 250 regular and 200 reservists of the Navy's Disaster Response and Rescue Teams (DDRT) were deployed in the affected areas of Laoag City in Ilocos Norte; Vigan, Narvacan and Candon City in Ilocos Sur; and San Fernando, Bonuan, and Naguilan in La Union to distribute relief goods to affected families.

A medical team was deployed to provide assistance to families in the evacuation centers.

Five Navy vessels and an aircraft were also placed on standby.

As soon as the sky clears, Arevalo said navy aircraft will be dispatched to conduct reconnaisance to assess the extent of typhoon "Juan's" damage.

Joint RP-US Military Training Exercises Begin

By Elena L Aben

Manila Bulletin, Monday, 11 October 2010

MANILA, Philippines – The annual bilateral military training exercises — called Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) and Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) — between Philippine and American forces start Monday.

At least 3,000 US servicemen are now in the country for the nine-day bilateral training, with their counterparts in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, Philippine Navy Public Affairs Office (NPAO) director, said around six US Navy vessels and aircraft will also participate in the annual event that involve five Philippine Navy ships and at least 1,000 Philippine Navy and Marine personnel.

Arevalo said while both Philippine an American sailors and marines stand to benefit from the exercises that will take place in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog, civilians in areas where the activities are set to be held will also gain from joint humanitarian assistance and development projects by Philippine and US military personnel.

The NPAO director said PHIBLEX will involve American and Filipino Marines and amphibious vehicles. A boat raid exercise will be held in Marine Base Ternate in Cavite and a mechanized raid will be held in the coast of the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) in Zambales.

PHIBLEX will officially begin on Thursday, Oct. 14, at Clark, Pampanga and will end on Oct. 22 at the Philippine Marine Corps Headquarters at Marine Barracks Rudiardo Brown, Naval Station Jose Francisco in Taguig City.