VLADIVOSTOK – A Philippine Navy (PN) contingent on a historic five-day goodwill visit finally set foot on this port city yesterday morning.
Filipino sailors and Marines were welcomed by Russian political and military leaders, all looking forward to deepen relations between the two countries.
Philippine Ambassador to Russia Carlos Sorreta and his five-member diplomatic staff, including defense attaché Col. Dennis Pastor, were also around to welcome the Navy’s Task Force 87 (NTF 87) headed by Capt. Florante Gagua and Capt. Estelito Lagadia, in command of BRP Tarlac.
Stepping out from LD601, the PN contingent was offered bread with salt, a local tradition accorded to all visitors from other states.
The PN is on a five-day goodwill visit here after two port calls made by the Russian Navy to Manila last year.
During an official call, the commander of the Russian Pacific Fleet, Vice Admiral Sergie Avaleyants, praised the visiting PN delegation.
“This (goodwill visit) is crucial to our friendly relations. (I am) glad that you are all here in our land and we are looking forward (to) future military exchanges and other activities,” Avaleyants said.
For his part, Gagua thanked the Russian officials for the welcome and pointed out Russia’s support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines at the height of the Marawi siege last year.
At the city hall here, the PN delegation was welcomed by Mayor Vitaly Verkeyenko and his staff.
“You are most welcome. Go and visit our museum to know the richness of our culture – how this city was built,” Verkeyenko said, adding that had the contingent arrived a day earlier, they would have joined the city in celebrating “Tiger Day,” a regional holiday.
Meanwhile, Sorreta hosted a dinner for the PN contingent at the Lotte Hotel.
Early Christmas
Earlier, it really felt like Christmas, with the cold Siberian winds sweeping across the seas.
At the conclusion of the mass held in one of BRP Tarlac’s mess halls, the Marine Band of NTF 87 sang Christmas carols.
“It’s as if it’s already Christmas here in Russia. It’s very cold, just like the month of December back home,” an NTF 87 member quipped.
Marking seafarers’ month, yesterday’s mass officiated by Commander Leo Balanlay, chaplain of the 10-day voyage, was offered for seafarers and their families as well as for their safety and wellbeing.
Following a 10-day voyage through the South China Sea, East China Sea and Sea of Japan, the ship entered Russia’s territorial waters early yesterday morning.
‘Meeting engagement’
Following naval tradition, a Russian warship with bow number 350 welcomed the BRP Tarlac at around 2 p.m. (noon, Philippine time).
After the meeting engagement of the visiting and welcoming warships, both vessels headed at low speed toward the designated anchorage area at the port of Vladisvostok. – With Michael Punongbayan