Olongapo – Virginia Beach Affirm Fil-Am Friendship
OLONGAPO City officials and residents this week gave a very warm welcome to the trade & economic mission delegation from its sister city Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
“This visit is timely,” Mayor Rolen C. Paulino said, “it is a clear manifestation that Filipinos and Americans continue to share mutual respect and warm friendships despite a recent isolated event here which was blown out of proportion by some sectors.”
Mayor Paulino was referring to the recent death of a male homosexual who was last seen with a young US Marine before being found dead in the comfort room of a cheap hotel in city’s entertainment district.
Virginia Beach City Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr., accompanied by his wife Beverly, Warren Harris, Michelle Chapleau, Roy Estaris and Naomi Estaris were personally welcomed by Paulino, city officials and employees at city hall with a marching band after breezing through Olongapo’s streets lined by people waving PH & US flags.
Sessoms said Olongapo and Virginia Beach, though over 14 thousand kilometers apart, share a common history as hosts of US Naval bases.
He also reiterated the continuing efforts of both cities, as part of the twinning agreement, to develop economic cooperation, technology transfer, disaster preparedness and other mutally beneficial activities.
At city hall, the American delegation presented “Virginia-made” chainsaws to Olongapo’s rescue team, following previous donations of rescue boats and other disaster response and preparedness equipment.
The group visited the marker, similar to one earlier erected in Virginia Beach, near the Ulo ng Apo Rotunda showing how far Virginia Beach is to the City and The Anchor at Marikit Park which is “ a symbol dedicated to the deep and solid friendship” of both cities.
About this time last year, Mayor Paulino also led a delegation that visited Virginia Beach, jump-starting both cities’ mutual cooperation that have already successfully concluded an “exchange student” project, among others.
