FEATURE: My Warm Welcome in Subic

In a 17-year Navy career, I’ve been so fortunate to explore many unique cultures, but one recent experience stands out in my mind. Never did I imagine how one location would enrich my life significantly.

Subic Bay, Philippines, a jewel in the Pacific Ocean, offers travels gorgeous scenery, but it’s the beautiful friendships and fantastic hospitality that’s forever etched in my mind.

On Sept. 19, I got the chance to explore the city from the point of view of those who know the area best; two fellow colleagues in the media business Vic Vizcocho and Jonas Reyes. Both live here. Vic is the owner of the Subic Bay News and Jonas is a photographer with the Manila Bulletin.

Accompanying us for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was my dear friend Elena Aben, a reporter for the Manila Bulletin who I know from when I was the deputy public affairs officer at Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines from Sept. 2009 to April 2010.

When I would travel from Zamboanga to Manila for U.S. Embassy coordination efforts, I could always count on Elena to warmly welcome me to the city and make me feel as though we’d been friends forever.We are kindred souls who have connected on a deep level despite the ocean that separates us.

Our special day together started with a tour of the USS Boxer (LHD 4), an Amphibious Assault Ship where I am the public affairs officer for the Amphibious Ready Group. We hosted nearly a dozen members of the media, 40 Philippine Marine Officer candidates, and the Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps.

 

I was honored to help coordinate the tour. And when we publicize these exchanges, I think it helps explain to the community why it’s so important for our military’s to train together and increase interoperability.

By sharing best practices with one another, we grow as a team, enhance our readiness and build cultural ties.

After the tour, we explored the city, visiting multiple Subic restaurants. I tried rice “luto sa buho” (cooked and served in bamboo stalks), “sinigang na ulang” (freshwater shrimp in sour soup) also cooked in fresh bamboo stalk, inihaw na bangus (grilled milkfish), and lechon kawali.

For dinner, we had green mango with “bagoong”‘(shrimp past ), chicken sisig, pinakbet, bulalo (beef marrow soup), and rice noodles. My favorite dish was the fresh mango with shrimp paste dip.

Everything was so flavorful and delicious, and I am so grateful for my hosts who could patiently explain the food choices and make excellent recommendations.

We finished the night singing together at a restaurant (Cork Room Bistro) where a gifted guitarist played along as we tried different songs. It was the first time

Elena did karaoke without a private room. She has a beautiful voice, and I hope she’ll sing in the future for others because she’s really good.

 

I brought along a friend from the ship and what a beautiful time we had singing classic rock and pop songs and more importantly, laughing together and strengthening our friendships.

I may not remember all my experiences on this deployment, but what will always stand out is the warm welcome extended by the Filipino people in Subic.

The kindness is just overwhelmingly appreciated. Tonight, our driver surprised me and my friend by dropping us off directly in front of the ship instead of at the entrance gate.

Gestures like this are a testament to a proud, kind, and incredibly gracious people who go out of their way for others.

I have been truly blessed to have had the opportunity to come to Subic and spend time with the people here. It’s an experience that I’ll never forget. (Photos by Elena Aben and Vic Vizcocho)