Philippine Marine troops salute the flag while being lowered during sundown at the BRP Sierra Madre, a marine fleet detachment in Ayungin shoal. 蜜桃工作室 FILE PHOTO
CAVITE, Philippines鈥擲miles ensued once the Chief Executive held in a high pedestal the outgoing and incoming Navy chiefs and the nine brave men that stood ground at the disputed islands.
President Benigno Aquino III praised Vice Admiral Luis Alano, the outgoing Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command, and Rear Admiral Jesus Millan, the incoming Navy Chief, Wednesday at聽Naval Base Heracleo Alano, Sangley Point, Cavite.
He also commended the efforts of the nine military men who stood ground at the BRP Sierra Madre at the disputed Ayungin Shoal.
鈥淎s the guardians of an archipelago, the depth of the responsibility could never be discounted,鈥� Aquino said during the turnover of leadership of the Philippine Navy. 鈥淵ou are the first barriers of the country against elements that try to enter the country and are the first defenders against terrorism.鈥�
Aquino added that a Navy Chief should look at the big picture, quick, knows the implications of his actions.
鈥淣ot only should they go with the flow, but rally the troops for the betterment of the country,鈥� Aquino said.
Aquino said that Navy Chiefs should be the embodiment of the traits he mentioned.
He said during Alano鈥檚 reign as Navy Chief, he never heard the Vice Admiral lose any hope during the toughest times of the country including the Zamboanga crisis, patrolling Philippine territories at the West Philippine Sea, the Cebu and Bohol earthquake, typhoon 鈥淧ablo鈥� and Super Typhoon 鈥淵olanda.鈥�
鈥淟et us remember that the Philippine Navy not only addresses the problem of the current time but also looks for solutions that would benefit us in the long run,鈥� Aquino said. 鈥淎nd let us have faith that Rear Admiral Millan would continue to build the straight path for your organization.鈥�
Aquino said Millan started from humble beginnings in the military and the versatility that he acquired when he also became a naval pilot molded him to be the leader that he is now.
鈥淚n the air, or in the water, Rear Admiral Millan has shown excellence as a soldier and as a leader,鈥� Aquino said. 鈥淎nd even though he has attained so much, people told me that he is still very approachable and that his peers said that he could even add 鈥楪uidance Counselor鈥� as one of his jobs.鈥�
鈥淭o Rear Admiral Millan, may you show your wisdom and abilities to inspire the Philippine Navy.鈥�
Ayungin nine
Apart from the two Navy chiefs, Aquino also lauded the nine men that stood proud during their duty at the BRP Sierra Madre.
He said the original stay of the nine Marines would only last for three months, yet with the constant intervention of Chinese forces, their stay extended to five months.
鈥淓verywhere they look, it鈥檚 the ocean,鈥� said Aquino who compared the predicament of the nine Marines to the conditions that the characters in the movie Waterworld experienced.
鈥淣ot to mention the darkness and cold of living away from your home and family.鈥�
He said he never received a complaint from the nine men even with their predicament.
鈥淭hey even told me that 鈥榠t鈥檚 not a problem, it鈥檚 our responsibility.'鈥�
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