Despidida for crew of BRP Gregorio del Pilar

BOOKS for the BARRIOS is organizing a call to All Bay Area Filipino Americans to support the men and women of the Philippine Navy who will depart for extended duty in the West Philippine Sea to provide safe and secure waters in the Homeland.

Commanding Officer Captain Alberto Cruz P.N. and Executive Officer Commander Reynaldo Lopez P.N. invites the public to join his proud Plankowner crew (a navy term for the initial commissioning crew of a new navy ship) for a despidida on the pier at Coast Guard Island on Monday 18 July at 0900 AM.

Departing on her maiden global operational voyage, BRP Gregorio del Pilar, recently transferred from the United States Coast Guard, sets a new standard of Philippine Navy force combat readiness, as the most advanced, most powerful ship in the nation’s inventory.

The volunteers of local independent school peace and green action public benefit children’s charity BOOKS for the BARRIOS demonstrated their respect for the professionalism and dedication of the BRP Gregorio del Pilar by making a major gift of library books for the Ship’s Library and children’s first readers the crew’s dependents. Also included was a special case of children’s reading books that the PF-15 has agreed to share with forward deployed military forces in faraway Palawan.