Lo and Behold: The massive starboard of the BRP Gregorio de Pilar (Photo: Mortz C. Ortigoza) |
By MORTZ C. ORTIGOZA
The last time I boarded a water vessel was in Burnham Park in Baguio City when I was a tot. Thanks to the intercession of Commander (Lieutenant Colonel) Julius E. Valdez my fancy about water craft was rekindled again in May 2 (Pangasinan’s Pistay Dayat) when he allowed me as member of the Fourth Estate and my son Nico as my photographer to document my presence in the “big boys’ toy” Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (PF 15) Gregorio del Pilar- the largest and fastest frigate the Philippine Navy presently possesses.
“You should be here at 6 o’ clock in the morning for the rubber boat ride to the ship,” Valdez (PMA Class 1994) , the operation officer of the ship who sat on a portable chair under a huge canvas with his staff, told me around 4 P.M when I signified to him my intention to board the ship.
“Oh, this is the very ground where General Douglas “Dug-out Doug” MacArthur and entourage passed by when he led the liberation of Luzon from the Japanese,” I told Lieutenant Senior Grade (Captain in the Army) Robert Baylon as I gazed curiously at the black figure of the former USS Cutter Hamilton moored roughly six kilometers away from where I stood.
Fellow sightseers and Niko (Extreme Right) |
25 minutes rubber boat bumpy ride to BRP del Pilar
When we returned the following morning the enlisted personnel there, who was holding the manifest list of passengers, finally called me and Nico to join the queue of 23 men, women and children to board one of the three huge orange rubber boats lent by the provincial government’s Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Alert navy guys helped us strap to ourselves the orange life jacket.
As I jumped at the rubber boat the lower parts of my jeans was slapped and soiled by the big waves.
“Geez,I could not attend the presidential visit of President Aquino at 10 A.M because of this. I should have worn a short pant as advised by my wife,” I told some of the excited passengers at the boat.
The rubber boat ride was rough and tumble as the morning waves were high. But I was still amazed at the sites of the majestic coastlines of Lingayen, Labrador and Sual towns as we cruised the 25 minutes bumpy ride to reach the foremost Philippine Navy’s juggernaut.
After 5 minutes, the looming beauty of the 378 feet wide gargantuan now gray BRP del Pilar has imposed itself to us. Its starboard were long and massive with the 76mm Oto Melara gun and Mk92 FCS menacingly crowned on its deck.
If it took us some jumpy foot works and pirouetting in the water to spare our pants to get wet before we embarked to the rubber boat 25 minutes ago, clambering the gangway or sea ladder located at the port of the ship was next to suicidal what with the 36 feet deep water below us. We have to muster trapeze artist liked talent for us to jump from the rocking boat to the stair by holding the extended hand of Navy personnel who was standing on a platform at the side of the ship.
Meeting Colonel Daza
Before the tour guide led my fellow rubber boat passengers
to the different compartments of the ship, LTJG Jojit Ofiaza told me that Commander Valdez radioed him to accompany me
and Nico to the commanding officer’s reception room for my interview with Commander Socrates M. Daza, who is the “mistah” or classmate of
Valdez at the Philippine Military Academy.
Inside the hall was another LTJG, clad in a khaki uniform
that I asked to get the name of my blog site mortzortigozablogspot.com at the bottom part of my column so they
can read online my article on the BRP del Pilar.
I gave him too a dozen of the hard copies of Northern Watch Newspapers for the 150 officer and enlisted men of the ship to browse as they sail to different parts of the archipelago.
I gave him too a dozen of the hard copies of Northern Watch Newspapers for the 150 officer and enlisted men of the ship to browse as they sail to different parts of the archipelago.
As I sat at the seemingly expensive huge black leather couch
as I waited for Daza, I was impressed about the walls and the floor made of
woods and the portraits of Philippine Revolution youngest General del Pilar,
President Aquino, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, and the Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Jose Luis Montano
Alaño that
embellished one of the walls.
I shook hand with the khaki clad Cmdr Daza, as we
exchanged some pleasantries particularly when he was still a cadet at PMA and
where I was also personnel of the Academy’s public information office.
“To avoid “surprises” colonel the following would be my
queries before you answer my questions,” I told him.
Hangar: Daza toured me at the retractable helicopter hangar |
The following were the excerpts of my Q & A with Daza,
the ship executive officer:
Mortz C. Ortigoza (MCO): Can Sokol or Augusta
Westland AW109 be accommodated by the helicopter stern of the 3,340 tons BRP del Pilar?
Daza: I am not
familiar with the characteristic of the Sokol but I think it can be
accommodated if we can accommodate the UH1H Huey, it can accommodate that too
(Sokol).
MCO: You always
bring BO 105 helicopter when you travel? I did not see one on the helicopter
deck.
Daza: We only put a BO 105 during a mission.
MCO: In
Scarborough and Spratly Islands?
(AUTHOR’S NOTE: According to my research, fast helicopters are deterrent to attack nuclear and non nuclear submarines which may be faster than surface warships. For this task the helicopter is equipped with sensors such as sonobuoy, wire-mounted dipping sonar and magnetic anomaly detectors to identify possible threats, and torpedoes or depth-charges to attack them).
Daza: Yah.
MCO: Can this
ship accommodate four BO 105s?
Daza: We
accommodate I think two where one is in the retractable hangar. But they could
not stay here long because they are vulnerable to the elements.
MCO: Is this ship
susceptible against Chinese jets or ships that carry Exocet - type Chinese made YJ-8 anti ship missile?
Daza: I think
lahat naman hindi lang ito kundi all ships kahit sa ibang bansa vulnerable.
What matter is the training of my crew.
MCO: Is this ship
has a Surface to Air Missile (SAM) just like what China and Taiwan possessed?
Daza: Ah, sa
ngayon wala ako sa liberty na sabihin iyan. I’m not on that level (to answer).
MCO: Is this ship possesses a Harpoon and the weaponries
that are attached to the BRP Ramon Alcaraz that would be coming this August?
Daza: So far wala
pa.
MCO: Do you have
here MK 38 close-in weapon system.
Daza: Wala pa,
pero papunta tayo doon as part ng
transformation ng AFP modernization.
(AUTHOR’S NOTE: In the Philippine Navy’s 15-year Strategic
Development Plan, Lt. Commander Nerelito
Martinez, Philippine Fleet acting chief of staff for plans and programs (F5)
said last year that the country will be buying six frigates configured for
anti-air warfare, 12 corvettes designed for anti-submarine warfare; 18 Offshore
Patrol Vessels (OVs) that will compose the backbone for naval patrol.
To
effectively address naval underwater and mine warfare, the Philippine Fleet
planners came up with a proposal for the procurement of three submarines and
three Mine Counter Measure Vessels (MCMVs).
For its
amphibious, sealift and auxiliary services requirements the “Fleet Desired
Force Mix” concept, Martinez said that the Navy fighting force should have four
Strategic Sealift Vessels (SSVs) capable to move one brigade of Marines
amphibious force or any ground force and its support system; 18 Landing Craft
Utility (LCU), three Logistics Support/Replenishment Ship (LSS), three Ocean
tugs, six Yard/Fire Tugs which would provide critical support warships in
docking and undocking.
In
Interdiction and Special Boat Operations (ISBO), the Fleet is also eyeing
additional procurement of 12 Cyclone class Coast Patrol Interdiction Craft
(CPIC), 30 Patrol gunboats, 42 Multi-Purpose Assault Craft (MPACs) and 24 Rigid
Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs).
For its
Naval Air Operations, the Fleet is also looking forward to the acquisition of
eight Amphibious Maritime Patrol Aircraft (AMPA) needed for maritime air
surveillance, 18 Naval Helicopters embarked aboard frigates and corvettes and
eight Multi-Purpose Helicopters (MPH) embarked aboard the SSVs.)
MCO: May mga
escort din ito (BRP del Pilar) whenever it goes for a mission?
Daza: Depende sa
mission. Escort destroyer, meron tayong mine sweepers.
MCO: Does it
carry Anti Submarine weaponry?
Daza: Ah, wala
ako sa liberty to answer. I’m sorry.
My tour at the BRP del Pilar
“Amoy C-130 ang aircon ng barkong ito,” I told him as the ship’s walls and ceilings, abound with bundles of wires and tubes, have been similar in sight and smell with that of the C-130 cargo plane I rode for the umpteenth times when I was a boy because of my air force father.
Daza told me that the cool ventilation in every compartment was powered by 2000 liters a-day diesel fuel. He told me that the cutter carry two truck loads of fuel tankers on its belly.
After the interview he toured me and Nico to the nook and cranny of the 54 years old warship. He showed me the air conditioned non-officer's quarter that accommodates four personnel in their double –deck beds that were covered by canvas for each one’s privacy.
“Geez, just like the VIP “kubol” (cubicle) of prisoners in Muntinlupa,” I quipped.
The officer’s quarter was a luxury as each of them has their air-conditioned room.
He showed us too the laundry room where huge industrial washing machines and dryers wait for the dirty clothes of the personnel there.
It has a desalination machine that converts sea water for the personal use of the folks there.
It has a desalination machine that converts sea water for the personal use of the folks there.
He said PF 15 can travel back and forth economically at 17 knots from up to 9,600 miles without refueling with its diesel fuel at its home port in Subic Bay in Zambales to the disputed Spratly Islets.
The ship can travel faster by 28 knots (Note: One knot is 1.852 kilometers) per hour as it is powered by its two 18 thousand horse-power aircraft gas turbine jet engines.
He brought me to the mini-theater with books in the bookshelves.
“We got here four mini libraries and a gym,” as he opened the steel liked manhole cover for us to peek on the gym in the lower deck.
Lt. Colonel Daza said the books (mostly fiction) were donated by the American government.
Daza brought us to the bridge (cockpit for an airplane) for us to see the gadget that determines the fathom of water where the ship berths.
“How many feet is one fathom?, I posed.
“6 feet,” he said
Outside the front wind shield of the bridge, he pointed to me the 76mm Oto Melara gun with Mk92 FCS.
“See how big its bullet?” he posed to me.
“They are much bigger than the night stick of a policeman,” I reacted.
He said the gun shoots in automatic motion.
Aye Aye Captain: The ship commanding officer Commander Joe Anthony C. Orbe (Extreme Left). |
Meeting the ship’s
Commanding Officer
As we went back at the reception hall, the ship commanding
officer CMDR Joe Anthony C. Orbe, PN (GSC),clad in khaki too, was partaking his morning breakfast composed
of boneless bangus probably bought by his crew in Lingayen.
“Sir, this is Mortz of
the media. He used to live near the batsoyan of Zan-Su (Susan the one who ran
the Batchoy restaurant at PMA franchised by retired Colonel Orlindo Caiingoy- my
province mate in Iloilo)”.
“You got good woods here
at your reception hall, colonel. The black leather sofas were huge and
classy. Were they bankrolled by our
navy?” I posed to Obre whom I was told is waiting this year for his
promotion to Navy Captain (full Colonel) according to my brother, a member of the Corp of Professors, who met him at PMA in the mid 1990s.
Obre told me those woods and couch were still part of
the package when the former U.S Cutter was sold for US$13 million (Php450
million, a bargain) to the Philippine government in early 2011 under the
Foreign Military Sales (FMS).
Son of a gun, even the post card like colored pictures being
given to the sight seers by navy men were still from the Americans as the paint
of the ship there was still white with a “U.S Coast Guard” boldly painted in
black on its bulk head and the ship’s feature that says Hamilton interdicted
weapons smugglers off of South Vietnam and fired more than 4,600 rounds of
naval gunfire in support of U.S and Vietnamese troops ashore, Hamilton directed
the interdiction of over 21,000 Haitian migrants throughout the Caribberan , to
name a few at its back page.
Free Coffee Treat exclusively for me and Nico from the house while dizzy tourists nursed their vertigo. |
Bidding Goodbye to
the Crew
After exchanging some pleasantries with Lt. Colonel Obre,
PMA class 1992, I told them that I should be back at the mess hall pronto lest
my group would leave me with their rubber boat.
“I dread swimming six kilometers from the ship
to the shore”
As we waited for our rubber boat while the Navy guys showed
us their humorous rituals’ video on their 2O inches Sony flat screen TV I heard
donated too by the Yanks, somebody swiped a finger on my back shoulder.
“Sir, ito na po iyong
coffee niyo as you requested from Commander Daza”.
“Oh thanks, the sergeant at the shore was correct when he
told me that my presence here would be business class,” I quipped.
Yes Virginia, it was VIP since I got a coffee in a mug
painted with the coat of arms of the Philippine Navy while the rest of the
passengers stared blankly through the window outside as they nursed their sea
sickness without a benefit of a coffee to mitigate their pain.
(Send
comments to totomortz@yahoo.com)
Off from the Ship's Clinic: Some of the lady tourists who were struck by nausea |
C O M M E N T S
TumugonBurahinPRESIDENT DUTERTE: During my time, wala na akong second-hand mga barko, barko. It has to be brand new. Hindi na ako tatanggap ng mga equipment ng military na second-hand. Iyong ibinibigay ng Amerikano, ayaw ko na ‘yan. Even I have to spend double the money," the President added.
FACT 1: BRP Gregorio del Pilar, a second hand cutter cum frigate, Captain Obre told me was sold for Php450 million (US$13 million, a bargain) to the Philippine government in early 2011 under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS).
FACT 2: The Philippines signed a contract with South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to build two brand new frigates for the Philippine Navy.
Each of the new frigates cost the Philippine government P8 billion (U.S $162.5 million).
Armando Mancio mura nga kc yung mahalagang equipment tinanggal
Januwar Saljuan Sir 2ndhand ba yung 2 missile frigates from sokor worth P8B ?
Marcelo Ortigoza Jr. Brand new, P16 billion iyong dalawa. Di pa kasali ang payments sa trainings ng crew
Regor Anumel Gregorio del pilar is old formerly the USCG Hamilton, it was build in the '60s the U.S. cost guard was retiring this type of ships in thier fleet replacing it with highly capable ship with the latest weapons and technology aboard. That's why its a bargain because the US cost guard doesn't need it
Denmark Suede Obviously he shoots first before thinking. A navy can't just buy a brand new ship off the shelf. It will take 3-5 years from. Bidding to commissioning of the ship. Or is this another joke like I will double your salary?
Denmark Suede Buy as many second hand ships being retired from allied navies while waiting for brand new ships and start bidding or G2G deals for brand warships
Eden Tesoro 8billion pesos hindi pa kasama yung binayad sa mga consultant.
Denmark Suede Under funded yang frigates from SK. Dami kulang na weapons system.
Januwar Saljuan What will happen sa Pohang?. , na ibibigay ng sokor and sa 2 Jao Coutinhio corvettes na 2nd hand ? From portugal?
TumugonBurahinLikeShow more reactions · Reply · 35 mins
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Ellison Marc Cercado Argonillo
Ellison Marc Cercado Argonillo Hindi pa dumating ung pohang class from sokor. Mdyu may kalumaan din iyon...
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Januwar Saljuan
Januwar Saljuan Bka hindi tanggapin ni digong? As what he said... Di na sya tatanggap ng mga second hand ships from US? Made in sokor ang pohang o yung plan ng japan na Hatyusuki destroyer or Haruna class DDH?
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Marcelo Ortigoza Jr.
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Regor Anumel
Regor Anumel Gregorio del pilar is old formerly the USCG Hamilton, it was build in the '60s the U.S. cost guard was retiring this type of ships in thier fleet replacing it with highly capable ship with the latest weapons and technology aboard. That's why its a bargain because the US cost guard doesn't need it anymore.
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Dario Acolentava
TumugonBurahinDario Acolentava Maghintay hanggang dumating ang iquipment from Russia na kargado Ng missile ! Give me ur wish list!
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Michael Jhon Tiu
Michael Jhon Tiu Pang moseyo na daw yan
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Kenneth Nakada
Kenneth Nakada "MCO: Is this ship susceptible against Chinese jets or ships that carry Exocet - type Chinese made YJ-8 anti ship missile?
Daza: I think lahat naman hindi lang ito kundi all ships kahit sa ibang bansa vulnerable. What matter is the training of my crew.
MCO: Is this ship has a Surface to Air Missile (SAM) just like what China and Taiwan possessed?
Daza: Ah, sa ngayon wala ako sa liberty na sabihin iyan. I’m not on that level (to answer)"
This statements boggles my mind
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Genesis Cortez
Genesis Cortez Kung ganun antayin ko muna sa gawa at hindi salita.... ang hirap kc paniwalaan ang pangulo paiba iba sinasabi... at nkadepende sa gusto ng china
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Abner Chan
Abner Chan puro kanaman yabang ang bunganga mo bumili ka
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Loumar Suntao
Loumar Suntao Crab mentality...
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Abner Chan
Abner Chan wala pa napatunayan
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Marcelo Ortigoza Jr.
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Chriz Villegaz
Chriz Villegaz Dapat lang si panot mahilig sa secondhand
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Abner Chan
Abner Chan kung my pamgbili ng bago bakit hindi
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Marcelo Ortigoza Jr.
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Walter Basa
Walter Basa niloloko lng ang pangulo natin sa china.dpat d xa nkipgkaibigan sa china kc jn nanggaling ang mga droga.
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Michael Jhon Tiu
Michael Jhon Tiu Problem kasi may mga obtacle din kasi beyond the power of the president natin sa pag modernaze nang afp
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Bryan P. Duruin
Bryan P. Duruin okay n yan at list meron kesa wala
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Jay Fortaleza Campillan
Jay Fortaleza Campillan Kahit second hand kung seaworthy naman pwede pa magamit kaya ang repairs ng mga pilipino ang importante ma retrofit modernong communication equipment,night vision capable,gunnery and fire control,radar and sonar kung kulang o wala dahil tinanggalan dun bilhin sa ibang neutral na bansa maaring sa israel,norway etc.
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Robert Juan Del Rosario
Robert Juan Del Rosario Except for the besson class LSV at nung Andrada class gunboats, mula after WW2 puro 2nd hand (at di na kailangan ng US dahil obsolete na) ang either binigay saatin because of the US bases.. O binenta sa atin thru the FMS.
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Cris Monteagudo
Cris Monteagudo Ni jetski nga di makabili.Suntok sa buwan yan.Ayaw nya na magagalit sa kanya si Xi.
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Dante de Leon
Dante de Leon magtiis muna habang maiksi ang kumot. kpg me sapat n t un pondo, bago naman. us, jpn and korea made sana.
Eden Tesoro 8billion pesos hindi pa kasama yung binayad sa mga consultant.
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Denmark Suede
Denmark Suede Under funded yang frigates from SK. Dami kulang na weapons system.
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Silvestre A Rayos Jr.
Silvestre A Rayos Jr. He could accept as many dole outs, sa laki ng Philippine archipelago, he needs to triple the size of Navy and Coast Guard
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Denmark Suede
Denmark Suede A Corvette from SK was bought for $100, PN is getting 2-3 more corvettes from Portugal to replace all world war 2 era ships still in service with the PN
Lunilon Sagal may parating na from korea, effort from the fast admin
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Gerardo Laureles
Gerardo Laureles Cnu me gawa kaya meron mga bgo kagamitan ang pilipinas?hndi ang bgong presidente
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Carlito Dayrit
Carlito Dayrit digong kwento mo sa pagong gawa di salita puro ka bunganga....tignan mo si panot. ....dami iniwan sa AFP.....
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Jerry Apigo
Jerry Apigo Ang mahirap po dyan n isa walang mabili maubos sa kabbomba sa maute ang pambili wag naman po sana mbes mag pag salamat nanlait pa ...
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Rudyard Ryan Larosa
Rudyard Ryan Larosa Will close this thread as all I've seen are politically motivated comments. Some accused us admins and mods of being biased to one side. FYI, all mods here, current that is, are non-profit when it comes to politics, we do not and again DO NOT side with any one nor any group of politicians. The admin and mods here, though we do have our own personal choice, makes sure to be in the middle of things. That is why WE DO NOT ALLOW POLITICAL POST OR COMMENTS here. This includes POLITICALLY INCLINED SIDE COMMENTS... If you do not agree, your are free to leave this page. All of us asked to join this page, no one asked you are forced you to join, thus you should follow the rules here.