Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. Marines and sailors reach out to local school

Photo By Lance Cpl. Joseph Cabrera | Student at Marcos Elementary School watch as U.S. Navy Lt. Juan Cometa, a chaplain from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and Petty Officer First Class Marco Mirador, a religious program specialist with Marine Aircraft Group 36 performed songs for them Oct. 20, 2008. Cometa plays the ukelele, Mirador plays the cajon and Lt. Kimberly Cain, a chaplain with MAG-36, assists on the vocals. The Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. Marines and sailors visited the elementary school to share quality time with the students and donate school supplies and sports equipment.  

10.21.2008

Story by Lance Cpl. Joseph Cabrera 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Joseph Cabrera
III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs Office

CLARK AIR BASE, Republic of the Philippines — Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. Marines visited Marcos Village Elementary School Oct. 21, 2008 to share quality time with the students and donate school supplies and sports equipment, as part of this year's Talon Vision exercise.

This along with Amphibious Landing Exercise are annual bilateral training exercises conducted between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military, which enhance military interoperability and improve communities through humanitarian assistance and civil action projects. The exercises are currently taking place from Oct. 15-27.

The event opened with school faculty and students welcoming the Marines and sailors to their school. Music was performed by Petty Officer First Class Marco Mirador, a religious program specialist with Marine Aircraft Group 36, U.S. Navy Lt. Kimberly Cain, a chaplain with MAG-36, and Lt. Juan Cometa, a chaplain with Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.

The AFP, U.S. service members bonded with the children and witnessed firsthand how the students are not much different than American children – they even listen to the same music.

According to Amorsolo Galang, the principal with Marcos Village Elementary School, the children were looking forward to the AFP, U.S. Marines and sailors visiting.

"I think it went exceptionally well with all the participation from the Marines, sailors and our Philippine counterparts," Cometa said.

• Date Taken: 10.21.2008
• Date Posted: 10.25.2008 01:27
• Story ID: 25524