ATIMONAN, QUEZON, Philippines — U.S. Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, worked alongside Armed Forces of the Philippines service members with Southern Luzon Command and local volunteers during Brigada Eskwela 2026 (School Brigade) at Atimonan National Comprehensive High School, Senior High School, in Barangay Buhangin, Atimonan, Quezon.
Brigada Eskwela, an annual program led by the Philippine Department of Education, unites teachers, parents, alumni, students and community partners to prepare educational facilities for the upcoming academic year. The initiative promotes volunteerism, shared responsibility and the creation of safe, conducive learning environments across the Philippines.
Throughout the event, U.S. Marines, AFP service members, and local participants completed a variety of projects including clearing overgrown vegetation to aid in the construction of a concrete walkway and planting trees to help improve the appearance of the campus, fostering a safer school enviornment U.S. Marine Corps 1st Sgt. Joshua McNeil, senior enlisted advisor with CLR 3, said participation offered Marines and Sailors an opportunity to contribute to the local community while simultaneously strengthening bonds with Philippine partners.
“Participating in an event like Brigada Eskwela is important for Marines and Sailors of CLR 3 because it reinforces the broader role Marines play beyond combat operations,” McNeil said. “It strengthens relationships with local communities, builds trust with partner nations and demonstrates a commitment to service that goes beyond the battlefield.” McNeil noted working directly with AFP personnel and community volunteers transformed shared values into tangible action.
“Working alongside the AFP and other volunteers connects purpose to action,” he said. “It’s one thing to talk about values like service, leadership and commitment, but it’s another to demonstrate those traits in a way people can see and feel. Events like Brigada Eskwela turn those values into something tangible by directly improving lives. Repairing a walkway or planting trees may seem like a small task, but it can have a great impact on the students’ and faculty’s school year.”
Philippine Army Col. Leon Onggao, acting assistant for Unified Command Staff for Joint Training, SOLCOM, said participating in Brigada Eskwela directly supports the AFP’s mission to protect and serve Filipino communities. “For SOLCOM, giving back is not just an act of service, it’s a responsibility,” Onggao said. “Our mission goes beyond defense; it includes ensuring the well-being of the people we protect. By engaging in community projects, we strengthen flexibility, foster goodwill, and show that the AFP is deeply rooted in the lives of the citizens we serve. It’s about building a bond of trust and demonstrating that national security is inseparable from community welfare.” Col. Onggao also emphasized the significance of U.S., Philippine cooperation during a community-based event.
“Witnessing U.S. Marines working shoulder to shoulder with AFP members and local volunteers is a powerful symbol of unity,” he said. “It shows that despite differences in nationality, we share common values of service, compassion and solidarity. It’s a reminder that alliances are not only forged in times of conflict but also in acts of kindness. It inspires confidence that our partnership is genuine, extending from military cooperation to humanitarian efforts.”
This event highlighted the enduring partnership between the United States and the Philippines, reinforcing shared goals of community resilience, education and a stable, prosperous Indo‑Pacific region, directly connecting to the objectives of Exercise Balikatan. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity.