Ships that guard, leaders who guide

The recent Philippine Navy's 127th anniversary celebration was a clear assertion that the sea is ours, and we will protect it.

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With the rising maritime disputes and evolving security risks, the Navy displayed bravery, clarity, and dedication. At the same time, a fresh generation of soldiers has emerged from the sacred grounds of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), ready, perhaps impatient, to begin their adventure. To the new lieutenants and ensigns, I offer a few words, not as a lecture, but as a brother's advice based on my long military service.

Let us start by saluting the sailors and marines who have crewed the ships, secured the horizons, and protected our archipelago for 127 years. This year's Navy Day commissioned two contemporary ships: the BRP Miguel Malvar and the BRP Albert Majini.

As the Philippines' most heavily armed surface combatant to date, BRP Miguel Malvar is a 3,200-ton guided missile frigate. Eight C-Star anti-ship cruise missiles, 16 Vertically Launched-MICA surface-to-air missiles, and a sophisticated active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system are all carried by her. Air, subsurface, and ship defense capabilities are the three main pillars of a multi-layered defense capacity. In disputed areas such as the West Philippine Sea, this is a pivotal force.

She is accompanied by BRP Albert Majini, a domestically built fast attack interdiction craft equipped with 32-kilometer-range Spike Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) missiles. These Acero-class gunboats are small, swift, and deadly for littoral and coastal operations. These ships work together to create a force that