Flagship of US 7th Fleet arriving today

MANILA, Philippines - The flagship of the United States 7th Fleet is arriving in the country today for a four-day goodwill visit, the US Embassy in Manila announced yesterday.

In a statement, the US Embassy described the arrival of the USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) as a routine port call and a goodwill visit to highlight strong historical relations between the Philippines and the United States.

Blue Ridge is the command and control ship of the US 7th Fleet deployed in the Asia-Pacific region.

While in the country, US sailors, some of them Filipino-Americans, are scheduled to conduct and engage with their counterparts in sporting events, seminars and community assistance projects.

Among those aboard the Blue Ridge are members of the renowned US Navy 7th Fleet Band, scheduled to treat Metro Manilans to post-Valentine free concerts at the EDSA Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City on Tuesday next week and at the SM South Mall in Las Piñas City the following day.

“The 7th Fleet Band Far East Edition, a versatile 20-piece show band composed of professional US Navy musicians, will perform a variety of music that ranges from traditional to contemporary big band, jazz, Latin, and popular current hits. The Band has been a featured performer at major events in other countries in the Western Pacific and has entertained hundreds of thousands of people in the region,” the US embassy press statement said. – With Pia Lee-Brago