Quezon City residents tour USS Blue Ridge

MANILA, Philippines — Residents of Barangay Blue Ridge B in Quezon City have been given the opportunity to tour the visiting United States 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge in Manila.

The 7th Fleet staff welcomed the residents for a ship tour while the Blue Ridge was docked in Manila on Sunday.

“This is an honor for us. We got the chance to see the ship and its crew. We really feel that we are part of the ship’s legacy,” Sessan Castro-Lee, chairman of Barangay Blue Ridge B, said.

The Blue Ridge and Barangay Blue Ridge B share a namesake, taken from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the eastern United States.

Upon learning that the ship was visiting Manila, Lee contacted the US embassy in Manila to arrange the tour.

“I did not expect to get a response on such short notice. It was an amazing experience for all of us,” she said.

Lee toured the ship along with the councilors, staff and residents of the barangay.

As the second-oldest ship in the US Navy’s fleet, the Blue Ridge features analog controls for speed and navigation. 

During a stopover at the ship’s cafeteria, chief culinary specialist Ron Lanuza said the command ship feeds more than 1,000 crewmembers.

Lanuza is among more than 150 Filipino-American personnel of the Blue Ridge who made a port call in Manila.

The visitors had the opportunity to sit in the commanding officer’s chair while on the ship’s bridge.

They proceeded to the deck where Silvia Bohorquez, the 7th Fleet’s first female search and rescue swimmer, demonstrated how to use rescue equipment. 

On the flight deck, public affairs officer for the USS Blue Ridge Charles Ludwig explained to visitors how the helicopters on board provide resupply, transport and search and rescue support.

The residents also visited the forecastle or fo’c’sle, in which the ship’s anchoring gear is housed, and passed through the ship’s version of “main street,” a corridor where a barber shop, bank and post office operate.

Lanuza, who served as one of the tour guides, said the tour was a chance to give back to the community.

“Being from the Philippines, I know how important the people here feel the US Navy is to the region, so we always want to give back,” he said. “Finding out that we have a local community that shares our name made the opportunity even more important for us. I think they really enjoyed the tour, and hopefully we will be back soon so we can meet again.”

Officials of Barangay Blue Ridge said they look forward to meeting USS Blue Ridge sailors.  

“Next time the Blue Ridge comes to Manila, we would love to welcome the crew here,” Lee said. “We hope to contribute to keep the friendship between our two countries strong.” 

Blue Ridge is commanded by Capt. Eric Anduze and serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7, Task Force 76, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force. 

Barangay Blue Ridge B was created in the late 1970s. It occupies about 15 hectares with approximately 200 households.