US ship in CARAT exercises has Pinoy as 2nd top engineer

PHL, US navies hold maritime exercise
PHL, US navies hold maritime exercise. A Philippine Navy sailor mans a .50-caliber machine gun during the bilateral maritime exercise between the Philippine Navy and US Navy dubbed as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) in the West Philippine Sea near waters claimed by Beijing on June 29, 2014. Philippine and American troops are holding naval exercises this month near a disputed shoal, which will almost certainly anger China with tension already high in the South China Sea. Noel Celis/Reuters
A Filipino is the second top man in the engineering section of a US ship taking part in the ongoing Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise.

Meet Senior Chief Petty Officer Arnold Libongco, a native of San Mateo town in Rizal province who serves as assistant engineering department head of the USS John McCain.

As assistant engineering department head, Libongco supervises the operations of the ship's engines, including three that supply electricity to the ship, and the combat system that manages the missiles.
With him aboard the USS John McCain are 20 other Filipinos who are among the vessel's 329 officers and men.

The guided-missile destroyer USS John McCain is one of two American warships taking part in the CARAT at Subic Bay.

Libongco, 46, served 20 years in the US Navy and has good words to say for those serving in the Philippine Navy.

"First time kong makakita ng Philippine Navy ship. Mga Filipino sailors, Navy masisipag, professional, hope to meet more of them," he said.

On the other hand, he said Filipino sailors serving in the US Navy could not sleep much since they are excited to be with their families in the Philippines.

Libongco said he volunteered to help in the CARAT exercise since he had visited his family in San Mateo only last month.

Libongco also said their ship's crew would prepare Filipino food such as lumpia, pansit, and adobo every week. The food would appeal to their American collegaues, he added. —Ernie Esconde/KBK, GMA News

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