The Philippine consulate general in Honolulu welcomed the arrival of naval and coast guard ships for the Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2026. The vessels docked in Pearl Harbor on June 24 ahead of the drills running until July 31.
Consul General Arman Talbo led the welcome for officers and crew from the Philippine Navy’s BRP Miguel Malvar and the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Gabriela Silang. The consulate and members of the Filipino community in Hawaii greeted the ships and expressed support for their role in the world’s largest international maritime exercise.
The contingent will join ships and personnel from other nations to strengthen interoperability in multi-domain combat and contingency training. Talbo noted that deploying both a navy and coast guard vessel shows the Philippines’ growing maritime capabilities.
He said the participation marks the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the United States. The presence of the two ships symbolizes the strength of the alliance in defense, security and maritime affairs.
The vessels are named after Philippine historical heroes, which officials said reminds participants of the country’s legacy of courage and commitment to national sovereignty.
