Balikatan school visit helps Philippine children

  • Published
  • By Chief Petty Officer David M. Votroubek
  • Balikatan 2010 Public Affairs
ANGELES CITY, Philippines --  Philippine and U.S. servicemembers joined together to provide much-needed clothing and other every day items to local school children here March 15.

The community relations project took place during Balikatan 2010, an annual bilateral exercise involving the Philippine military, Philippine civil defense agencies, and the U.S. military. It is designed to increase security in the region, as well as interoperability between U.S. and Philippine forces.

U.S. Airmen from 13th Air Force at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii, the 33rd Rescue Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, and the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron at Wheeler Army Air Field, Hawaii, delivered clothing, hygiene items, linens and toys to students at Sapang Bato Elementary School.

Philippine Air Force Col. Palagio Valenzuela, who helped plan the visit to the school, said the visit helped the students learn about the military and clear up any misconceptions they may have had.

"Their impression of the military is changing because of this kind of activity," said Colonel Valenzuela as he watched the students with the Airmen.

Most of the donations came from the military community in Okinawa, Japan. U.S. Air Force personnel also contributed $1,000 for school supplies, and Hawaii-based units donated boxes of new T-shirts.

During the visit, students greeted the Philippine and U.S. airmen with songs, dancing and garlands, while Sapang Bato Elementary School principal Leonida Quinto presented certificates of appreciation to Colonel Valenzuela and U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Chris Veazie.

Colonel Veazie, who is deployed to Balikatan 2010 from 13th Air Force, joined Colonel Valenzuela in symbolically presenting a box of clothing and toys to the principal.

Afterwards, hundreds of students surged forward to meet the military members. Ms. Quinto then gave Colonel Veazie a tour of the school grounds, while teachers and students took several of the Airmen to see their classrooms.