GIs urged: Visit Philippines cultural sites, not bars

MANILA, Philippines - Hundreds of American servicemen currently in the country for various engagements are being encouraged by their superiors to visit heritage and other tourism sites instead of indulging in activities offensive to Filipino sensitivities during their stay here.

US Task Force Forager Commander Capt. James Mayer issued the guidance to his men who are currently involved in the Pacific Partnership 2015, one of the biggest US military-sponsored humanitarian missions in the Indo-Pacific region.

“They should instead visit heritage and cultural sites in return for the hospitality of the host country,” Mayer said shortly after the official opening of the 10-day humanitarian operations in La Union on Thursday.

Mayer’s guidance is in line with US Pacific Command (USPACOM)’s standing directive imposing curfew on all US troops while in the Philippines to avoid a repeat of the Olongapo City incident in October last year where a Filipino transgender was alleged murdered by a US Marine serviceman while on shore leave.

Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton is currently detained at a US-controlled facility at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City while undergoing a murder trial for the death of 26-year-old Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude on Oct. 11, 2014 inside a motel room in Olongapo City.

Mayer, on board the USNS Millinocket, one of the most modern warships in the US Navy docked at Poro Point in La Union last Tuesday, said his men are required to return to their ship or their respective stations in their free time.

The American servicemen are engaged in humanitarian and medical engagements in various areas of the province.

But to make the most of their free time, instead of going bar hopping, US soldiers can always visit heritage and beautiful tourism sites in La Union.

Mayer said the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) has organized a group tour for the US servicemen to have a glimpse of the premiere military school in the country.

The provincial tourism office of La Union, meanwhile, distributed tourism handbooks and guides to the visiting American troops, containing a brief history of the province, its historical and man-made landmarks as well as its beautiful beaches.

Capt. Albert Mogol, commander of the Navfornorthwest based in Poro Point, said the US servicemen can always visit the Baluerte Watch Tower in Luna town, a disintegrating Spanish-built citadel; the Bacsil Bridge where the retreating Japanese Imperial Army held their last stand in San Fernando City; Kasay Marine Sanctuary, home of 100 out of the 400 coral species in the country.

They can also visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a structure located along the diversion leading to the Poro Point Special Economic Zone, for them to see and reflect on the noble sacrifices of their countrymen who, along with their Filipino counterparts, died fighting in the name of freedom during World War II.

The La Union tourism office also encouraged the US servicemen to see for themselves the Pindangan Ruins, as well as the Poro Point Special Economic Freedom Zone itself, as their ship is docked nearby.

For the US troops who love swimming and surfing, the provincial tourism office advised them to taste the waters at Bauang Beach in the adjacent town of Bauang, the beach in San Juan town, the Agoo Beach, Caba Beach and the Urbiztondo Surfing area in San Juan.

“Under the self-imposed regulations they are always welcome to visit all these places,” Mogol said, adding local security forces are always around to escort them.

At present, the US servicemen are engaged in building schools, clinics, training local disaster responders, dental and medical missions and other humanitarian activities in the province.