Philippines-US Balikatan kicks off today

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The 28th Philippines-United States Balikatan Exercises 2012 (BK12) will formally open today, Monday.
It will be attended by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, US Ambassador to Manila Harry Thomas Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Jessie D. Dellosa, and several top security officials and advisers with trainings set in Luzon and Palawan.
The joint military exercises by the AFP and United States Armed Forces, which will run until April 27, calls for a more responsive partnership with the community focusing on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HA/DR) Training.
The AFP, in a statement sent to this reporter, said the opening ceremony to be held at the AFP Commissioned Officers’ Club will feature the unfurling of the Balikatan Flag and messages from US Exercise Director Lieutenant General Duane D Thiessen and RAdm Victor Emmanuel C Martir.
Presentations by Regional Development Councils, AFP’s National Development Support Command, United States Marine Corps Forces Pacific (USMARFORPAC) Experimentation Center, and the Department of Science and Technology will also highlight the event.
Invited to attend the ceremony are Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security; Representative Rodolfo Biazon, chairman of the House Committee on National Defense and Security; Representative Al Francis DC Bichara, chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; and Undersecretary Edilberto Adan, Executive Director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement Commission.
Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo is also expected to attend, along with Undersecretary Jos Brillantes of the Office of Special Concerns; Assistant Secretary Patricia Ann Paez of the Office for American Affairs; Undersecretary Benito Ramos of National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council; and chairman Francis Tolentino of the Metro Manila Development Authority.
Thomas will be accompanied by Colonel Kevin Clark, Chief of the Joint US Military Assistance Group. The third HA/DR focused Bilateral Exercise (the first in 2008 and the second in 2010) of the Philippine-US Balikatan Exercise 2012 is a combined joint military exercise based on the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.
Although BK12 officially opens Monday, its Civil-Military Operations (CMO) activities, particularly the Engineering Civic Action Program already started last March 12 as military engineers from the AFP and USAF are currently constructing school buildings and facilities in some areas in Palawan.
Over 22 thousand village folks from six Puerto Princesa communities are said to benefit from the BK12 CMOs.
In preparation to the Balikatan proper, the AFP conducted a unilateral table top exercise last March 26 to 29 with the Metro Manila Disaster Coordinating Council, National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Center, Office of Civil Defense, and Philippine Red Cross and representatives from the local government units of Quezon City.
BK12 is designed to enhance both military forces’ interoperability in the conduct of not only traditional military training but also on non-traditional aspects that reach out to communities in need of urgent assistance.
The activity is conducted every year to serve as a venue for joint and combined training between the Philippine and United States militaries.
The joint military exercise will be conducted simultaneously in different areas in the country.
The first event is Humanitarian and Civic Assistance projects in Palawan, designed to improve the Philippine and US military civic action cooperation, and train civil-military personnel to work together focusing on civic assistance and HA/DR.
The AFP and US personnel will construct classrooms in five barangays and will conduct multiple medical, dental, veterinary civic action projects in identified communities.
The second event, which involves cross-training and field training exercises in mainland Luzon and Palawan province, is designed to improve the interoperability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US military.
A Command Post Exercise will also be conducted to test the current HA/DR concept plans of the AFP and other concerned government agencies.
The activity seeks to identify gaps and solutions from previous disaster situations that occurred recently in the Philippines and anticipated future calamities.
It will be participated by the National Disaster Coordinating Council, Office of Civil Defense, Metro Manila Disaster Coordinating Council, AFP, United States Agency for International Development, United States Pacific Command, United Nations Country Team, United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, World Food Program, International Federation of the Red Cross and the Philippine Red Cross.
The conduct of BK12 affirms a long and lasting partnership founded firmly on mutual assistance as freedom-loving countries committed to the preservation of liberty, democracy and human life.
The end goal of the exercise is to further promote and foster the existing friendship between the people of the Philippines and the United States and advance the security and stability in the region.
“The relationship between the US Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines continues to be healthy and vibrant. The cooperation between the two Armed Forces manifests the unswerving dedication and commitment of our security forces towards a more stable and secure Asia-Pacific region. We are looking forward to a successful and fruitful Balikatan 2012 which will help our troops to perform better and further improve their capabilities,” General Jessie Dellosa said.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2012/04/15/philippines-us-balikatan-kicks-today-216452
Recent survey done by Philippines Clark Marketing shows that there is a subtle shift of preferences of Manila visitors heading out of town towards the north to enjoy some peace and quiet time with families. More and more foodies, critics, connoisseurs, frequent diners and wine lovers from Manila travel out of town north to Clark Pampanga to wine and dine in famous fine dining Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most visitors enjoy the fine vintage wines from the cellars of this fine dining restaurant. Some purchase a few good bottles of to bring back home to Manila.

Even tourists and business travelers staying in hotels in Philippines Angeles Pampanga take time off from nightlife, bars and other city entertainment to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of wine shopping in this top rated wine shop in Clark Freeport Pampanga. Foreign and local tourists visiting Clark remember shopping in this wine shop as a memorable experience of their stay in the Philippines, Subic and Pampanga.

Italian food is everywhere in the Philippines but good Italian restaurants are few and far apart. Fans of Italian cuisines now look for fine dining restaurants that serve good Italian food accompanied by fine Italian vintage wine. Although Yats Restaurant is classified as a French Mediterranean restaurant, its classic European cuisine includes many of the great recipes from Italy. The fine vintage wines of Clark Wine Center play an important role in this famous restaurant in Clark to make the Italian wine dinners just that much more special.

Things to do in Subic and Clark Philippines: spend an afternoon in Clark to do a little wine shopping at the most famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com