BRP Antonio Luna (FF151) has hosted Filipino visitors and foreign delegates while she was in Singapore for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – India Maritime Exercise (AIME) 2023, the Philippine Navy (PN) said on Sunday, May 7.

(A Philippine Navy personnel engages with counterparts from foreign navy onboard BRP Antonio Luna at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore on May 4, 2023. Photo courtesy of PN)

BRP Antonio Luna is the second ship of the PN's Jose Rizal-class, missile-guided frigates. She is capable of conducting multi-role operations including anti-surface warfare (ASUW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and anti-air warfare (AAW).

Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Defense and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad and Amb. Medardo Macaraig, Philippine Ambassador to Singapore, paid a visit to BRP Antonio Luna while the ship was docked at the Changi Naval Base on May 3, according to Ensign Menoel Orpilla, a PN public affairs officer onboard the frigate.

Captain Charles Merric Villanueva, skipper of BRP Antonio Luna, welcomed Zaqy, his staff, and Macaraig aboardship, and toured them around one of the PN’s most modern and capable warships.

(Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Defense and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad is welcomed by a Philippine Navy personnel as he visited BRP Antonio Luna at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore on May 3, 2023. Photo courtesy of PN)

Meanwhile, BRP Antonio Luna opened her doors to the public for the “Open Ship Day” on the following day.

“Foreign navy personnel, students, and our kababayans in Singapore were treated to a guided tour aboard the one of the country’s most modern and capable warships,” Orpilla said. 

Orpilla noted that the event provided an avenue for the visitors to personally witness the continuous modernization of assets and capabilities of the PN.

(Amb. Medardo Macaraig, Philippine Ambassador to Singapore, visits BRP Antonio Luna while she is docked at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore on May 3, 2023. Photo courtesy of PN)

The PN’s Naval Task Group 80.5 aboard BRP Antonio Luna is currently in Singapore to participate in the first ever AIME 2023. 

The exercise seeks to hone the skills of navy personnel among participating countries and promote regional peace and stability with the ASEAN and Indian navies.

It involves nine ships, six aircraft, and over 1,800 personnel from 10 participating countries namely co-hosts Singapore and India, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.