An American diplomat on Monday, April 22, said the annual war games between the Philippines and the United States give the peoples of both countries the chance to strengthen their ties, which is the backbone of the “deep friendship” between the two nations.

During the opening ceremony of the Balikatan Exercises, US Embassy in Manila Chargé d’Affaires Robert Ewing said the event represents not only the military readiness of the Philippines and the US but it also embodies “the deep-rooted spirit of collaboration and partnership” of alliance of the two sides.

While Balikatan is central to achieving the shared commitment to greater interoperability between the two forces, Ewing said, it also creates people-to-people connections that have become the “backbone” of the friendship between the two nations.

“One of the most exciting aspects of the exercise for many of our service members is the chance to experience Philippine culture and see the unique friendship between our nations,” Ewing said.

“For our Filipino-American service members, Balikatan offers a heartfelt homecoming, a chance to reconnect with their heritage,” he added.

Ewing said for those who do not know the Philippines yet, it is “a chance to meet new counterparts, immerse themselves in Filipino warmth and hospitality, and experience Filipino bayanihan firsthand.”

But Balikatan is not only about seeing the culture as far as people-to-people ties are concerned, he said.

The annual exercise offers both troops the opportunity to serve the Filipino people.

“Together, we contribute to disaster response preparedness, humanitarian assistance, and community outreach programs,” he said.

“Operating under the Balikatan Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force, our forces are collaborating on projects to improve infrastructure, bolster medical services, and strengthen ties with local communities,” Ewing added, noting the P30 million investment in such an undertaking.