The frigate ‘Méndez Núñez’ ends its stopover in Manila and begins its return to Spain

• The Spanish frigate and its crew have participated in official events and meetings, open days and cultural activities. It is now sailing to the Port of Laem Chabang in Thailand

After completing its participation in the international Operation ‘Highmast’, the frigate ‘Méndez Núñez’ (F-104) made a four-day stopover in the port of Manila, Philippines. During this period, the Spanish ship and its crew, under the command of Commander Jaime Muñoz-Delgado Pérez, carried out various diplomatic, military, and social activities that have strengthened the bonds of friendship between the Philippines and Spain. Today, the ship left Manila and has set sail to Laem Chabang (Thailand), where its first stopover on its journey to Spain, which is planned to end in mid-October, will take place.

Upon arrival at the Port of Manila, the frigate took part in a welcome ceremony attended by local civil and military authorities, as well as representatives from the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines. This ceremony was followed by an on-site tour for the authorities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. A reception for civil and military authorities was then held on the ship’s deck.

In addition, during the port call in Manila, two open days were held, which reached a high attendance level by the local population and the Spanish community residing in the country. For the frigate’s crew, these open days were an excellent opportunity to get to know the Filipinos more directly, while also contributing to consolidate the image of closeness and cooperation of the Spanish Armed Forces abroad.

On the other hand, on-board technical meetings were held with the Philippine Navy and the Coast Guard, demonstrating the frigate’s capabilities.

Sport practice was allotted time during this period. Teams from the Philippine Navy and the crew of the frigate ‘Méndez Núñez faced off in friendly football and basketball matches. These activities have served to strengthen bonds of camaraderie and reinforce human understanding between the two navies.

Cultural partnership with the Institute of History and Naval Culture (IHCN)

At the cultural level, the presence of the frigate ‘Méndez Núñez’ has served to support the Navy’s Institute of Naval History and Naval Culture (IHCN in Spanish). The Museum Director, Vice Admiral Enrique Torres Piñeyro, was present in Manila during this period.

Among other activities, a commission from the crew accompanied the IHCN delegation on a visit to the Galleon Museum, currently under construction, which will offer a unique insight into the Manila Galleon, which linked the Philippines with the peninsula via Acapulco and Veracruz in the 17th century. In addition, a commemorative ceremony was organised at the Church of San Agustín, where tribute was paid to Miguel López de Legazpi, founder of the city, followed by a visit to the Manila Tourism Centre. Finally, a visit was made to the Cavite Arsenal, where the naval battle that took place on 1 May 1898 in the context of the war against the United States was commemorated.

All these activities, and especially the warm welcome from the Philippine authorities and population, mirror the close ties that unite Spain and the Philippines, as well as the great importance of the Navy in more than three centuries of shared history.

After several months of deployment in the Indo-Pacific, the frigate ‘Méndez Núñez’ continues now its journey back to Spanish national waters, expected by next mid-October. Without a doubt, its navigation through this region and its last stopover in the Philippines reinforce Spain’s commitment to international maritime security, as well as the projection of an image of the Spanish Armed Forces as an instrument of stability, defence diplomacy and cooperation in areas of special strategic interest.