DND Arming BRP Gregorio del Pilar with Antiship Missiles

The Department of National Defense intends to arm its recently-acquired warship, the Navy's Hamilton-class cutter BRP Gregorio del Pilar, with antiship missiles, a DND official said Sunday (September 9, 2012).

The official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the matter, said the Gregorio del Pilar's weapons system would be upgraded with Harpoon antiship missiles—described as a modern, all-weather, over-the-horizon defense system.

The Gregorio del Pilar,a decommissioned US Coast Guard cutter, was acquired last August as the Navy's flagship vessel. Although "combat ready," the US stripped the warship of its most sensitive armaments.

The Navy is getting another Hamilton-class cutter from the US, the Coast Guard cutter "Dallas," and this would also be fitted with missiles here, the source said.

"These upgrades will make our Hamilton-class cutters more capable vessels. It will definitely satisfy our minimum deterrent capability as far as naval defense is concern," the official said

Another Hamilton Class Cutter to Twin-up with BRP Gregorio del Pilar is on the process for farewell from its current port in the USA and would be navigating soon within this year to team up with BRP Gregorio del Pilar in safeguarding Philippine Seas

BRP Gregorio Del Pilar - Hamilto Class Cutter

Inquirer 

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Philippines International Gross Reserves hit up August 2012 to $80.80 Billion USD

The country's gross international reserves (GIR) surpassed the $80-billion mark in August, the highest ever recorded by the Philippines and a big boost to the confidence of the international financial community and foreign investors.

According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the GIR hit $80.80 billion as of the end of August, up 6 percent from $75.94 billion as of the same period last year. The latest amount of foreign exchange reserves was also about 1-percent higher than the $79.76 billion posted as of end-July.

The sustained rise in the GIR in August was attributed partly to the central bank's foreign exchange operations. The BSP buys foreign currencies in the market from time to time to temper wild fluctuations in the peso-dollar exchange rate.

Supply of dollars in the market remained strong given the continued growth in remittances from overseas Filipinos and foreign investments mostly in peso-denominated instruments and in the country's business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

The rise in the country's foreign exchange reserves was also traced partly to dollar deposits placed by the national government at the central bank.

The government borrows dollars through loans from foreign creditors or the issuance of foreign currency-denominated bonds. Before the government uses the proceeds from these loans and bond sales to repay maturing foreign debts, it usually parks the funds at the BSP, thus beefing up the country's foreign exchange reserves.

The rise in the GIR was also traced to the increase in the prices of gold in the world market. Of the country's foreign exchange reserves, $10.55 billion were in gold holdings.

GMA News

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Philippine Azkals Street Dogs Win-over Singapore Lions 2--0 after Decades

Phil Younghusband rejoices after scoring the Azkals' second goal against the Singapore Lions. Photo: ABS-CBN

The Rising Philippines seen not only in economy, tourist destination, Web Index, Competitiveness but also in Sports.

For several decades, the Philippines experienced a losing spell against Singapore Lions in football match.

But a pair of goals changed it all for the Azkals on Friday night (September 7, 2012) as the Filipinos outclassed the Singapore Lions...

Emelio "Chieffy" Caligdong fired the opening salvo for the Philippines in the 8th minute.

Chieffy Caligdong scored an early goal to propel the Philippine Azkals to a breakthrough 2-0 win over Singapore in Friday night's friendly match at Jurong West Stadium.

After receiving a pass from Stephan Schroeck, Caligdong eluded two defenders during a counterattack in the eighth minute with a side step move before booting the ball that bounced once before landing on the net for the opening score that rocked a huge Filipino contingent watching the match in the Lion City.

In the second half, it was Phil Younghusband's turn to stun the Singaporeans.

Phil Younghusband added an insurance goal in the 48th minute to secure the country's first win over Singapore since a 2-0 decision on June 12, 1972 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

It was the 14th international goal for Caligdong and the first since scoring two in the Azkals' 2-0 win over Macau in last year's Long Teng Cup in Taiwan.

Behind Caligdong, the Azkals rebounded from a disappointing scoreless draw against Cambodia in Phnom Penh when they blew plenty of chances to boot one home in the second half.

The Azkals also witnessed the first appearance of Fil-German Stephan Schrock since a scoreless draw against Malaysia in June. Schrock has been busy with his club in the German Bundesliga.

Schroeck was eventually chosen as the man of the match for creating scoring chances for the Azkals. Schroeck created another chance for Younghusband, who fired a shot with his left foot for the Philippines' 2nd goal against Singapore in the 48th minute.

Pumped up by the victory, the Filipino booters will try to end their three-leg friendly in style when they travel to Vientiane to face Laos Today (September 10, 2012).

The Singaporean Lions' closest attempt scoring was Fazrul Nawaz's shot in the 34th minute that was disallowed by officials for offside.

There was also a near goal for Singapore in the 43rd minute when Filipino keeper Neil Etheridge's fumble nearly resulted to an own goal.

The Azkals' plays against the Lions were much better than the former's performance against Cambodia.

The Cambodians held the higher-ranked Azkals to a scoreless draw last Wednesday.

Singapore also lacked ferocity in offense with the absence of their injured veteran marksman Aleksandar Duric.

Upon arriving back home, the Azkals then focus on their campaign in the Philippine Football Peace Cup against Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

All scheduled friendlies are part of the team's build-up for the AFF Suzuki Cup in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Philippines had never beaten Singapore since 1991. The Lions blanked the Azkals, 2-0, in their match last year.

Azkals Destiny Today  in Cambodia without Neil Etheridge, Denis Wolf, Paul Mulders

The Philippine Azkals go up against lighweight Laos in the final stop of their three-nation ASEAN tour tonight in Vientiane's National Stadium, their confidence boosted by their recent 2-0 victory over long-time tormentor Singapore.

"Even though it's only a friendly and at the end of the day, it doesn't really mean that much, it's good for our confidence and team morale. After that game, our confidence should be sky-high," said Fil-British defender Rob Gier, who also serves as the team's scout.

Gier, however, cautioned fans against expecting the Azkals to just steamroll their lower-ranked oppositions.

"It's going to be a totally different game. We're not at that stage wherein we beat Singapore and then we're already expected to go and thump Laos, five, six, seven-nil. It doesn't happen like that," he said.

The Azkals will face the Laotians without three players who starred in their win over Singapore – Phil and James Younghusband and Jerry Lucena. The Younghusbands were excused from the game on the occasion of their mother's first death anniversary while Lucena left due to a commitment with Danish Superliga side Esbjerg fB.

"Unfortunately, we will miss the game against Laos but this is an important day for our family and we have spoken with management and they understand," said James.

The brothers assured their continuing commitment to the team.  "We remain fully committed to the national team and look forward to rejoining them in other preparations for the Suzuki Cup late this year," said Phil, one of the goal-scorers against Singapore.

The Azkals, though, will still parade Fil-German Stephan Schrock, whose highly efficient performance at midfield carried the Pinoys past the Lions.

"We have to say that Schrock is in a totally different level, playing in the first division Bundesliga. In recent years, we've never seen a player like Schrock playing for the country," said Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta.

Neil Etheridge, Denis Wolf, Paul Mulders will also be around for the game, the third and last friendly in the Azkals' three-nation ASEAN tour. The Azkals earlier played Cambodia to a goal-less draw  in Phnom Penh before nipping Singapore.

"We'll be happy with any kind of result. If we go through these three games without conceding a goal, I'll be happy," said Gier.

Abs-CBN News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin and philSTAR

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