PH Consul General Praises Fil-Am U.S. Navy Admiral During Retirement Ceremony

Consul General Joselito A. Jimeno (right) exchanges handshakes with Rear Admiral Victorino G. Mercado (left) after the latter’s ceremony. (Honolulu PCG photo)

HONOLULU 14 August 2018 — Consul General to Hawaii Joselito A. Jimeno was a guest at the retirement ceremony in honor of United States Rear Admiral Victorino G. Mercado at the USS Halsey (DDG 97) moored at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam in Hawaii on 07 August 2018.

Rear Admiral Mercado has been one of the highest ranked Filipino-American in the U.S. Navy. His family hails from Batangas.

The Admiral is the Director of Maritime Operations of the U.S. Pacific fleet. Among others, he commanded USS Decatur (DDG 73) during deployment with the John C. Stennis Battle Group in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and United Nations operations in Iraq. He subsequently commanded Destroyer Squadron 21, serving as the sea combat commander for the John Stennis Carrier Strike Group.

Among the guest during the ceremony were, U.S. Pacific Fleet Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Matthew Carter, and Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies Director Rear Admiral Pete Gumataotao. Also present during the ceremony were colleagues, family and friends of Rear Admiral Mercado, and members of the Consular Corps of Hawaii.

During this farewell remarks, Rear Admiral Mercado acknowledged the hard work of Consul General Jimeno and the Philippine Consulate in Hawaii in fostering the good relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines. END

For more information, visit www.honolulupcg.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philippineshonolulu.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinHonolulu/