26 August 2014 - Philippine Consul General in Honolulu Gina A. Jamoralin, together with  Philippine Marine Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Commandant Major General Romeo Tanalgo, attended as guests at the Change of Command Ceremony of the Marine Corps of the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) held at US Marine Corps Base, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on August 15.

Lt. General John A. Toolan, took over  the command of the US Marine  Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC) from Lt. General Terry G. Robling.

Admiral Samuel Locklear, US PACOM Commander, in his remarks during the ceremony, lauded the leadership of  Lt. General Robling, as then   MARFORPAC commander ,  during the US humanitarian efforts  in Leyte during Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan.  Admiral Locklear said that during Typhoon Haiyan, US marine forces under the US Pacific Command, were “on the spot immediately to help its ally, the Philippines”.

The United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) based in Pearl Harbor Hawaii, has an area of responsibility encompassing half of the earth’s surface. The USPACOM protects    the security  of the United States and enhances the stability in the Asia-Pacific region in cooperation with  its allies and partners in the  region including the Philippines. USPACOM has four component commands: US Pacific Fleet;  US Pacific Air Forces; US Army Pacific; and US Marine Forces, Pacific. The US PACOM also plays a key and important role in the US rebalance to  Asia. END