27 October 2014 - The Philippine Consulate General in Agana joined the tour of the USS George Washington on October 03, upon the invitation of the Guam Agency of Human Resources Development (AHRD) and the US Navy in Guam.

The USS George Washington (CVN-73) is a United States Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier or a "super carrier," the sixth carrier in the Nimitz class and the fourth US Navy ship named after George Washington, the first president of the United States.

Based in Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan, it was among the first responders dispatched by the US government to bring aid to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan that struck Central Visayas in November 2013.

Consul Edgar Tomas Q. Auxilian represented the Philippine Consulate General and joined the Guam government delegation led by Atty. Naoko Shimizu, wife of Lt. Governor Ray Tenorio, and AHRD Director Alfredo Antolin.

The USS George Washington was docked at the Apra Harbor in the Guam US Naval Base for a four-day goodwill port visit from October 02 to 05 after the conclusion of the Valiant Shield 2014 exercise last September, to allow interested visitors in Guam a rare chance to tour the aircraft carrier.

The Valiant Shield is a US-only exercise integrating Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps assets, offering real-world joint operational experience to develop capabilities that provide a full range of options to defend US interests and those of its allies and partners.

While touring the aircraft carrier, Consul Auxilian had the chance to meet LTJG Hans “Stasi” Toohey, a pilot of one of the helicopters that brought relief goods in Tacloban City in the aftermath of Yolanda. Consul Auxilian thanked him and his other colleagues for their commendable efforts to help the typhoon survivors. END