Since Commodore Berger was unable to attend the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary Convention, he sent a heartwarming message to the attendees, which was published in the convention souvenir book. Commodore Berger also proposed that the signing of the memorandum be re-enacted at the subsequent U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s conference, NACON 2000.
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The reenactment of the signing of the MOA by Commodores Mendoza and Berger at the USCGA national conference in Kansas City, Missouri is witnessed by Philippine and U.S. Coast Guard officers. |
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NACON 2000 was held in Kansas City, Missouri, from 31 August to 2 September 2000. The Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary contingent was made up of six officers: Rear Adm. Matias B. Aznar, the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary National Commander; Commodore Higinio C. Mendoza Jr., Commander of Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary District 4; Commodore Casimiro Juarez of Philippine Coast Auxiliary District 10; Cmdr. Felix Labanda of the 4CGDAUX Aviation Department and his wife, Lt. Cmdr. Florentina Labanda; and Capt. Serafin C. David, a former 4CGDAUX Squadron Commander who is now liaison officer between the 4CGDAUX and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
At NACON 2000, the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippines and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary districts was reenacted. The reenactment was witnessed by the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Adm. James Loy; the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Commodore Everette L.Tucker, and; by the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary National Commander, Rear Adm. Aznar, as well as by other Coast Guard officials of the two countries.
Of special note is the fact that this was the first time since 1939 the Philippine flag was displayed in a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary national conference. Also present for this occasion were international Coast Guard Auxiliary representatives from the Bahamas, Canada, Italy, and the Virgin Islands. The head of the U.S. Air Force Civil Air Patrol, Brig. Gen. James Bobick, also took part in the conference.
During the conference, Commodore Mendoza proposed to establish an "International Federation of Coast Guard Auxiliaries." He envisioned that this federation would continue to enhance maritime and boating safety, and diplomatic relations between the interested countries. Brig. Gen. Bobick also expressed a wish to establish a U.S. Civil Air Patrol agreement with the PCGA’s Air Operations Wing.
The signing of the new Memorandum of Understanding not only will benefit the Coast Guard Auxiliaries of the Philippines and the United States, but also will help strengthen the traditional good relations between the two countries.
