Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Superintendent Vice Admiral Caesar Bernard N. Valencia, PN, served as Guest of Honor and Speaker during the arrival ceremony of the soon-to-be BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS21) at Naval Operating Base-Subic, Subic, Zambales, on May 8, 2026 — marking a significant milestone in the country's ongoing naval modernization program under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The ceremony underscored the Philippine Navy's continuing progress under the Second Horizon of the AFP Modernization Program, as a newly acquired offshore patrol vessel built by one of South Korea's leading shipbuilders made its formal arrival on Philippine shores.
Navy Brass Welcomes PMA Superintendent at Subic Ceremony
Vice Admiral Valencia was welcomed at the ceremony by Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy, Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Q. Ezpeleta, PN, along with flag officers of the Philippine Fleet headed by Rear Admiral Joe Anthony C. Orbe, PN.
The presence of high-ranking naval officers at the arrival ceremony reflected the weight of the occasion — the formal reception of the Philippines' second offshore patrol vessel under a multi-ship acquisition project that is central to the country's maritime defense posture.
According to the Public Affairs Office of the PMA, Vice Admiral Valencia's participation was a recognition of both his current role as PMA Superintendent and his longstanding contribution to naval modernization efforts that date back nearly a decade.
BRP Rajah Lakandula: Second Vessel Under the Offshore Patrol Vessel Acquisition Project
The vessel, designated as PS21, was built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea and is the second of six patrol ships being acquired under the Philippine Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel Acquisition Project (OPVAP).
The OPVAP is being implemented under the Second Horizon of the AFP Modernization Program, a multi-year, phased initiative to modernize the equipment and platforms of the Philippine military in line with evolving security requirements, particularly in the maritime domain.
Upon formal commissioning, the vessel will carry the name BRP Rajah Lakandula, continuing the Philippine Navy's tradition of naming its vessels after historical Filipino leaders and heroes. The designation PS21 marks it as a patrol ship within the Navy's fleet numbering system.
Vice Admiral Valencia's Decades-Long Role in Naval Acquisition
Vice Admiral Valencia holds a direct and formative connection to the OPVAP, having served as the first Chairman of the Defense Acquisition System Assessment Team of the project. In that capacity, he helped conceptualize the framework of the acquisition program in 2017 — nearly nine years before the vessel whose arrival he would witness as PMA Superintendent.
His contributions to Philippine Navy modernization extend well beyond the OPVAP. He previously served as Team Leader of the Technical Working Groups and Project Management Teams for two other major naval acquisition efforts: the Frigate Acquisition Project, which yielded the Jose Rizal-class Frigates, and the Corvette Acquisition Project, which produced the Miguel Malvar-class Frigates.
These roles position Vice Admiral Valencia as one of the central architects of the Philippine Navy's modern surface fleet — a fact that lent added significance to his appearance as guest of honor at the arrival ceremony of the OPVAP's second vessel.
Vice Admiral Valencia: "Institutional Evolution of Our Navy"
In his message delivered during the ceremony, Vice Admiral Valencia framed the arrival of the vessel in broad institutional and national terms, describing the occasion as more than a routine military acquisition event.
"Today, we are not just witnessing the arrival of a new vessel; we are experiencing institutional evolution of our Navy," Vice Admiral Valencia said.
He further addressed the vessel's symbolic and strategic meaning within the context of the Philippines' maritime sovereignty commitments.
"Our duty is to safeguard the very dignity of our nation. When this ship sails… we are telling the world that while we are a peace-loving nation, our resolve to protect what is ours is as deep as the trenches of the Philippine Sea," Vice Admiral Valencia said.
His remarks drew a direct line between the Navy's hardware modernization and the country's broader national security stance — affirming that the acquisition of new vessels is inseparable from the Philippines' commitment to defending its sovereign maritime territories.
PMA's Role in Supporting AFP Modernization Initiatives
According to the PMA Public Affairs Office, Vice Admiral Valencia's participation in the ceremony reflects not only his personal history with the OPVAP but also the PMA's institutional support for initiatives that strengthen the capabilities of the AFP in addressing maritime and security challenges.
The PMA, based at Fort General Gregorio H. Del Pilar in Baguio City, serves as the premier military academic institution of the country, responsible for producing commissioned officers of the AFP. Its superintendent's active involvement in key AFP modernization events signals the institution's alignment with national defense development priorities.
As the Philippine Navy continues to build out its surface fleet capabilities, the PMA's role extends beyond officer education — with its leadership engaged in shaping the strategic and acquisitions frameworks that define the AFP's force structure in the years ahead.
Offshore Patrol Vessel Acquisition Project: Six Ships Targeted Under AFP Modernization
The OPVAP calls for the acquisition of six offshore patrol vessels in total. With the BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS21) representing the second vessel under the program, four additional units remain to be delivered under the Second Horizon of the AFP Modernization Program.
The AFP Modernization Program, enacted under Republic Act 10349 as amended, provides the legal and funding framework for the phased upgrade of AFP equipment and platforms across all branches of service. The Second Horizon, which covers the acquisition of more capable and sophisticated platforms compared to the First Horizon, includes surface combatants, aircraft, and other major defense articles.
The inclusion of offshore patrol vessels in the modernization agenda reflects the government's priority on asserting and protecting the Philippines' maritime zones, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, where the country maintains active and ongoing territorial and jurisdictional claims.
Vessel Built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, the South Korean shipbuilding firm contracted to build the OPVAP vessels, is one of the world's largest and most established shipbuilders. The company has previously supplied naval vessels to multiple allied nations and has an established track record in the construction of coast guard and patrol-class vessels suited to blue-water and littoral operations.
The selection of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for the OPVAP was part of the formal government-to-government and competitive acquisition process overseen by the Department of National Defense and the AFP, with technical working groups — including those led by Vice Admiral Valencia during his earlier career assignments — instrumental in defining vessel specifications and evaluation criteria.
Arrival Ceremony Marks Continued Progress in Philippine Navy Fleet Expansion
The arrival of the BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS21) at Naval Operating Base-Subic on May 8, 2026 adds a new platform to a Philippine Navy surface fleet that has seen considerable expansion in recent years, with the Jose Rizal-class Frigates and Miguel Malvar-class Corvettes already operational.
Naval Operating Base-Subic, located in Subic, Zambales, serves as a key installation for Philippine Navy operations and has historically played a central role in the reception, maintenance, and forward deployment of major naval assets. Its selection as the arrival point for the BRP Rajah Lakandula underscores its continued strategic importance to Philippine naval operations.
With the ceremony completed, the vessel is expected to undergo final fitting-out, inspection, and commissioning procedures before formally entering service with the Philippine Navy as BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS21).
No date for the formal commissioning ceremony has been announced as of this report.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of the Public Affairs Office, Philippine Military Academy