Sunday, October 12, 2008 Roaring US fighter jets terrify kids
MABALACAT -- It was rainy outside while five-year-old Trisha Carlos was watching the cartoon network channel inside her auntie's home here last Friday afternoon.
Suddenly a continuous thundering sound roared from the sky. The girl ran towards her auntie, shouting: "Tita, Tita, ano yun?!" She cried and she was struggling to cover her ears.
Unsure what was causing the ultra loud noise, her auntie went outside the garage to check it out. Her neighbors in Barangay Dau also did the same. Other children in the neighborhood were also "terrified" by the sounds coming from two F/A-18 Hornets fighter jets above.
The noise, according to folk here, was different and more "nerve-wracking" than the sonic booms of the loud F-4 Phantom fighter jets that ruled the sky here from 1970s to 1980s when the American Armed Forces still occupy the Clark Air Base here.
In Barangay Sta. Inez, elementary pupils from various public schools in this town were especially terrified by the ultra loud aircraft noise. The children were at the covered court for the opening ceremonies of the Cub Scout sports fest.
"Teacher Deth," one of the mentors supervising the schoolchildren, said the latter got scared of the noise produced by the low-flying fighter jets.
"The kids were frightened. They wonder what the loud noise was. Even the village chief went out due to the loud noise caused by jets that flying low, it could almost touch the covered court's ceiling," she said.
It was learned that the jets were F/A 18 from the US Armed Forces. It will participate in the upcoming joint RP-US bilateral training exercises on October 15 in the former US military base.
In a press statement from the US Embassy in Manila, it said: "US and Philippine militaries will start their annual bilateral exercises called Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) with a ceremony on Wednesday, October 15 at Clark Air Base in Pampanga."
The two-week training is set to be held simultaneously in various locations in northern Luzon.
The US Embassy said the bilateral exercises are designed to improve interoperability, increase readiness, and continue professional relationships between the United States and Philippine armed forces.
"US and Philippine military personnel participating in the exercises will also conduct joint community relations activities in selected local communities. These activities include medical and dental missions, school construction, classroom repairs and painting, and community beautification projects," the statement said.
It added: "US Marines from the Japan-based 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force and US sailors from the Essex Expeditionary Strike Group will participate in both ground-air and naval integration training with the Armed Forces of the Philippines."
The F/A-18 Hornets are being used by the US Navy and the US Marine Corps. (JM)
