Excellency Mr. Eduardo Año, National Security Advisor of the Philippines, General Romeo Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, esteemed fellow ambassadors, Excellency Eduardo José A. de Vega, Undersecretary for Migration Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, Commodore Lued L. Lincuna, representing the Chief of the Philippine Navy, Senior Officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Rear Admiral Susheel Menon, Flight Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, and the Commanding Officers of the Visiting Indian Naval Ships. 

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat, good evening to all of you. 

It is a matter of immense pleasure and privilege for me to welcome all of you aboard the magnificent Indian Naval Ship Shakti to celebrate the goodwill visit of the three ships of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy to the beautiful and historical shores of Manila Bay.

 The visit of the Indian Naval Ships to the Philippines is a powerful testament to the enduring friendship and growing maritime cooperation between the two countries. It also symbolizes our shared commitment to the freedom of navigation and a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. 

I extend my sincere gratitude to the Philippine Navy for the warm welcome and generous support extended by them to the visiting Indian ships. 

The three ships that arrived yesterday will be joined by another ship, INS Sandhayak, a survey ship, tomorrow morning. There is a long tradition of the Indian Naval Ships making port calls to the Philippines almost every year. However, it is for the first time that a survey ship is visiting the Philippines. 

These historic visits serve as ambassadors of peace, building enduring bridges of friendship across the vast oceans and seas that connect our nations. They also offer an invaluable opportunity for the defense forces of the two countries to foster mutual trust and understanding, contribute to addressing our shared maritime challenges, and enhance interoperability through professional exchanges and joint cooperation activities. 

The mutual cooperation between our navies aligns with the transformative vision of our Prime Minister's SAGAR initiative, Security and Growth for All in the Region, emphasizing our unwavering belief that collective prosperity and comprehensive security are best achieved through sustained collaborative efforts and shared responsibility. 

India and the Philippines share deep-rooted historical and cultural ties. Our relations are built on shared democratic values, mutual trust, and profound respect for one another's sovereignty and development aspirations. 

We share a common vision for a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region, where all nations, regardless of size, can thrive and prosper. 

The maritime domain presents both unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges that require coordinated responses. It is in our common interest to ensure safe spaces for commercial vessels and address non-traditional security threats such as piracy, trafficking, and environmental degradation. 

The visit by the four Indian naval ships comes at a time when we are celebrating 75 years of the establishment of our diplomatic relations and looking forward to further deepening our multifaceted cooperation. 

I am glad to inform you that the two navies will engage in a maritime cooperation activity for the first time when the Indian naval ships depart the Manila harbor on August 3. This historic visit of the Indian naval ships and the upcoming maiden maritime cooperation activity collectively set a positive tone for the state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to India next week, underscoring the deepening partnership and expanding cooperation between our two nations. 

Before I conclude, I extend my most heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Rear Admiral Susheel Menon, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, and the exceptional men and women of the three ships for graciously hosting us this evening. 

In closing, I wish to express India's unwavering and steadfast commitment to the warm bonds of friendship with the Philippines. We firmly believe that by working together with determination towards a shared purpose, our expanding maritime cooperation will not only substantially bolster our bilateral ties but also contribute profoundly to the peace and prosperity of the entire Indo-Pacific region.

 I thank you all for joining us in celebrating this momentous occasion and honoring us with your gracious presence. Thank you. Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat!