DINALUPIHAN, Bataan: The officers and staff of the Ticonderoga guided-missile cruiser USS Cowpens spent the day before Christmas distributing gifts to indigent children and a friendly basketball match with local players here.

The cruiser arrived at the Alava Pier in the Subic Bay Freeport Monday afternoon after over two weeks of humanitarian operation in Tacloban, Leyte in the aftermath of killer Super Typhoon Yolanda.