(From left) MGen. Marvin Licudine, PH exercise director; Gen. Andres Centino, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff ; US Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d' Affaires Heather Variava; BGen. Noel Beltran, AFP deputy chief of staff for Education, Training and Doctrine; and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing MGen. Eric Austin, United States Marine Corps. commanding general, link hands at the opening of the Philippines-US Balikatan exercises held at Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. This year's edition of the drills is so far the biggest in history with around 17,000 participating troops. PHOTO BY MIKE DE JUAN(From left) MGen. Marvin Licudine, PH exercise director; Gen. Andres Centino, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff ; US Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d' Affaires Heather Variava; BGen. Noel Beltran, AFP deputy chief of staff for Education, Training and Doctrine; and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing MGen. Eric Austin, United States Marine Corps. commanding general, link hands at the opening of the Philippines-US Balikatan exercises held at Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. This year's edition of the drills is so far the biggest in history with around 17,000 participating troops. PHOTO BY MIKE DE JUAN(From left) MGen. Marvin Licudine, PH exercise director; Gen. Andres Centino, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff ; US Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d' Affaires Heather Variava; BGen. Noel Beltran, AFP deputy chief of staff for Education, Training and Doctrine; and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing MGen. Eric Austin, United States Marine Corps. commanding general, link hands at the opening of the Philippines-US Balikatan exercises held at Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. This year's edition of the drills is so far the biggest in history with around 17,000 participating troops. PHOTO BY MIKE DE JUAN(From left) MGen. Marvin Licudine, PH exercise director; Gen. Andres Centino, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff ; US Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d' Affaires Heather Variava; BGen. Noel Beltran, AFP deputy chief of staff for Education, Training and Doctrine; and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing MGen. Eric Austin, United States Marine Corps. commanding general, link hands at the opening of the Philippines-US Balikatan exercises held at Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. This year's edition of the drills is so far the biggest in history with around 17,000 participating troops. PHOTO BY MIKE DE JUAN(From left) MGen. Marvin Licudine, PH exercise director; Gen. Andres Centino, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff ; US Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d' Affaires Heather Variava; BGen. Noel Beltran, AFP deputy chief of staff for Education, Training and Doctrine; and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing MGen. Eric Austin, United States Marine Corps. commanding general, link hands at the opening of the Philippines-US Balikatan exercises held at Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. This year's edition of the drills is so far the biggest in history with around 17,000 participating troops. PHOTO BY MIKE DE JUAN(From left) MGen. Marvin Licudine, PH exercise director; Gen. Andres Centino, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff ; US Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d' Affaires Heather Variava; BGen. Noel Beltran, AFP deputy chief of staff for Education, Training and Doctrine; and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing MGen. Eric Austin, United States Marine Corps. commanding general, link hands at the opening of the Philippines-US Balikatan exercises held at Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. This year's edition of the drills is so far the biggest in history with around 17,000 participating troops. PHOTO BY MIKE DE JUAN(From left) MGen. Marvin Licudine, PH exercise director; Gen. Andres Centino, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff ; US Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d' Affaires Heather Variava; BGen. Noel Beltran, AFP deputy chief of staff for Education, Training and Doctrine; and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing MGen. Eric Austin, United States Marine Corps. commanding general, link hands at the opening of the Philippines-US Balikatan exercises held at Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. This year's edition of the drills is so far the biggest in history with around 17,000 participating troops. PHOTO BY MIKE DE JUAN