Our love for the sea only exceeds our need to protect it, and our unique geography as an archipelagic nation compels us to acknowledge the advantages and challenges that come with being a nation surrounded and brought together by water. With 1,250,000 square kilometers of oceanic waters defining the country's territory, it is important for the Philippines to have a strong, efficient and dependable Navy. More, importantly, the Philippine Navy should have the vision and the resources needed to realize its role as Guardian of the Philippine seas.