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The country's naval warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz is dwarfed by the size of Benham Rise and the enormous task given to protect it.

But members of the Philippine Navy aboard the ship had nothing but pride in their duty as they sang "Lupang Hinirang," the country's national anthem, while sailing over the controversial waters.

Alcaraz was deployed to Benham Rise after Chinese ships were recently spotted in the area.

"Marahil ang ispirito ng Benham ay nagalak dahil dumating tayo," said Commander Jeff Nasugo, skipper of BRP Alcaraz, when they entered Benham Rise.

(Maybe the spirit of Benham became glad when we arrived.)

Dressed in full uniform, and their chins held high, the skipper, sailors, and frogmen aboard the ship proudly sang the anthem that reminds them what it means to serve the motherland.

- Report from Chiara Zambrano, ABS-CBN News