PAVIA - A US naval carrier came to the Philippines on Sunday on the first anniversary of its relief visit last year when it provided aid to victims of a devastating typhoon.

Eighteen sailors from the USS Ronald Reagan, including eight of Filipino descent, dropped by a school in Pavia in Iloilo province on the central island of Panay where they painted a school room and helped repair a walkway.

"I'm just glad to be here to take part in this effort. I'm just happy to be back to see some friends and relatives," said Petty Officer Grace Geroche, a native of Pavia, one of the worst affected towns during Typhoon Frank (international codename Fengshen).

A crowd of residents welcomed the Americans at the school with Mayor Arcadio Gorriceta warmly recalling the assistance US troops provided during the typhoon.

Over 1,000 people died and over a million were left homeless after ‘Frank’ battered the central and northern Philippines in June, 2008.

The USS Ronald Reagan delivered food and water and dispatched aircraft and medics to help people on Panay, despite threats by local communist guerrillas to attack them.