Re: ASEAN military news
Festive Welcome Awaits Arrival of PHI Newest Warship in Subic Pier
By Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu
Monday 5th of August 2013
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, August 5 (PIA) -- A festive welcome awaits the arrival of the Philippine Navy’s newest warship- BRP Ramon Alcaraz on Tuesday at the Alava Pier inside Subic Bay Freeport with President Benigno Aquino III leading the rites.“Around 23 vessels composed of yachts, tugboats, and fishing boats will escort BRP Alcaraz en route to the pier,” Philippine Navy spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said.“The ceremony, called the sail past, is a traditional naval meeting procedure where small merchant ships or fishing boats steam in two columns to greet a home bound warship,” Fabic explained.BRP Alcaraz, with bow number PF-16, was formally transferred by the United States to the Philippine government on May 22,2012 during a ceremony in North Charleston, South Carolina.
Captain Ernesto Baldovino became her first commanding officer. For more than a year, she undertook necessary repairs of machineries as well as training of her crew.She left Charleston on June 10 for a two-month voyage to the country, making port stops in Mayport, Florida; San Diego, California; Hawaii; and Guam.PF-16 officially entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday and sail pasts were held when she was within the vicinities of Casiguran, Aurora and Bolinao, Pangasinan.The warship, which is a Hamilton-class cutter, was named after Navy war veteran Ramon Alcaraz.
