27 fishing boats escort BRP Alcaraz

MANILA, Philippines - As the Philippine Navy frigate BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) sailed off Casiguran, Aurora on Friday, 27 fishing boats escorted the arriving warship.

As shown in a photo released by the AFP Modernization page on Facebook, the fishing boats surrounded the Alcaraz as it sails past the ceremony area.

Related: BRP Alcaraz 'finally home'

Navy spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said that the ceremony is a traditional naval meeting procedure where small merchant ships or fishing boats steam in two columns to greet a home bound warship.

Joining the fishing vessels in welcoming the Alcaraz is Navy Patrol Gun Boat 377.

The warship with 88 officers onboard sailed in the Pacific Ocean from South Carolina since May, while making stopovers at San Diego, California, Hawaii and Guam before making its final voyage to the Philippines.

It is scheduled to anchor in Subic Bay where it will be welcomed by President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday.

Flag-officer-in-charge Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano called the Alcaraz's arrival as a milestone in the push for the armed forces' modernization.

"The PN finds it to be a significant development in line with the modernization program and capability upgrade," Alano said.