BRP Ramon Alcaraz to arrive in Hawaii this weekend

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 11): BRP Ramon Alcaraz to arrive in Hawaii this weekend

BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16), the second Hamilton-class cutter in Philippine service, will be arriving in Hawaii this weekend.

"She will be arriving in Hawaii this weekend for its second stop over. She will be there for re-provisioning, re-supply and re-fueling," Philippine Navy spokesperson, Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic, said.

He added that the voyage to Hawaii has been going smoothly and perfectly.

"All her systems are functioning perfectly so far," Fabic stressed.

The BRP Ramon Alcaraz left San Diego, California for its Hawaii port call Saturday morning (Philippine time).

The Filipino frigate docked at San Diego, California for re-fueling and re-provisioning last June 28.

Hawaii is the second port call the Filipino frigate will make as it cruises back to the Philippines.

She is expected to be in the country by first week ofAugust and in commission by September.

BRP Ramon Alcaraz successfully concluded her Panama Canal crossing last June 18.

With this achievement, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz becomes the first Filipino warship to cross the historic waterway under her own power.

The Philippine frigate departed Charleston, South Carolina last June 10.

Prior her arrival at the Panama Canal Zone, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz made a brief stopover at Mayport, Florida to successfully test fire her 76-mm Oto Melara automatic cannon and speed trials attained at 25 knots without any difficulty.

The ship's top speed is placed between 29 to 31 knots.

On July 2, Concepcion D. Alcaraz, the widow of Filipino naval hero Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, visited the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the namesake ship of her husband, during its port call in San Diego, California.

During her visit, Mrs. Alcaraz signed copies of the book "Mrs. Alcaraz, A Biography" and "Commodore Alcaraz; First Victim of President Marcos".

She was accompanied by granddaughter Hailey Marshall and daughters Ramona and Efigenia in their short tour of the Filipino frigate.

Consul General Maria Hellen De La Vega and the Filipino-American community in California also visited the BRP Alcaraz in July 1.

Commodore Alcaraz gained distinction in World War II by shooting down three Japanese Zero fighters who tried to attack his ship, Abra (Q-112), during the first months of the war.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=543209