Drumbeats, yells, cheers and fireworks.
These may have filled the ears of hundreds of devotees as scores of them flocked to the sea to participate in the annual fluvial procession in honor of their village's patron saint, San Antonio.
For the Coast Guard and its Auxiliary counterpart, however, no sound could drown out the resonating glee and merriment of the devotees as it may only mean that all is well and safe at sea.
Men and women in bright orange mixed among the throngs of devotees, ensuring crowd control and maritime safety along the shorelines of Barangay Bagong Pook, Cavite City last April 25.
The joint team of Coast Guard Station (CGS) Cavite and the 125th Squadron braved the sweltering heat of mid-afternoon sun to secure boaters from any imminent danger by ensuring the correct capacity of each ceremonial boats and making all of its passenger wear life jackets before leaving the shoreline.
Cavite's Station Commander, CDR RAUL BELESARIO PCG, was also very hands-on in keeping devotees who are under the influence of alcohol from boarding the procession boats.
As the procession went out of the break water and into the open sea, two Coast Guard service boats maintained position on the port and starboard sides of the mother-boat to ensure clearance and safe distance from other ceremonial boats that are sailing round and round the vessel carrying San Antonio.
A stationary fishing boat was accidentally hit by a racing boat, leaving the former capsized and its fisherman trapped. Personnel onboard the Coast Guard aluminum boat immediately rescued the fisherman and brought ashore where he settled the matter amicably with the racing boat skipper.
About half and hour later, the fluvial parade returned back to the shoreline of Barangay Pook, with all of its devotees, participants and boaters in good physical (and spiritual) condition.
These may have filled the ears of hundreds of devotees as scores of them flocked to the sea to participate in the annual fluvial procession in honor of their village's patron saint, San Antonio.
For the Coast Guard and its Auxiliary counterpart, however, no sound could drown out the resonating glee and merriment of the devotees as it may only mean that all is well and safe at sea.
Men and women in bright orange mixed among the throngs of devotees, ensuring crowd control and maritime safety along the shorelines of Barangay Bagong Pook, Cavite City last April 25.
The joint team of Coast Guard Station (CGS) Cavite and the 125th Squadron braved the sweltering heat of mid-afternoon sun to secure boaters from any imminent danger by ensuring the correct capacity of each ceremonial boats and making all of its passenger wear life jackets before leaving the shoreline.
Cavite's Station Commander, CDR RAUL BELESARIO PCG, was also very hands-on in keeping devotees who are under the influence of alcohol from boarding the procession boats.
As the procession went out of the break water and into the open sea, two Coast Guard service boats maintained position on the port and starboard sides of the mother-boat to ensure clearance and safe distance from other ceremonial boats that are sailing round and round the vessel carrying San Antonio.
A stationary fishing boat was accidentally hit by a racing boat, leaving the former capsized and its fisherman trapped. Personnel onboard the Coast Guard aluminum boat immediately rescued the fisherman and brought ashore where he settled the matter amicably with the racing boat skipper.
About half and hour later, the fluvial parade returned back to the shoreline of Barangay Pook, with all of its devotees, participants and boaters in good physical (and spiritual) condition.