''Be it known to all ye who enter my Realm,
that on this day this sailor was initiated
into the Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Oceans
on board the ship Gigira Laitebo

...and in Latitude 00°00' and Longitude 137°40' East,
be it remembered by all ye Mermaids, Sea Serpents, Whales, 
Sharks, Dolphins, Skates, Eels, Lobsters, Crabs, Shrimps, Pollywogs,
Ice Worms, Passengers and Landlubbers...

...that when ye are honoured by his presence, 
ye shall treat him with the respect that is due to one of my Trusty Shellbacks
than which no respect is greater because by him and by his forefathers were many new,
Whereof nor you nor any of you may to the contrary
as ye answer at your peril."

                 
Neptunus Rex           


      We crossed the equator on April 7, 2015, and that was my first time. Who would think that an ancient tradition still exists on modern merchant vessels? The pictures below will show how the three newly joined crew members turned from slimy pollywogs to King Neptune's Trusty Shellback.

 

Everyone, look! Someone's coming!

Akala namin kung sino. Si Fairy godmoth...este si King Neptune pala.
 
Magbigay-pugay tayo sa hari ng karagatan! All hail King Neptune!

...and there the three pollywogs knelt.

With my magic wand...err, trident, I hereby command thee to perform the rituals.

And then King Neptune made us drink some sort of nasty liquid.

I will toss these coins into the pool. Bring these to me and prove that you are worthy of becoming my trusty Shellback.

At lumusong kami sa tubig, kinuha ang coins gamit lang ang bibig. Dun nauso ang sisid marino.

Sa kabilang dako, King Neptune's subjects were doing some photo shoot while we were having a hard time getting the coins.

Matapos ang ilang taon, nakuha rin namin ang coins at nagsimula na ang piging! De, papiktyur pala.

 
Kasabay din ng pagdiriwang na iyon ang paglusong ng lahat sa tubig.
 
At marami pang papiktyur sessions.

At last, I'm a full-pledged Shellback. Hawak ang aking certificate, nabilad ako sa araw. Mainit. Seryoso.