One of the most rarely seen superyachts is the 77.33 metre Pag-Asa, the Philippine presidential yacht. Recently in Philippine press emerged news that this superyacht has been refurbished and ready to accommodate current president. The name of the vessel is also changed and it will carry her former name, Ang Pangulo.
Presidential Yacht is surrounded with many controversies especialy with former President Joseph Estrada who was using it for gamboling activities and private party’s for his friends. This yacht was favorite place of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos who use it for entraining, ambassadors presidents, royalty and famous people such as: Rudolf Nureyev, Margot Fonteyn, Lollobrigida and others. Name of the ship according to the officials has been changed to make the vessel more attuned to the needs of the times.
The vessel was built in Japan as part of that country’s war reparations to the Philippines. At the initiative of President Carlos P. Garcia, the vessel was designed specifically for use as a presidential yacht by Filipino naval engineers, and was christened with its original name of R.P.S. Lapu-Lapu and commissioned into the Navy on March 7, 1959 as its flagship, a status it held until December, 1961.
