Cascos are flat-bottomed square-endedbarges from thePhilippines. They were used mostly to carry cargo along lakes and rivers, and aslighters to transport goods and passengers to and frommoored ships.[1] Though they resemble thesampan, they are much larger with two detachable masts withjunk rigs made of woven fiber. They also possessoutrigger-like platforms along the entire length of the sides, which is used bypunters withbarge poles when traversing shallow water. They were steered by anoar or a centralrudder by ahelmsman housed in a small raised platform at thestern. The entire deck is covered almost entirely in removable curving or pitched panels.[2][3]
Cascos were most prevalent in southernLuzon, particularly along thePasig River andLaguna de Bay, as well as in theManila Bay harbor.[2][3] In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, they were often strung together in a train drawn by asteamship (vapor). They were used as transport ships by American troops in Laguna de Bay during thePhilippine–American War.[4]Cascos are still used today in fluvial parades. An example is during the celebrations ofOur Lady of Peñafrancia inNaga City,Bicol.[5][6]
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