A 12-year-old girl named Cherry Ann Mateo swam for more than two hours to get help after a motorboat capsized off the coast of Antique.
The incident occurred between the islands of Mararison and Batbatan in Culasi on the evening of May 6, 2026.
All four passengers aboard the boat were successfully rescued thanks to Mateo's quick thinking.
Antique's Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported that the passengers were returning home to Batbatan when the boat capsized.
After swimming to shore, Mateo sought help from local barangay officials and fishermen, who quickly began rescue operations.
Dante Salvador, believed to be part of the boat's crew, also managed to reach the shore.
The two remaining passengers, Angelita Patricio and Rose Salvador, were found clinging to the overturned boat and were rescued shortly after.
All four passengers have since returned home to their families in Batbatan.
The Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Police later retrieved the capsized vessel.
Officials noted that the passengers were likely traveling from Culasi to Batbatan to sell dried fish, their primary source of income.