Masawa Hong Butuan, The Largest

Photo source: chrispforr.net

I just learned that among the three vessels which are currently sailing around Southeast Asia, "Masawa Hong Butuan" is the largest.  The names of two other balangays are:  Diwata ng Lahi and Sama Tawi-tawi.

To know more updates about the expedition, please click this link to gmanews.tv.

3 Balangays Make History Again

ABS-CBNNEWS.COM reported that the wooden balangay "Sama Tawi-Tawi" would be launched in Butuan City, today, July 16, and will join two other balangays, "Diwata ng Lahi" and "Masawa Hong Butuan" in Zamboanga City for an expedition across South East Asia and then to China on July 26.

Since I am writing this post almost too late already, I wonder if it was successfully launched?

Read more

Historical Butuan (part 2)

(this is a continuation of the article i posted in this blog in february this year. sorry for the delay. anyway, keep on reading :)

By 2011, Voyage Balanghai is expected to reach Micronesian nations and Madagascar as they will continue to navigate the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans by 2012 and hopefully be back in the Philippines by 2013.

"The ancient Balanghai Boat is not only environment-friendly but we can also show to the World the Filipinos and Butuanons' expertise in sea travel even before the Spaniards and Europeans came to our shores", Valdez said.

Used by the Filipino seafarers and traders in sea trading with China then, the Balanghai has definitely debunked the claim that before the coming of the Spaniards, Philippines had no contacts with the outside world.

(to be continued)

Historical Butuan

Here's something that Butuanons can be proud of. Interested? Read on:

The historical wooden boat which did not use any single nail and built in a lashed lug technique believed to have been used by Malay settlers in their vast sea travel during pre-Hispanic times will be used again to circumnavigate the World.

This time, the Philippine's Mount Everest team with tourism officials and scientists composed of Leo Oracio, Ervin Pastor Ermita, Noel Winceslao, Karina Dayondon, Janet Belarmino-Sardina, Dr. Ted Esguerra, Fred Jamili and Dr. Walter Villasco will circumnavigate the World using the remodeled ancient Balanghai Boat.

Dubbed as Voyage Balanghai, Department of Tourism Undersecretary Art Valdez, who served as RP's Mt. Everest Team Captain, will accompany his team with experienced master sailors who will assist the team's voyage.

(to be continued..)