"Doon Po sa Amin, Gipasiatab ang Balangay Boat"

Project Description

This study entitled “Doon Po sa Amin, Gipasiatab ang Balangay Boat” Subtitle :Balangay Boat, The Butuan’s Natural Treasure, Butuan’s Own Treasure is an entry for “DOON PO SA AMIN QUEST ” under Events and Places to see . The study focuses on encouraging Butuanons to be proud of our cultural heritage and to realize how lucky we are to be Butuanons. We also choose this topic because we want the Butuanons and all Filipinos to realize that Butuan has been one of the important places traveled and visited by foreign traders wherein trade and commerce, formation of a small community out of the many families(known as Barangay) and exercising its unique form of government was already established during these times in our very own city of Butuan through the existence of our own national treasure … the Butuan Boats.

Methodology

We used digital and videos to take actual pictures and events we undergone during the course of our research. A laptop which is wi-fi connected is so useful to make our blog and surf the internet for further information. We also had our hard work , team effort, focus and determination to reach our objective.

Team Profile

Our team posed for a souvenir . From left : Seth Anthony B. Cubillas, Maureene B. Estomo , Christian Miguel B. Ortiz , Merriam Ann E. Hangad.

Adviser: Mr. Restituto C. Navarro

Moderator/Coach: Ms. Razeliza C. Piencenaves

Researchers and writers:

Seth Anthony B. Cubillas

Christian Miguel B. Ortiz

Maureene B. Estomo

Meriam Ann E. Hangad

The Researchers aim to:
1. give information on the existence of Balangay Boats excavated in Butuan ;
2. relate the importance of the age of existence of Butuan Boats in our city to the culture and foreign traders who visited Butuan ;

3. encourage Butuanons to be proud of our cultural heritage, historical sites and relics such as Butuan boats

Activities Undertaken

Target Date of Implementation	Activity /Tasks of Pupils	In-charge	Task Output/ Remarks
August ,2010	Selection of members	Ms. Razeliza C. Piencenaves	Identifying pupils who will join the contest
	Registration Period	Ms. Razeliza C. Piencenaves	Faxed the Registration Form to DSPA
	Visitation of Sites Balangay Shrine Museum in Ambangan, Libertad Butuan City	Researchers and the coach Principal --Mr. Restituto Navarro and Mrs. Lorna C. Conde	Actual interviewing
	Assignment of Task by the group – individual	Ms Razeliza C. Piencenaves	Mylet C. Curilan Researcher - Write ups Maureene Estomo- Layout Artist Meriam Hangad Profile and Community Profile Seth Anthony Cubillas Information about Balangay Boats
September ,2010	Pupils are computer literate already Familiarization in Making Blogs. Visits Bloggers .com Start Making their Blogs.	Mrs. Ophelia C. Balla Researchers
October, 2010	Additional Information and Editing of blogs
October 25-30,2010 November 3-6,2010	Editing for Submission Final Editing for Submission	Researchers

City of Butuan
Dakbayan hong Butuan
Lungsod ng Butuan

Seal

Nickname(s): The Home of the Balangays, Timber City of the South

Map of Agusan del Norte showing the location of Butuan City.

City of Butuan

Location in the Philippines at number 60

Coordinates: 8°57′N 125°32′E / 8.95°N 125.533°E / 8.95; 125.533 Coordinates: 8°57′N 125°32′E / 8.95°N 125.533°E / 8.95; 125.533
Country	Philippines
Region	Region XIII (Capital City of CARAGA)
Province	Agusan del Norte (Seat of Government)
Districts	First District of Agusan del Norte
Barangays	86
Official Languages	Cebuano Widely Spoken, Butuanon, Filipino, English
Official Languages	Cebuano Widely Spoken, Butuanon, Filipino, English
Incorporated (town)	1902
Incorporated (city)	August 02, 1950
Government
- Mayor	Ferdinand M. Amante Jr.(LP) (2010-Present)
- Vice Mayor	Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun(LP) (2010-Present)
- Congress	Jose Aquino II (LKS KMPI) (2007-Present)
Area
- Total	817.28 km² (315.6 sq mi)
Population (Year 2009)^[1]
- Total	307,942
- Density	365.1/km² (945.6/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
ZIP code	8600
Area code(s)	85
Income class	1st Class Highly Urbanized City

Body

History

As early as the 10th century, people from Butuan had already established trading relations with the Kingdom of Champa (now southern Vietnam) and Srivijaya empire of Java.

By the 11th century, Butuan was the center of trade and commerce in the Philippines and was actually the location of the prehispanic Indianized Kingdom of Butuan. The evidence to prove this fact is the discovery of 9 balanghai (the Butuan Boat) and other archaeological find in the vicinities of Butuan City, particularly in Ambangan, Libertad near the old El Rio de Butuan and Masao River.

Much controversy and debate have been generated with regard to the holding of the first mass—whether it was held in Limasawa, Leyte in Masao, Butuan City, in the hidden isle made up of barangays Pinamanculan and Bancasi inside Butuan, in the latest discovered site in between Agusan sur and Surigao sur, the little barangay of Barobo, or elsewhere. It is sure, however, that Ferdinand Magellan did not drop anchor by the mouth of Agusan River in 1521 and hold mass to commemorate the event which was held at Mazaua, an island separate from 1521 Butuan which was in the geographical conception of Europeans who wrote about it was a larger entity than what it is now. Antonio Pigafetta who wrote an eyewitness account of Magellan's voyage described in text and in map a Butuan that stretched from today's Surigao up to the top edge of Zamboanga del Norte.

The first municipal election in Butuan took place on March 1902 in accordance with Public Law No. 82 which coincided with the American occupation of the place.

During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II, Butuan was razed to the ground when the guerrilla forces attacked the enemy garrison during the middle of 1943. In 1945, entered of the Philippine Commonwealth troops in Butuan together with the recognized guerrillas attacked the Japanese forces during the Battle of Agusan. On October 20, 1948, still recovering from the war, the entire municipality was ruined by a fire.

The boom of the logging industry during the 1950s up the middle of 1970s has made Butuan the "Timber City of the South". The outcome of which was the influx of business and fortune seekers from other provinces. The once lethargic town suddenly became a bustling locality. The flourishing logging industry inspired and prompted Congressman Marcos M. Calo to file a bill converting Butuan into a city. On August 2, 1950, Butuan became a city by virtue of Republic Act No. 523 .

From being a chartered city, Butuan was reclassified into a highly urbanized city on February 7, 1995 pursuant to the provision of section 166 and 168 of Local Government code of 1991 and Memorandum circular 83-49 of the ministry of local Government. The re-classification was based on its outcome and population as certified by the ministry of finance and national census and statistics office

What is the Balangay?

Early Filipinos were a people of the sea, living in coastal villages or near rivers. Boats were linked to many aspects of Filipino life: fishing, trade, warfare, piracy (trade-raiding for goods and slaves), travel, communication, and dwelling.

The Balanghai or Balangay or Butuan Boat is a plank boat adjoined by a carved-out plank edged through pins and dowels. It was first mentioned in the 16th Century in the Chronicles of Pigafetta, and is known as the oldest Pre-Hispanic watercraft found in the Philippines.

The first wooden watercraft excavated in Southeast Asia, the Balangay is only found in the Philippines where a flotilla of such prehistoric wooden boat exists throughout the world. Nine specimens were discovered in 1976 in Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte, Mindanao and 3 of which have been excavated. Examination and extensive investigation reveals that the extant boats found in the excavation site date back to 320, 990 and 1250 AD.

The finely built boat, made without the use of blueprints but was taught from one generation to another, uses a technique still used by boat makers of Sibutu Island. Made 15 meters long and 3 to 4 meters wide, the Balangay is propelled by sail of buri or nipa fiber or padding and is large enough to hold 60 to 90 people. With the Balangay’s size, it was used for cargo and raiding purposes, giving proof that Butuan played a central role in trade.

The most well-known historical figure unearthed in Butuan is the Balangay also known as "The Butuan Boat". This historical discovery boasts the name of Butuan City.

This wooden boat was excavated in 1979 in northeastern Mindanao near the city of Butuan at a depth of about two meters and the original boat is said to have a measurement of about fifteen meters long and three meters wide across the beam. These boats were constructed using a very ancient technique. The planks were joined together edge-to-edge with the use of wooden pegs, and the hull is further made strong by bindings of fibre cords through holes in raised lugs on the inside surfaces of the planks - an ancient Southeast Asian method of boat-building. The wood of the boat has been dated to 320 A.D.

Called Balangay, a reference to the smallest political unit in Philippine society, these boats are evidence that early man in the Philippines was seafaring and was relatively technologically advanced. The discovery reveals too that there was already a contact and trade with areas outside of the Philippine islands as shown not only by the artifacts dating to this period that could only have come from other place, but is also suggested by the ability of local peoples in reaching outlying areas through the use of sea-going crafts.

Today this historical figure, Balangay 1 lays at the Balangay Shrine Museum in Ambangan, Libertad five kilometers east of the city proper and so far, nine (9) balangays have been documented to exist. The National Museum excavated three of these boats while the rest are still waterlogged in specific sites in Butuan City.

The map shows the places where balangay boats were excavated

These ancient wooden boats used wooden pegs called "dowels" to join pieces of wooden planks together.

The Balangay will be 15 meters long and 3 meters wide. It is a much bigger version of the Falowa for those who have traveled from Batan Island to Sabtang Island in Batanes. Our ancient boats did not have katig to stabilize them; instead, they followed the waves and hugged the shoreline.

The Balangay Shrine Museum in Ambangan, Libertad five kilometers east of the city proper and so far, nine (9) balangays have been documented to exist. The National Museum excavated three of these boats while the rest are still waterlogged in specific sites in Butuan City.

How are Butuan Boats discovered ?

In 2004, Butuan historian Greg Hontiveros published his landmark book "Butuan of a Thousand Years", highlighting the significance of the discovery of the Balangay boats.

Here is a quote from the book:

"The archaeological discoveries in Butuan were really a product of an accident. The city government was constructing large canals or esteros to control the perennial floods in the latter part of 1974 when diggers struck strange wooden coffins and Chinese ceramic wares in great abundance...."

"In July 1976, antique hunters hit on the remains of a large wooden boat in sitio Ambangan of barangay Libertad, a couple of kilometers south of Suatan. This discovery was unprecedented in Asia: the balanghai boat relic were the eastern equivalent to the Viking boat discoveries in Northern Europe."

(Source: page 10 of "Butuan of a Thousand Years" by Greg Hontiveros)

The excavated grounds where some of the 9 Butuan boats were buried.

Boat-making tradition

A balangay is a plank boat adjoined by a carved-out planks edge through pins or dowels. The term was adapted by archaeologists from an account of Antonio Pigafetta in the early 16th century mentioning the word in Italian spelling, “balanghai.” Because of the ingenuity of Filipino boat makers, they were employed by the Spanish colonial regime to build the caracoa fleets that battled the Moros and mercantile galleons that crossed the Pacific. The significance of the seafaring culture of the Philippines was demonstrated by the abundance of naval-related vocabularies in the 17th century Spanish dictionaries of Philippine languages.

Their vessel, named "Ngandahig",can also be compared to the Hokulea voyages, and the voyages

The Balangay was created using ancient construction methods. The shell is made of Dungon, which is the wood used by our ancestors.

To make the Balangay water-tight, they use natural resin from mangrove trees.

The only compromise in the Balangay's construction was the drill used to bore holes for the wooden pegs. Also, the Coast Guard requires a spare engine for any boat sailing the Philippine seas for safety reasons. (Our ancestors adapted to their times, so we don't see any reason why we can't have a Balangay with an engine.)

Rey Santiago, National Museum senior researcher for archaeology, was part of the team who discovered the Balangay. He helped craft the design of the Balangay from their research. There was no blueprint available when they started to construct the boat.

Rey is showing the design plans for the deck floor and the nipa cover.

The Balangay Voyage

In 2009, the Kaya ng Pinoy, Inc. that conquered Mt. Everest in 2006 announced plans to re-construct the Balangay boat, with the help of Badjao and other tribal members. The Balangay will be sailed, tracing the routes of the Filipino Ancestors during the waves of Austronesian settlement throughout the Malay region and the Pacific.^[11] The special wood for construction came from the established traditional source in southern Philippines, specifically Tawi-Tawi. The team have pinpointed Badjao master boat builders, whose predecessors actually built such boats, and used traditional tools during the construction. The balangay was constructed at Manila Bay, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex.^[12]^[13]

The Balangay, navigated without the use of instruments, and only through the skills and traditional methods of the Filipino Sea Badjao people, will tour the Philippines travelling from Luzon through the Visayas to Mindanao, and Sulu, stopping off at numerous Philippine cities along the way to promote the project. The journey around the Philippine islands will cover a distance of 2,108 nautical miles or 3,908 kilometers.^[12]^[14]

The second leg will see the Balangay navigate throughout South East Asia through to 2010, then Micronesia and Madascar the following year. The Balangay will then venture across the Pacific onward to the Atlantic and all the way around the world and back to the Philippines from 2012 to 2013.

The balangay will navigate by the old method used by the ancient mariners – steering by the sun, the stars, the wind, cloud formations, wave patterns and bird migrations. Valdez and his team will rely on the natural navigational instincts of the Badjao. Apart from the Badjao, Ivatan are also experts in using the boat.

The voyage hopes aims to reconnect to the greatness of the Filipino ancestors, and to rekindle the maritime consciousness among the Filipino people, a nation of over 90 million people living in the second largest island nation in the world. The voyage also aims to install Enrique De Malacca, the Indo-Malay, his rightful place in history as the first circum-navigator of the world.

On December 4, 2008 at the launch of the Philippine Mt. Everest Book, Art announced his latest project -- building the legendary Balangay to sail around the Philippines in 2009.

"The Kaya ng Pinoy Foundation, together with the Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition team, officially marked the beginning of their newest adventure, The Voyage of the Balangay, through the ceremonial laying of the keel. The event was held at the CCP grounds, Pasay City, on April 24, 2009 with Former President Fidel Ramos as the keynote speaker."

"The laying of the keel signals the start of a boat’s construction. It is an age-old tradition in boat building that invokes good fortune and safe voyage. The lashed-lug planked boat technology of the Balangay is attributed to the early inhabitants of Southeast Asia, the Austroneans—ancestors of the Filipinos."

(Source: Philippine Mount Everest Team Unveils the Voyage of the Balangay)

The Balangay's crew will be composed of Philippine Mount Everest Team members Leo Oracion, Edwin “Pastor” Emata, Noelle Wenceslao, Carina Dayondon, Janet Belarmino-Sardena, Dr. Ted Esguerra, Fred Jamili, Dr. Voltaire Velasco, and headed by Art Valdez.

The Voyage of the Balangay 2009 - Phase I - Philippine Waters

Grand Total Distance: 2,108 NM- 3,908KM

First Leg: Manila to Boracay - 248 Nautical Miles, 460 Kilometers

Second Leg: Boracay to Cebu City/ Mactan - 369 NM = 684 KM

Third Leg: Mactan to Cagayan de Oro - 374 NM = 693 KM

Fourth Leg: Cagayan de Oro to Zamboanga City - 299 NM = 554 KM

Fifth Leg: Zamboanga City to General Santos City - 380 NM = 705KM

Sixth Leg: General Santos City to Davao City - 158 NM = 293 KM

Seventh Leg: Davao City to Siluag, Tawi-Tawi - 280 NM = 519 KM

In 2010, the Balangay will retrace the trading routes in South East Asia!

The Balangay is located near the Sun Cruises Ferry going to Corregidor.

Don't miss it! Bring your kids and tell them stories about the legendary Balangay!

Master Balangay Project Manager, Judail Muyong, pointing to the final destination of the Balangay Voyage: Tawi-Tawi -- the home of the Badjaos' Master Builder who created the Balangay.

The Badjaos came from the Island of Sibutu in Tawi-Tawi.

Historical sites

During the river cruise, short stops at historical places along the route will be conducted. The heritage tour will be annotated by Hontiveros. Cultural shows will be staged for the cruise passengers.

Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos blessed the third balangay boat during Saturday’s launching.

The two balangay replicas, both wind-driven, sailed last February 2 and February 4, respectively.

Butuan folk consider the vessel meaningful after remnants of around eight ancient balangay boats were excavated here in 1978. The oldest boat that was dug was carbondated at 320 AD.

Preparations to launch 3rd Balangay Boat, 2-day river cruise steps up in Butuan City

June 30, 2010 12:24 pm

BUTUAN CITY, June 30 -– The Butuan Global Forum (BGF) Inc. on Wednesday stepped up preparations for the launching of the 3rd Balangay Boat on July 9, and the two-day river cruise scheduled on July 10-11 this year.

The 3rd Balangay boat is set to be in placed on July 8 at Luna Compound, Barangay Bading, this region’s capital city.

During the coordinative meeting with Butuan Global Forum (BGF) and its partner agencies in the government and private stakeholders, Agnes Andaya, project overall chairperson, said "The Continuing Balangay Journey" of BGF, Inc., the Kaya ng Pinoy Foundation led by former Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Undersecretary Art Valdez will launch the 3rd Balangay boat (with on-board engine) on July 9 which is a fund-raising project.

"The purpose of which is to raise funds in order to augment the monthly allowances/expenses of the 20-man Butuan Crew manning the Balangay 'Masawa Hong Butuan' during their sea expedition to Southeast Asia," said Andaya.

The Balangay expedition started in June last year.She also said the project called "The Continuing Balangay Journey" shall conduct a Balangay Cruise for a fee on Saturday and Sunday (July 10-11) at the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) here. This will treat the prospective sponsor-passengers to a day of balangay ride to various historical landmarks along Agusan River as well as Masao and Magallanes, Agusan del Norte.

"During the launching of the 3rd Balangay boat, we would not only like to showcase Butuan’s heritage but also the unity in its diversity as inspired by the Balangay code of all the team to work as one," added Andaya.

Starting on July 9 at the PPA grounds, various activities are set to be conducted by the private stakeholders, along with it is a free concert by the local bands.

With this most-awaited event, BGF with its partners are encouraging the public to participate and support the Butuan Balangay Boat team as they journey with pride.

This would show to the whole world that there is no impossible with the Filipino people working together as one.

The Butuan City Historical Foundation, Department of Tourism and the whole officialdom of the city government led by Mayor Dr. Ferdinand Amante, Jr. and Vice Mayor Lawrence Fortun also attending on the said affair. (PNA)

The team conducted a research about the Balangay Boats also known as Butuan Boats. We rode a shuttle bus on our way on going to cretin places. The second stop was our destination at the balangay shrine. When we went there, we was expecting to see the biggest balangay boat but sadly it was exhibited at Manila National Museum.

A tour guide discussed some facts about the balangay boat, as he discussed some facts about the Balangay Boats my groupmates took pictures using their cameras

After the discussion the tour guide showed us the excavation site of the biggest .

There was 8 boats said the tour guide said 4 of them was found neer the balangay shrine while 4 of them was found about 1 kilometer near the bancasi air port

From that moment when we heard the great history of Butuan and some stories about our very own boats, I’m sure that you will feel proud about our wooden boats too.

Bibliography