After the race of Pinoys to scale Mt. Everest in 2006, the expedition team led by Leo Oracion and Edwin Erwin will take on another journey around the globe – this time, the plan is to sail on a 15×3 meters balanghai in 2010.
The balanghai, also known as balangay and Butuan boat, is the first water vessel that was excavated in Southeast Asia, serving as evidence to the craftsmanship of the early Filipinos in attempting to transport on water.
According to sources, 9 balanghais were exhumed in 1976 in Butuan
City, southern Philippines along with 50,000 archeological relics and cultural artifacts that were marked to have existed for two thousand years through carbon-dating process. Further research shows that this sailing vessel have been used by early Filipinos to travel through Southeast Asia, Polynesia and even Madagascar.
Due to its history, it drew interest among the group and was chosen to represent our country and most importantly, to prove that anything can be achieved with synergy and hard work.
Another news report says that,
The first phase of the voyage will be flagged off at Manila Bay on June 24, passing by Boracay and Mactan in Cebu, central Philippines, besides Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, General Santos, Davao City and Siluag in Tawi-Tawi in the southern Philippines.
In 2010, the team will retrace the ancient Southeast Asian trading routes and aim to pass the Micronesian nations and Madagascar by 2011 before venturing into the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans by 2012. The team plans to be back in the Philippines by 2013.
via Gulfnews
The balanghai modeled after the first unearthed boat in Butuan will commence to push off this month and the team will be accompanied with the best experienced master sailors in the country along with other key persons to make everything possible.
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