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Cebuanos can now witness a boat that is similar to the one used during the ancient times.

The Balangay with its 20-man crew will arrive in Cebu from a continuous journey around the Philippine seas.

It will dock at 3 p.m. today at the Cebu Yacht Club in Lapu-Lapu City and will be welcomed by the Lapu-Lapu City officials, students and locals.

A symposium will be conducted by the crew led by first Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition member Leo Oracion at the Lapu-Lapu City auditorium at 1 p.m. the following day.

The crew will also organize a coastal clean-up, tree planting, lectures on Philippine maritime history and mini-fiestas to rekindle the glorious days of the ancient Filipino seafarers.

The Kaya ng Pinoy Foundation Inc., with the support of the Department of Tourism, launched the Voyage of Balangay project to retrace the migration of Filipino ancestors across the Philippine seas using only the Balangay.

The project also aims to revive maritime consciousness in the country by successfully building the ancient boat, a historic proof of the Filipinos' ingenious skills in shipbuilding and maritime navigation and sailing on Philippine seas.

The Balangay will sail to every major port in the Philippines.

The boat will navigate by the old method used by ancient mariners steering by the sun, the stars, the wind, cloud formations, wave patterns and bird migrations.

Completed in June 2009, the Balangay was presented by the Kaya ng Pinoy Foundation and was later launched into the waters of Manila Bay with the ngandahig, a rope-cutting ceremony which eased the ancient boat into the sea.

Kaya ng Pinoy Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit Filipino organization that pushes for projects that promote Filipinos' unique traits and skills.

The foundation was formed by members of the successful first Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition. For details, please contact Tyler Berame of Zzubo Eco-Tourism Society at (0917) 6154058 or the office of Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Queenie Malingin at (0920) 9212949.


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