‘Balangay’ sailors come with best wishes for unity and friendship

September 1, 2010, Wednesday

KUCHING: Three traditional sailboats found themselves fleeing from pirates somewhere off the coast of Mindanao on Labour Day 2010.

WELCOME TO CAT CITY: Rashid (far left) welcoming Valdez (second left) and the Kaya ng Pinoy crew to Kuching yesterday.

With no wind to fill their sails, the Filipino crew of 35 rowed their ‘balangays’ for three days before they got out of pirate-infested waters.
Expedition leader Art Valdez said if they had not listened to instinct and sailed into the cove, they would have not made it out of the country at all.
Instead, they would have made the news in an entirely different manner.
“It was lucky that we stayed out on the water while the powerboats came after us,” he said.
“If we went onshore, we would have been trapped.”
The flotilla of balangays – Diwita ng Lahi, Masawa Hong Butuan and Sama Tawi-Tawi – docked at the Kuching Marina at about 7am yesterday.
They were ahead of schedule and were surprised to learn that they arrived during their host country’s Independence Day.
Valdez said they were honoured to have come in on such an auspicious day.
“We want to give the people of Malaysia our best wishes for unity and friendship,” he told reporters.
“We are the same people. It is colonisation that divided us.”
The crew themselves also had reason to celebrate. Today marks their first anniversary since setting out on this voyage.
Kuching is their 90th port, and their 10th international stop.
Valdez noted that the original balangays were used by Southeast Asians in trading with China almost two centuries ago.
“We want to commemorate this through this new voyage of friendship and unity, and share the message of pride and unity of being one region using this historical regional boat,” he said.
The relic of a balangay was first dug up in Butuan, Mindanao in the Philippines. It was carbon dated to be 1,600 years old and was used by the ancestors of the region in crossing from the South Pacific.
The Kaya ng Pinoy Foundation took up the task to rebuild the boat, being as faithful to the original design and material, and retrace the migration route.
According to Valdez, The Philippines cannot lay claim to the boat because it was the Southeast Asian people who originally built it.
“The greatest threat to our voyage is not the weather or the sea,” said Valdez.
“It’s modernity. You cannot just sail in just like that, with today’s busy ports and narrow channels. Having no communications from the boats mean you can get hit.”
One of the boats is an escort vessel, built traditionally like the other two, but outfitted with modern communication so they can liaise with port authorities.
Valdez said their replicas were 95 per cent faithful to the original design, right down to using wooden pegs instead of metal nails, and tar from the tree sap for waterproofing the hull.
“Colonialism taught us to be afraid of the sea,” he added.
“Making this voyage is showing what we are capable of if we work together as one people.”
The crew is made up of members of the Philippines coast guards and navy, boat builders from the Sama tribe of Tawi-Tawi, people from Butuan and volunteers from the outdoor and mountaineering community.
Also on board is a team of six men and three women from Kaya ng Pinoy, who conquered Mt Everest in 2006.
The vessels will be docked here for about a week before heading off to Kalimantan.
The crew was welcomed by Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive officer Datuk Rashid Khan.

The Philippines, a Mountaineer’s Haven

By MANILA BULLETIN ONLINE September 14, 2010, 8:57pm




The Philippines is blessed with so many natural wonders, ranging from different species of plants and land and water animals to scenic destinations. So when one gets so stressed out due to urban life’s hustle and bustle, one of the most suggested activities to unwind is to go nature tripping.
One good example of this is mountaineering. It provides adventure to thrill-seeking individuals and it is a great way to be one with nature. The Philippines has 29 known mountains, making it truly a mountaineer’s haven.
Here are five of the most famous Philippine mountaineering destinations.
Mt. Apo – Located in the province of North Cotabato, it is considered as the highest mountain in the country with an elevation of 2,954 meters. It has an area of 72,796 hectares of tropical forest. It houses rivers and waterfalls and rare plant and animal species. The best time to climb Mt. Apo is during summer.
Mt. Pulag – It is the second highest peak in the country with an elevation of 2,922 meters. It is located in the Cordillera area and is considered as one of the national parks in the country. However, unlike Mt. Apo, it does not have many trees.
Mt. Kanla-on – Found on the Negros Island, Kanla-on is the highest peak in the Visayas. Its elevation is 2,435 meters. A huge number of people, including spiritualists, visit Kanla-on during the Holy Week.
Mt. Halcon – Halcon is considered as the most hazardous mountain to climb in the country. It is found in Baco, Oriental Mindoro and has an elevation of 2,582 meters. This mountain features a mossy forest and rocky ridges.
Mt. Guiting-Guiting – Guiting-Guiting is another tough mountain to climb. It has an elevation of 2,058 meters and is situated in Sibuyan Island, Romblon. Only tough climbers can take on this mountain. Getting to its peak requires rock climbing.
Mountaineering is a good activity, but it requires physical strength and good thinking. For those who want to start on this, here are a few tips.
Be physically prepared. Since this is a physical activity, one must do a lot of workout routines, like walking with weights, running, stair climbing, push-ups, and indoor climbing. 
Get trained, know the fundamentals, and have the essential skills. Some of these include climbing techniques, basic rope management, useful climbing knots, and basic wilderness survival.
Be equipped. Your climbing kit should have climbing rope, stiff-soled over-the-ankle boots, warm clothing, energy food and drinks, survival gear, crampons for traction, a helmet, among others. You can purchase these at a climbing shop.
One thing that a mountaineer must keep in mind is to always have a partner during the activity.