2 REPLICAS OF QUINCENTENNIAL BALANGAY BOAT DOCKED ALONG AGUSAN RIVER IN BUTUAN CITY
Updated: Jan 31, 2020
BUTUAN CITY – The two replicas of quincentennial Balangay boat, “Raya Kolambu” and “Raya Siyagu” docked along Agusan River in Butuan City at noon on December 18, 2019, as part of the 500-day countdown of the quincentennial celebration of the victory in Mactan.
The boats arrived in Butuan City because of the evidence that Magellan had reached the city during his expedition.
According to Art Valdez, Expedition leader of the Voyage of the Balangay, they started sailing from Palawan on November 23 for twenty-one (21) days, heading to Mactan, Cebu for the national quincentennial commemoration.
“I think the dramatic picture of the 500 days countdown is the arrival of the Balangay in this colorful sail with the officials of Butuan riding on this Balangay boat,”Valdez said.
The low tide going to Butuan City had caused delays for them. He also said the replicas of the boat “Raya Kolambu” and “Raya Siyagu” are from the 4th century.
“…Not only for the national commemoration but also for Butuan. The significance of this is that the Balangay is in the national consciousness. The Balangay is now almost a national boat, and when you talk of the Balangay, you talk of the Butuan boat,” he said.
If you want to take a picture of the boats, they are open to the public until noon on December 20, 2019.