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FeatureBalangay team visits Aklan to retrace history
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Author: Jun Ariolo Aguirre (375 Articles)
KALIBO, Aklan – The Balangay Expedition Team visited this province as part of their one year journey to re-trace the Philippine’s history using a replica of the ancient boat, “balangay.”
The group, headed by former Undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications Arturo Valdez, docked their balangay in Batan, Aklan.
Janet Belarmino-Sardena, who is the first Filipino woman to climb Mt. Everest, said Panay Island provinces Aklan, Capiz and Iloilo are part of the 75 provinces that they are visiting.
“We have chosen Aklan because of its rich tradition and culture. One of our objectives in Aklan is to have a photo of the Kalantiao Shrine in Batan famous for its Maragtas Code,” Sardena said.
While in the province, they conducted history symposiums among the students, medical missions and sold souvenir items as their fund-raising campaign for their journey.
The group arrived in Boracay Island last September 30 where they conducted a refresher training course for disaster management for the Boracay Island Disaster Reaction Team.
The group will be proceeding to the Culasi Port in Capiz and next week, the group will be in Estancia, Iloilo.
Known for its tag line “Kaya ng Pinoy,” the team is expected to travel countries in Southeast Asia to re-invent Filipino history, tradition and culture.
Meanwhile, the Balangay team disclosed that they are planning to build a maritime museum at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex in Manila as part of their contribution to Philippine history.
Sardena said the proposed museum will be in cooperation with the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy.
“There is no maritime museum in the country the reason why we do not appreciate our maritime history. We want the younger generation to know our rich cultural heritage,” Sardena said.
She said they chose the CCP Complex because it is where the group of Badjaos designed and built the balangay.
One of the items they will be placing in the said museum is the balangay boat they will be using in traveling across Southeast Asian countries.
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