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MAASIN CITY—The Diwata ng Lahi (Fairy of the Race), the 3 x 20-meter replica of the ancient boat "balangay," arrived at Maasin port at noon on Friday as part of a journey aimed at retracing the seafaring lives of ancient Filipinos.
The 18-member team, led by former Transportation Undersecretary Arturo Valdez, left Jagna town in Bohol at 6:30 a.m. on Friday.
The boat, with dominant yellow-and-red striped sails arrived at the Maasin port at around 11:30 a.m. to the applause of about 100 people who have been waiting patiently as it approached.
Valdez and his crew later appared at a symposium attended by some 150 student leaders at the city council's session hall.
The voyagers will sail to Limasawa Island on Sunday and proceed to Butuan City, where another balangay was being built.
Dr. Ted Esguerra, a member of the team, said the two vessels would be sailing together for the rest of the expedition.
The other members included Leo Oracion and Erwin “Pastour” Emata (the first and second Filipinos to reach the Mount Everest summit), Reynaldo Godoy, Carina Dayondon, Noelle Wenceslao, Janet Belarmino-Sardena, Fred Jamili and Dr. Voltaire Velasco.
Esguerra, who figured prominently during the Guinsaugon tragedy as one of the leaders of the rescue teams, said the sight of several butanding (whale sharks) as the boat neared Maasin made the five-hour voyage from Jagna exciting.
