OUR AWESOME PLANET

Ingat sa Paglakbay, Balangay!

Sept. 1 is a historical day for the Voyage of the Balangay, as the Kaya ng Pinoy team, led by Art Valdez, embarked on its first adventure sailing around the Philippine Archipelago.

The Voyage of the Balangay 2009 - Phase I - Philippine Waters

Grand Total Distance: 2,108 NM- 3,908KM

First Leg: Manila to Boracay - 248 Nautical Miles, 460 Kilometers 
Second Leg: Boracay to Cebu City/ Mactan - 369 NM = 684 KM
Third Leg: Mactan to Cagayan de Oro - 374 NM = 693 KM
Fourth Leg: Cagayan de Oro to Zamboanga City - 299 NM = 554 KM
Fifth Leg: Zamboanga City to General Santos City - 380 NM = 705KM
Sixth Leg: General Santos City to Davao City - 158 NM = 293 KM
Seventh Leg: Davao City to Siluag, Tawi-Tawi - 280 NM = 519 KM

(Note: Click on the link to see the detailed destination per leg)
 

8 Things I Learned from Cristeta Comerford

I got a chance to attend the exclusive talk of Cristeta Comerford for Asia Society members. This was a day after she received her BPInoy award for excellence in Culinary Arts.

Who is Cristeta Comerford?

She was the first woman and Asian Executive Chef from a minority in the White House.
She was an Executive Sous Chef in 1995 during the Clinton administration.
She got promoted 10 years after to Executive Chef on August 15, 2005 during the Bush administration.
She was a food technology graduate of the University of the Philippines.
She migrated to the United States with her family in the 1980s.
She is proud to be a Filipino with her roots from Bulacan and Batangas -- even after 25+ years in the US.
She is married to John, who is also a Chef.

Sailing with the Balangay

We are officially part of history, as we were part of the first group to test-sail the Balangay on Manila Bay. Not even the light rain was enough to cancel our date with destiny. It was an easy and safe cruise last Saturday morning with Sir Art, Aidan, Lileya and Liyora with the sounds of canyon firing every 30 minutes in honor of Cory Aquino. 

Ang Ganda ng Balangay...

(Photo by Erik Lacson)

The Balangay is beautiful, with the sails patterned after the colors of the Philippine Flag. I can't wait to get a chance to ride on it with my boys soon. :)

Diwata ng Lahi

It was a spiritual moment -- witnessing the Diwata ng Lahi (the official name of the Balangay) being eased flawlessly into the sea. It was like shooting an arrow that glided effortlessly into the waters of Manila Bay. I could imagine hearing the yachts in the Manila Yacht club clapping, with their hands high up in the air, cheering for the Balangay.

For those who witnessed it, we shared a common feeling of Filipino high, which is beyond saying, "I am proud to be a Filipino." I would like to share the experience with you through a photo essay of the entry of the Balangay onto the waters of Manila Bay.

Bon Voyage, Balangay! Be part of this historic event!

(The Voyage of the Balangay Presentation by Art Valdez.)

The Balangay is ready to set sail. Be part of this historic event entitled "Salinlahi: The Heirloom of Our Generation Easing of the Balangay into the Sea" on June 27, 2009, Saturday, 10 am at CCP Grounds (Harbor Side). 

We recently visited the Balangay with the entire family and Aidan's classmates to be part of the history unfolding before us. 

After 40 days, the Balangay is complete!

After 40 days, the Balangay is complete! (parang Noah's Ark ang drama...)  The bloggers had a fun time inside the Balangay, which can comfortably fit 20 people.

Here are a few scenes inside the Balangay...

The Voyage of the Balangay

I can't believe it! We have recreated the Balangay (the Philippines' ancient boat)! Aidan is sitting on a historic boat that is going to set sail on June 24 from CCP in Manila Bay to Tawi-Tawi. Don't miss the opportunity to visit this historic Balangay in CCP before it goes on its maiden voyage. Our Awesome Planet will feature the Balangay throughout its journey.

The Philippines has a rich maritime culture -- present even before the colonizers' arrival. Our ancestors viewed South East Asia as different islands connected by the sea, made accessible by the Balangay. When the Spaniards came, they tried to erase our maritime superiority by brainwashing the natives that it's not safe to go into the sea, which was part of their Divide-and-Conquer strategy.

 

Thanks to Art Valdez for recreating the awesome Balangay. Art is an undersecretary for the Department of Transportation and Communication. His claim to fame is that he is the visionary and driving force behind the Philippine Mount Everest team's dream of conquering Mt. Everest.

In May 2006, the team reached the summit of the Mt. Everest for the first time. Leo Oracion, Erwin "Pastor" Emata and Romi Garduce became the first Filipinos to reach the summit. The year after that, the Filipina team of Janet Belarmino, Noelle Wenceslao and Carina Dayondon successfully traversed Mt. Everest.

In June 2009, Art will set sail for the maiden voyage of the Balangay around the Philippines.

To better understand the significance of the Voyage of the Balangay, here is a photo-essay of the sequence of events leading to this maiden voyage. To be truly proud to be a Filipino, we must revisit our roots and proclaim our rich cultural history.