Madyaw Kadyaw

A souvenir shop selling Butuan products both handicrafts and local delicacies. Butuan's one stop pasalubong center.

Balanghai Voyage

Yesterday the balanghai boat arrived in Butuan at Philippine ports authority.

The original balanghai boats, although seemingly small, have managed to travel to great distances while doing trades with other countries. Like the original, the replica was created using the old, traditional techniques in boat building. No nails were used; wooden pegs for nails, mangroove resin to make it water-tight.

I read on different blogs and its official site that Diwata ng Lahi (muse of the race) a replica of the original pre-spanish boat is going to seventy five locations in the Philippines; To share/ teach history and to follow the path made by our ancestors.

While taking photos yesterday I was able to talk, actually eavesdropped at first, to a conversation with a member of the crew, Dr. Ted Esguerra, as he related to all within hearing range, the 8 storms they weathered since their departure from Manila last June. He was open in sharing bits of his day to day experiences while aboard the vessel.

You can also read my previous post for more info and more links to relevant site. Thank you!

For more photos you can visit my other site at sunsetmindao.blogspot.com

Reconnecting the Past with the Present- Balanghai Voyage

Earlier this year a crew of daring men and women composed of the Mt. Everest team and Kaya ng Pinoy Inc. set sail around the seas of the Philippine archipelago using the replica of the ancient Butuan boat known as balanghai.

Late this morning the balanghai boat, Diwata the lahi (muse of the race), finally arrived in Butuan after sailing from its starting point in Manila. Butuan is the place where this ancient boats where excavated in the seventies, carbon dated 1630.

For more thorough reading you can follow these links:

Voyage of the Balanghai
Amazing Butuan
Interceder

Favorite Pastime

If you happen to drop by one of Butuan's favorite hang-outs Margie's and Pan de Pugon you'll see a number of people with their laptops busy with their facebook and their "farm" or their "mafia". Personally, I haven't been a fan of the farming facebook apps. I'm more into smallworlds, and mafia wars.

Margie's is mostly a cake shop that evolved into a cafe offering coffee, pasta, and other food. Pan de pugon is a bakeshop that's now offering breakfast meals. Tocilog (tocino, egg and rice), longsilog (longganisa, egg and rice, and other breakfast combination. They are two of the popular hot spots in the city.

Pyramid... Under construction

Saw this scene while passing through the narrow street of the City cemetery last November 1 and 2. I have no idea what it will be, but it sure was big, and obviously pyramid in shape.

Dalawang Pamilya

Baywalk

At Magallanes baywalk.

Stepping over Fire

You might wonder what these people are looking at/doing. This photo was taken last November 2. All Soul's day. Location: City cemetery. These people are stepping over a fire- a belief that this practice would mean that the soul's of the people they're visiting, or are present will not follow them to their homes. Superstitions, interesting aren't they.

Photo of people, as requested by Hilda of Manila.