Butuan Balangay Taking Shape

The construction of the second replica of Balangay has begun at Luna Compound in Bading this city.

It was estimated to be finished within 33 days and undergo test sailing on December before it sails off for the 6th of 10 leg journey joining the Diwata ng Lahi by January 2010 of the Kaya ng Pinoy Foundation Voyage of the Balangay project.

A team of 8 Badjao’s from Sibuto and Sitangkay in Tawi-Tawi who built the first Balangay replica now called Diwata ng Lahi are the one’s who also tasked to build the Butuan Balangay using their ancient method and carpentry tools.

The Master Balangay Builder, Professor Judail Muyong along with his 5 crew members to complete the team of 8 Badjao’s, will be arriving on November 15 to build Butuan Balangay.
The Badjao’s were said to have acquired the knowledge of building the Balangay from their ancestors.

The Balangay is a plank boat adjoined by a carved-out plank edged through pins and dowels instead of metal nails.

It was first mentioned in the 16th Century in the Chronicles of Pigafetta, and is known as the oldest Pre-Hispanic watercraft found in the Philippines, large enough to hold 60 to 90 people and used for cargo and raiding purposes, a proof that Butuan played a central role in trade.

Diwata ng Lahi measured 15 meters long by 3 meters wide, but Butuan Balangay will be 20 meters long by 3 meters wide.

There were nine Balangays discovered in the late 1970’s in Butuan City by archaeologists from the National Museum of the Philippines.

The first Balangay now preserved and displayed in Balangay Shrine in Ambangan, Libertad, this city.

It was radiocarbon tested and was dated to year 320.

The second boat was dated to 1250, and is now located at the Maritime Hall of the National Museum in Manila.

The third Balangay was transferred to the Butuan Regional Museum and is still undergoing preservation.

The six other boats, which are yet to be excavated, remain in their original waterlogged condition which is proven to be the best way to preserve the said artifacts

Butuan Balangay Boat Building Project

Butuan will have its own limelight in building the historical and now famous Balangay Boat, it will still be built according to traditional methods by Balangay master builders from Sibuto and Sitangkay in Tawi-Tawi led by Professor Judail Muyong.

However, the Balangay Boat will be much longer compared to the first replica built in CCP, Manila of the Kaya ng Pinoy Incorporated which is now sailing the Philippine seas spearheaded by former DOTC Undersecretary Art Valdez and the Philippine Mt Everest team.

Balangay Boat Building project in Butuan was initiated bythe private sector in partnership with the Butuan Historical and Cultural Foundation and Butuan Global Forum, Inc.

According to Mr. Greg Hontiveros, President of Butuan Historical & Cultural Foundation and Chairman of the Committee on Butuan Balangay Boat Building Project, it took more than 3-months to secure the needed lumber which consists of red lawaan for the upper planks, yakal and dungon for its base.

On November 9, the Committee selected 4 finalists to compose Butuan Balangay Crew namely Sato Raypon, Toto Calo, Nico Calo and Lemzar Manginsay. The group left Butuan on board Mt. Carmel for Cebu and sail to Panglao, Bohol to meet with Diwata ng Lahi crew.

Art Valdez will have the final evaluation to chose who among them joins the Voyage of the Balangay for its Butuan-Ozamis leg and onwards.


Sato Raypon signed the waiver and release form





all 3 photos by Sato Raypon


Butuan Balangay Boat

Rice Farming in Butuan City

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy. Developing a sustainable agriculture is vital because food is something that people need for survival. Butuan has a fertile agriculture area of 397.23 km2. Land is well suited for rice production with harvest season three times in a year. New farming methods and high variety rice seeds are provided by the City Agriculture's Office at a very affordable cost and subsidized almost half the price. A farmer's-field-school was conducted regularly to provide farmer's updated farming technologies with the assistance of farm technologists. Farmer's participant in every lectures was required to apply everything they learned from the course in a practice field. Attending seminars helped farmers increase their production.

Voters Flocked to City COMELEC as Registration Hours Stretched

With only 1 day to go before the deadline for voter registration ends on October 31, the Commission on Elections was flocked with hundreds of people coming from different barangays wanted to avail of the registration process.

The City Comelec Office previously served 180 new voters in a day.
At present, Comelec Officer Abelardo Saco said, as it nears the registration deadline the growing crowds’ increases and they could only accommodate 250 registrants in one day.

The PNP personnel has already been augmented to assure of an orderly manner of people who were in line not withstanding the heat of the sun as Comelec personnel distributed and collected application forms.

It is to be recalled that the Commissions on Elections en banc announced that starting October 22 until October 30, registration hours is open from 8am to 9pm but the last day for registration on October 31 will be open until 12 midnight.

“Extending by at least 4 hours the daily voter’s registration being conducted nationwide will give ample time to new voters to process their registration before it ends on Saturday. The growing crowds have been anticipated as most people choose to register at the last minute and our staffs are prepared to serve them,” added Mr. Saco.

Meanwhile, the local government of Butuan yesterday installed a tent and cordoned an area at the city hall ground to avoid stampede.

The Philippines will be having a full automation election on May 10, 2010.

6 Policemen Awarded with Medalya ng Papuri

6 policemen assigned in Police Regional Office 13 were awarded medals by Police Regional Director Lino Calingasan in a simple ceremony at Camp Rafael Rodriguez in Libertad this City.
Police Inspector Joel Biñas received the Medalya ng Papuri (Medal of Commendation) for having demonstrated exemplary efficiency, loyalty and devotion to duty for being the 2nd runner-up among the 10 competing team in the 1st DIPO-EM SWAT Competition held at PRO 11 firing range in Camp Catitipan and CPR firing range, Davao City.

Same award is given to SPO1 Rico Madrona, SPO1 George Ventayen, PO3 Lucio Abrau Jr., PO3 Wilfredo Salino III and PO2 Jernyl Amarille.

Police Inspector Biñas and his men have added more laurels to organization they are now representing.

18 Police Awarded with Medalya ng Kagalingan for a Job a Well Done

The Police Regional Office 13 honoured 18 PNP personnel for showing a heroic performance in the performance of their duties.

Police Chief Superintendent Lino Calingasan, Police Regional Director of PRO 13 and Office of the Civil Defense Regional Director Blanche Gubenchiong pinned the Medalya ng Kagalingan (PNP Medal of Merit) to 18 deserving PNP personnel in a simple ceremony held on October 19 at Camp Rafael Rodriguez in Libertad Butuan City.

The awardees who received the Medalya ng Kagalingan are Police Supt. Arnold Pascual, Police Chief Inspector Zosimo Duarte Jr., Police Senior Inspector Dionesio Pingos, SPO1 Delfin Mission, PO3 Gary Salcedo, PO3 Virgilio Pabia, PO3 Dennis Lozada, PO3 Gary Gerbolingo and PO1Von Harjie Abucayan for the successful rescue operation of kidnap victim Indian National Kuljit Singh and the arrest of the suspects Bikram Singh and his Filipino wife Crispina Flores Singh.

Police Chief Inspector Adolf Almendra and 8 others namely: SPO4 Ellakim Villahermosa, SPO3 Crispino Buno, SPO3 Joselito delos Santos, PO3 Guillermo Ebale, SPO1 Carlos Abasanto, PO3 Eunice Gonzaga, PO3 Melvin Mordeno and PO3 Rene Boy Benegian were likewise awarded with the PNP Medalya ng Kagalingan for the successful arrest of Crispin Lenaban, 39 years old of Barangay San Juan, Alegria, Surigao del Norte.

On July 28, 2009 at around 9:20 in the morning at the Municipal Health Center, Compostela Valley Province, Joint elements of Regional Intelligence Division (RID), PRO 13, Intel Operative of Agusan del Norte Police Provincial Office and elements of Compostela Municipal Police Station arrested Lebanan by virtue of Warrant of Arrest issued by RTC Branch 30 and Branch 32, Surigao City for Double Murder, Illegal Possession of Firearms, Highway Robbery and Murder.

Arrested person is listed number one Most Wanted Person in the province of Surigao del Norte and alleged responsible in the killing of Comelec Officer Wenifreda Taer, her son SB member Rodulfo Taer Jr. and SB member Dominador Dandan all of Alegria, Surigao del Norte.

Donations for Luzon Storm Victims Shipped by RDCC-13

Several PNP members of Police Regional Office 13 carried relief goods to the Regional Mobile Group vehicle ready to transport to Nasipit port.

Police Regional Director Lino Calingasan formally turned over to OCD the truckloads of relief goods collected from different city and provincial PNP stations in the region after the traditional flag raising ceremony at Camp Rafael Rodriguez here in Butuan City on October 19.

The Police Regional 13 is the depository of all donations that the Regional Coordinating Council is soliciting to help victims of typhoon Ondoy who was devastated by massive flooding in Metro Manila last September 26.

In her speech, OCD Regional Director Blanche Gubenchiong said, “In the OCD’s mission areas of risk identification and vulnerability assessment, civil protection and preparedness, coordination for response, operations and rehabilitation initiatives, the Filipino indeed has shown many virtues in spontaneous response.”

Special mention was the PNP that according to RD Gubenchiong, has always risen above expectations.

And in all efforts of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council and the OCD, the PNP was always ready to assist in community work.

The relief goods and donations for the typhoon and flood victims in Luzon were right away transported to Nasipit port for shipment to the National Disaster Coordinating Council in Manila.