P5,000 donation to join Balangay voyage

BUTUAN CITY , Philippines  – For P5,000 donation for eight- month epic voyage that starts on Feb. 4, anyone can now join the voyage as passenger, can mingle with the crew or can join actual operation of the sea trip of Balangay.

“But wait, the P5,000 donation is only good for a port to port sea voyage in Mindanao,” says former Tourism Undersecretary Art Valdez, leader of the global voyage of the remade ancient boat. “If one is interested to join the epic voyage and can donate more, please let us know, we’ll talk and agree,” Valdez said.

After Mindanao, the 24.7 meters in length and five meters in width Balangay boat made of hardwood donated by the local Manobo and Higaonon tribes, it will then proceed to its global destination with Sabah in Malaysia as its first foreign shore stop.

The P1.6-million cost in building the wind driven boat was shouldered by Butuan Global Forum, Inc, an association of Butuanons based locally and internally, Kaya Nang Pinoy Foundation headed by Art Valdez and Butuan Historical and Cultural Foundation Inc.