By: Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY (16 July) – “Sama Tawi-tawi,” the third balangay boat that depicts the rich culture and history of this city and the entire country, in general has been launched Friday (July 16) at the Luna Compound in Barangay Bading here – the site where the second balangay boat “Masawa Hong Butuan” was built.
During the launching ceremony, Miss Agnes Andaya, overall chairman of “The Continuing Balangay Journey” emphasized the reality of a dream to build the ancient boat.
“In December 2009, a dream was shared. A dream to build balangays, faithful to the detail in craftsmanship and materials used during the ancient times,” Andaya said.
Also, the beauteous chairman recalled the balangay history which made the history of Butuan more colorful and memorable, as it retraces the migration of the city’s ancestors across the seas. “A replica of the balangay relic excavated here in Butuan in 1976, that was carbon dated to be 1,600 years old retraces the migration of our ancestors across the oceans,” she said.
Moreover, Andaya said that with the two balangay boats that are already sailing across the Philippine seas, balangay voyage has become a continuing journey as it touches lives where ever it goes, just like as it did during the ancient times. “This is Butuan’s glory and heritage relived, as seafarers, traders and emissaries of goodwill. Linking and uniting not only islands but people,” Andaya said.
Present during the launching ceremony are officials of this city, and the neighboring provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur. Among those include: Butuan Mayor, Dr. Ferdinand “Jun” Amante, Vice Mayor Lawrence Lemuel Fortun, Councilors Ryan Anthony Culima, Dr. Virgilio Neri, Erwin Dano, and Ramon Carampatana who delivered the message of former Mayor Democrito Plaza II.
Meanwhile, officials of Agusan del Norte led by former Cong. Edelmiro Amante of the second district also graced the occasion. With him are incumbent Cong. Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba of the second district, and Vice Governor Enrico Corvera who represented Governor Erlpe John Amante.
Also, Vice Governor Santiago Cane of the province of Agusan del Sur took time to grace the activity. He represented Governor Adolph Edward Plaza.
Named in honor of the majority of the boat builders who came all the way from Tawi-tawi, the third balangay boat is an epitome of the early tradings in Butuan with other countries in Asia and from around the globe. (PIA-Caraga)
3rd Balangay Boat, a dream that has now become a reality
By: Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY (16 July) – “In December of 2009, a dream was shared. A dream to build balangays, faithful to the detail in craftsmanship and materials used during the ancient times,” thus goes the opening statement of Miss Agnes Andaya, Overall Chairman of “The Continuing Balangay Journey” as she delivered her Welcome Remarks before a crowd of all sectors estimated at 1,000 during the launching of the third Balangay boat on Friday, June 16.
Also, Andaya stressed that balangay voyage has become a continuing journey as it touches lives where it goes, just like as it did during the ancient times… “This is Butuan’s glory and heritage relived… As seafarers, traders and emissaries of goodwill…Linking and uniting not only islands but people,” she said.
Andaya further recalled that in June 2009, with the launching of Diwata ng Lahi, in Manila the dream was launched. “The people who dreamed started living their dream… and their dream started to live,” Andaya said.
It can be recalled that early this year, “Masawa Hong Butuan”, joined Diwata ng Lahi in her quest. “It was right here in this very ground where Masawa was built and launched… Now, six months later, ‘Sama Tawi-tawi’ is ready to be given sails to join her sisters in Zamboanga and raring to embark on her mission to assist Diwata and Masawa,” Andaya said.
Andaya further said that with the “Kaya ng Pinoy Foundation’s” participation in its quest to climb Mt. Everest, and now the Balangay journey, Filipinos should be proud of what the team has accomplished and will still be accomplished. “They are Filipinos who dared to dream, who shared this dream and lived the dream,” Andaya disclosed.
“Sama Tawi-tawi will be having its two-days navigation (rivercruise) on Saturday and Sunday (July 17 and 18) along Agusan River, and will stop in designated stations considered as places of early civilizations in the city like in Brgy. Banza where the Banza Church ruins are found, municipality of Magallanes in Agusan del Norte where Magellan’s Cross is erected, among others.
According to Andaya, the two-day rivercruising is a fund raising campaign of Butuan Global Foundation who made the activity possible to augment the expenses of the Butuan crew who will join the Mt. Everest Team this year during their journey to our neighboring Asian countries as far as China on board the three Balangay boats. (PIA-Caraga)
BUTUAN CITY – The Korean Overseas International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is set to release US$ 50,000 fund to National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) project on the institutionalization of Regional Geographic Information System Network (RGISN) in Northern Mindanao (Caraga region).
NEDA Caraga said the fund will be downloaded anytime as the RGISN project is ready for implementation.
This development came after a meeting between KOICA’s resident representative Jinoh Kim and NEDA Regional Director Carmencita S. Cochingco last month. In the meeting, the project was presented by Eun Sun Jang, a Korean Overseas Volunteer (KOV) specializing in Geographic Information System (GIS) assigned to NEDA Caraga since November 2008.
Kim expressed KOICA’s interest in establishing a direct and substantial collaboration with NEDA since Korea is one of those countries consistently providing aid to the Philippines, Director Cochingco said.
She said Caraga region is also the focus of KOICA assistance, where 14 KOVs are currently deployed.
“This program is a big help to Caraganons,” the region’s NEDA chief said.
As socioeconomic planning agency of the region and the secretariat of the Regional Development Council (RDC), NEDA Caraga will be spearheading the institutionalization of a geographic information system (GIS) in the region as support mechanism for effective planning and resource allocation and management, policy making, decision making, investment programming and monitoring and evaluation of socio-economic and environmental initiatives, programs and projects, she said.
This initiative will further strengthen the linkage between the NEDA, regional line agencies, academe, local government units and other stakeholders through data/information exchange, she said.
KOICA will provide funds for the procurement of a plotter, a large format scanner, global positioning system and GIS software, added Director Cochingco. (muc/PIA-Caraga)
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Surigao Norte gov't gives cash aid to 7-month old infant treated for burns
SURIGAO CITY - The Surigao del Norte government extended cash assistance to the seven-month old baby girl who was treated for burns after falling into a frying pan on Tuesday here.
Surigao Del Norte Governor Sol Matugas personally visited to know the condition of seven-month old Baby Angel at Caraga Regional Hospital here.
During her unscheduled visit at the hospital, the provincial chief executive handed to the child's family the P10,000 initial cash assistance.
“This is the provincial government’s assistance to the baby girl,” she said.
Baby Angel was rushed to the hospital after her mother accidentally dropped her into the frying pan with hot oil.
The infant suffered second-degree burns in the face and half of her body and currently undergoing medical treatment. (muc/PIA-Caraga)
