BUTUAN CITY – The voyage of the “Balangay” boat in Philippine waters was reset on January 2010 due to some repairs and series of typhoons.

Because of this, the crew of the “Balangay” known as “Diwata ng Lahi,” will take a break during Christmas and New Year’s Day and to resume by January 7, 2010.

It was also decided that the crew will start their 24-day Yuletide break from December 13, 2009 to January 6, 2010, it was learned.

It was gathered that the weather conditions have changed the voyage timetables of “Diwata ng Lahi.”

The series of typhoons have forced “Diwata ng Lahi” to seek shelter at several ports, in line with the three key “H” concepts that guide the voyage of the balangay – Harmony with Nature, Harmony with the Boat, and Harmony with People.

The situation also forced the team to make the “Balangay” boat undergo minor and major reinforcing works in the coming weeks.

The Balangay Team in coordination with “Kaya ng Pinoy” Foundation’s partner non-government organizations (NGOs) in Butuan – the Butuan Historical and Cultural Foundation and Butuan Global Forum, Inc. has made a decision that “Diwata ng Lahi” will dock in this city for the duration of the Christmas and New Year break during which time, changes in the boat’s worn or damaged wooden parts will be made, using Butuan, Agusan and Caraga timber.

All the abaca ropes and cotton/nylon strings used in building the boat in Manila will be replaced with “cabo negro” produced by natives in Butuan’s Upper Agusan River.

After this major repair work, “Diwata ng Lahi” will turn out to be almost 100 percent “Made in Butuan!”

Thus, the 5th leg of the voyage (Mactan to Butuan) will end in this city around the first week of December.