BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – The already known Asian “Balangay Boat” is set to cruise Agusan River and other historic places in this region’s frontier and capital city.

It was announced that the cruising of this oldest 1500’s craft “Balangay Boat” is a fund-raising activity jointly undertaken by the Butuan Global Forum (BGF) and the city government here in cooperation with the City Tourism Council (CTC).

The proceeds of the activity will be intended for the maintenance of the Balangay Boat “Sama Tawi-Tawi.”

Tourists, both foreign and domestic, especially the Butuanons can now start the river cruise using the oldest craft in the Philippines.

The river cruise costs P150 per person for at least 30 persons but not more than 50 persons, which is the maximum seating capacity of the boat.

City Vice Mayor Lawrence Lemuel Fortun said the riding of this oldest craft will remind Butuanons the importance of history and culture.

Fortun said the boat itself tells the history and rich culture of the Butuanons as this was used by the early traders in Butuan as a vessel in trading off with the other neighboring Asian countries.

“We need to preserve this historic replica of the Balangay because this is also the means of transportation of the early Butuanons long before the Spaniards came,” added Fortun.

It can be recalled that “Sama Tawi-Tawi” was built and inaugurated at the Luna Compound in Barangay Bading here and journeyed the neighboring Asian countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore late last year.

The wooden vessel was built by boat builders in the province of Tawi-Tawi.

On Feb. 4, 2011, the Balangay crew headed by former undersecretary of the Department of Transportationand Communications (DoTC) Art Valdez who also heads the Mount Everest Team returned safely here in this city after the almost eight months of traveling in the said countries.

The boat, christened “Sama Tawi-Tawi,” was named for the “Sama” people of Tawi-Tawi, particularly in Sibutu, the last true bastion of the Badjao boat-builders.

“Sama” people are renowned for their boat building craftsmanship, mastery of the waves, and the wind. Relying only on knowledge passed down from their forefathers, they still use ancient tools in boat constructions – without the need of a plan or a blueprint.