From Climbers to Sailors

After braving the dangers of the world’s highest peak, the women of the First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition Team embark on a new adventure: sailing the Philippine seas on a replica of our ancestors’ boat.
By Angel Constantino
Photo by Dix Perez

Published: Women's Health, November 2009
Section: Life Skills

I first met Janet, Carina, and Noelle shortly after they got back from Everest. I interviewed them for a feature in Candy magazine and was inspired by what they had accomplished. Meeting them again as they embarked on the Voyage of the Balangay was equally inspiring. Amidst these trying times, I believe it is people like them who remind us every day that yes, the Filipino can!

Below is an excerpt from the article:  

On May 16, 2007, Janet Belarmino-Sardena, Carina Dayondon, and Noelle Wenceslao, became the first Filipinas and the first Southeast Asian women to reach the peak of Mt. Everest. After doing this seemingly impossible task, you’d think they’ve already achieved their dreams; instead, it instilled in them a greater sense of responsibility. They came home empowered and raring to share the lessons they learned, inspire the youth, and spread their adage across the country: Kaya ng Pinoy.

After Everest, the team’s expedition leader, Art Valdez, came up with the idea to build the Balangay, the Philippines’ ancient boat. “Art instilled in us a love for our country,” says Dayondon. “Everest seemed impossible, but we showed the world that it is possible. As mountaineers, this was our contribution to the country, to inspire the youth. The ‘Voyage of the Balangay’ is another contribution to the country. It’s closer to our hearts since we are an archipelago and we’ve been using boats since early history,” she adds.

The Balangay is a wooden boat, 15 meters long and 3 meters wide, with a nipa cover. Thousands of years ago, it was a common form of transport in Southeast Asia. “The waters were our highways and the Balangay was used to transport people and goods. When the Spanish came, they discouraged boat-building. They took us away from our natural environment in order to conquer us,” says Belarmino.

In the beginning, the team never thought their simple idea would turn into an epic voyage. “We just wanted to sail, to have an adventure,” says Belarmino. “But over time, we realized the impact this project could have on Filipinos. Simple fishermen to academics who wrote their thesis about this showed their support. Like Everest, which started as a dream, this became a reality.”

Planning the Voyage
 The main purpose of the voyage is to rekindle Filipinos’ love and respect for water. “We are an archipelago but we don’t have that consciousness, that passion for the water,” says Belarmino. “Just look at Manila Bay, it’s very dirty. We are island people and water is our natural environment, but we don’t know how to take care of it. In terms of our vessels, we don’t have adequate safety standards. There are so many accidents at sea.”

Another important thrust is to reconnect the present to our glorious past. "Before the Spanish came, we had our own government, our own traditions and culture. We were very independent. But we were made to believe that we were an inland people," says Dayondon. "We want to re-educate the youth about our history. That’s why some Filipinos today don’t even know how to swim or are afraid of water." Surprisingly, Dayondon is one such Filipino. “I’m from Bukidnon and I’m scared of the water,” she says, referring to her mountainous and landlocked home province in Mindanao.

Planning the Voyage of the Balangay was not done haphazardly. Since August 2008, the team spent up to eight months researching, conducting interviews, and consulting historians and experts. They also enlisted the help of the Badjaos from the Sitangkay and Sibutu islands in the southernmost part of the Philippines. The Badjaos are one of two groups of people (the other being the Ivatans of Batanes) who still possess the skills to build the ancient boat.

Resources and funding were their major difficulties, and the start of their travel was delayed. But the team knew there was no turning back. “We’ve experienced much worse in Everest. With this project, we’re confident since we are in the country,” Belarmino says. Construction of the boat began in April. The team prepared themselves by learning the necessary skills to sail the Balangay. “In Everest, we had Sherpas. Here we have the Badjaos to teach us,” says Dayondon. They also enlisted the help of the Philippine sailing team.

When the boat was finished, the team took regular rides on the Balangay to master their skills. For Dayondon, dealing with her fear of water was an extra challenge. “Once when we rode the Balangay, the waves were really big. Napaiyak ako sa takot at yumakap sa poste (mast). That’s what I have to face now—to not be afraid and to believe in the craftsmanship and skills of the Badjaos.”

As much as possible, the team wants to stay faithful to the traditional way of sailing. “We plan to sail during the daytime only,” says Belarmino. “We should be at every port by 5 p.m., dock, and spend a couple of days in each town.” Most of the original members of the Everest team are part of the alternating crew of 23. A support vessel accompanies them on their journey.

Though the team planned to set sail in June, they opted to delay their scheduled departure due to the stormy weather. “In Everest, we learned that man is nothing compared to nature. Once you disrespect nature, mamamatay ka talaga. That’s why we decided to maximize our time to complete our gears. Mother nature will allow us to sail eventually.”


For more information and updates on the Voyage of the Balangay, log on to www.balangay-voyage.com. 

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