THE book “Balangay stories” is a collection of five short stories about the exploits of a family in the Kingdom of Butuan. Published by Xavier University Press and written by Maria Elena Paulma, with illustrations by Ghrn Brivan.
It is one of the best books I have read in the last few years.
A short book that holds your attention up to the very last page, it is a collection that leaves you feeling inspired and hopeful for the lessons the reader will learn from its written words, showcasing the author’s talent as a consummate storyteller.
The Balangay Stories, rivetingly simple but extremely powerful in their presentation, is a must read, not only for history buffs but for every Filipino who has a keen interest in revisiting the roots of our past.
The author, Maria Elena Paulma, walks us through the exploits of the family and the community members who built the Balangay, as they use it for leisure and trade.
Paulma describes the drama and excitement as the protagonists navigate the waters in their principal means of transport, the Balangay.
The term is also with the smallest discrete political units, which later referred to native villages under the Spanish colonial era.
In the second story the Butuanons go to the neighboring trade mission to China and how the father of the family is able to secure the release of a girl from a lifetime of servitude.
The history of trade between Butuanons and China dates back centuries, reflecting the rich maritime heritage of the Philippines. Their voyages facilitated the exchange of goods like ceramics, silk, spices, and precious metals.
The oldest known balangay, the Butuan boats, have been dated back to 320 AD through carbon dating. Unearthed from various sites in Butuan, Agusan del Norte, these vessels are a testament to ancient maritime prowess.
The third tale in the collection is about how one of the sons, taking part in the balangay race, is able to save himself and his companions from sure disaster after their boat got lost in the sea.
Incidentally, the Balangay was guided through the seas devoid of contemporary navigation tools, instead depending entirely on the expertise and age-old techniques of the Filipino Sea Badjao community.
They adeptly maneuvered by utilizing the positions of the sun, stars, wind direction, cloud formations, wave behaviors, and the movements of migratory birds.
The Butuanons’ mastery of maritime skills and ancient navigation techniques is highlighted, including the tradition of Balangay races, leading to encounters with characters like the timid Ilian and the skilled potter Jubail.
Prehistoric pottery, together with clay adornments such as the lingling-o and pendants, unveils the nascent stages of artistic expression in the archipelago.
These artifacts not only fulfilled practical functions but also played a pivotal role in shaping social identities within ancient communities.’
Butuan’s prosperity as a trading hub is attributed to its abundance of gold, narrated in tales passed down by Spanish explorers.
The trade between Butuanons and China exemplifies the enduring ties forged through maritime exploration and commerce.
Then, the best of all, there is the story of eldest brother’s journey for the first time in a Balangay and discovers for himself what treasures are most precious.
The book endeavors to teach us how, through these tales, we, contemporary Filipinos, can discover our true identities and learn about our ancestors.
My Butuanon friends — University of the Philippines President Angelo Jimenez, former Legal Education Board Commissioner Jojo S. Ty, Urios University President Fr. John Young, and the author herself — all people I admire, have been true to this identity and know what are our most precious treasures.
They have found their inner Balangay and that is why they are leaders not only of Butuan but of Mindanao and the Philippines.
Since my high school days, when I met Butuanons from Urios University High School in a music competition in Cagayan de Oro, I have always loved Butuan and Butuanons.
This book makes me fall in love with that place and its people all over again.
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