HIS-003

Stephen Dave Q. Tumanan

1. What is a caracoa?

A fast and large boat that is used particularly in the Southern parts of the Philippines. It is
a type of balangay (plank boat) with sharp curved prows and sterns, giving its crescent
shape; it can also be distinguished by its sleeker and faster design when compared to
other balangay. It can be used for both war and trades but was mainly used as warships
and transport for troops during traditional seasonal sea raids (mangayaw) or piracy. They
were used by native Filipinos, particularly the Kapampangans and Visayans in their
mangayaw. And it is made without nails.

2. What is a vinta?
The vinta has a distinguishable deep and narrow hull formed with a U-shaped dugout keel
(baran), built with five planks on each side. The most distinct feature of the vinta hull is
the prow that is carved like a crocodile opening its mouth; it has a saplun (lower part) and
palansar (flaring upper part). It is usually carved with okil designs, with three common
motifs (dauan-dauan (leaf-like designs), kaloon (curved lines), and agta-agta (fish
designs), these three are used for the design of the carvings of the buaya design of the
prow. The vinta has two bamboo outrigger floats, the katig and batangan and are usually
rigged with a rectangular lug sail locally known as the bukay and is usually paddled on
shallow and calm coastal waters. It was also used in the civilian squadrons of the Marina
Sutil (Light Navy) of Zamboanga City and Spanish controlled settlements in the Visayas
and Mindanao in the late 18th century to the 19th century as defense fleets against the
Moro Raiders.

3. What were the uses of these sea vessels?

The Caracoa was used in both war and trade, but the main use of the Caracoa were as
warships and troop transport. The vinta was used as defense fleets against Moro Raiders
in the late 18th century to early 19th century.
4. How these sea vessels threatened the communities of Luzon and Visayas?
These sea vessels were used for maritime expeditions and sea raiding against enemy
villages for gaining prestige through combat ,plunder and capturing slaves. Moro raids
were also prevalent on Christianized settlements on the Visayas and Southern Luzon.