Balanghai – also know as Balangay or Butuan

Boat, originate from the Austronesian word for

sailboat
Is a large wooden boat used by pre-colonial
Filipinos to traverse the sea for trade or
migration. It was first mention in the 16 th

Century CE. in the Chronicles of Antonio

Pigafetta and is know as the oldest Pre-
Hispanic Watercraft found in the
Philippines.

The Balanghay is not only used by pre-colonial

Filipinos but use by other Austronesian
settlements to travel across the Malay
Archipelago.
The parts of the balangay were found in Butuan
City in Mindanao in 1976. There artifacts are
dated from anywhere between 320-1250 CE.
They are estimated to measure fifteen meters
(15m) long and three to four meters (3-4m)
wide, propelled by sail of buri or nipa fiber or
padding, and holds 60-90 people. It was used
for cargo and raiding purposes, serving as
evidence that Butuan played a central role in
trade.
The finely built boat, construction without the
use of blueprints was taught from one
generation to another. This technique is still
used by boat makers of Sibutu island.