From:    Manila Standard Today

Date:     December 19, 2009

By:          Samuel Medenilla

The crew of the Balangay “Diwata ng Lahi,” or Fairy of the Race, unveiled the second phase of its “Voyage of the Balangay” project which will sail around the international waters of South East Asia next year after finishing a 3,960-kilometer journey around the Philippines.

The 15-long and 3-meter wide pre-Hispanic design boat will sail to Sabah, Malaysia, and then to Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and finally Taiwan before heading back to the Philippines.

The team, including Leo Oracion, the first Filipino climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 2007, made the announcement during a press conference held at the Main Theatre Lobby of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City.

Other core members of the crew are Erwin Emata, Noelle Wenceslao, Carina Dayondon, Janet Belarmino-Sardena, Fred Jamili, Dr. Ted Esguerra, and Dr. Voltaire Velasco.

The crew was able to travel 265 nautical miles, dock in 10 ports, where they conducted environmental and disaster preparedness symposiums and survive at least eight storms.