Beneath Butuan: The Mother Boat and the Quest to Understand Filipino Seafaring

Balangay Boat at AIMS Museo Maritimo

June 14, 2025 — Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines

An Article by Erin Devanadera

Seafaring is not a modern trend or a mere aspect of technological rigor. As seen in antique archives and archaeological findings that continue to astound researchers around the world, seafaring is an ever-evolving way of life. It integrates experiential knowledge of sea and oceanic waters, impacting the development of water vessels, emergent literacy in boat-making processes, and the unfolding enigma behind seafaring peoples—especially in relation to local and national research and communities seeking to deepen contemporary understanding and appreciation of indigenous seafaring history.

The Philippines, a country filled with cultural heritage, diversity, and resources, inaugurates both historical and anthropological awareness through its industrial findings—whether excavated from the land or under the sea. Resurfacing and profound discoveries accumulate and challenge the very assumptions, whether scientific or nonscientific, that seemingly promise to draw a finality in expounding on pre-modern conceptions of humanity and technology.

Exceptional instances of this phenomenon include the unearthing of relics, inscriptions, and fossil remains. From the Laguna Copperplate Inscription, which predates the 1521 colonial conquest of the Philippines, to Homo luzonensis—the Callao Man—who predated his descendant counterparts, each contributes to the ongoing evolution of knowledge within historical and anthropological scholarship.

Indeed, another notable discovery—uncovered over a decade ago—lay beneath the city of Butuan, where the largest ancient Filipino boat had rested in sea dust for approximately 800 years. Acclaimed as the city’s “Mother Boat,” this seafaring vessel inspires present-day research groundwork and discussions, many of which remain continuous and partially unsolved.

Discovered in Barangay Libertad, known as the “Balangay Dig Site,” the Mother Balangay was found resting alongside 11 smaller balangay boats, which preceded the larger boat’s discovery in the 1970s. It is twice as large as its predecessors, measuring up to 25 meters in length with planks resembling the breadth of a human chest, and its dowel pins nearly the width of a soda can. As if designed for substantial occupancy, deep-sea treks, and migration. It is then no wonder that this vessel gained immediate traction and interest from national scholarly and archaeological communities, driven by the objective to uncover its remains and further understand its construction, function, and historical context.

In a GMA interview with excavation project head Dr. Mary Jane Louise A. Bolunia, the Mother Boat set itself apart from other balangay caricatures, whose earlier archetypes often reflected smaller builds and simpler innovations. However, the excavation plan, as of today, has yet to be fully initialized. This delay is primarily in consideration for formal approval from private landowners on whose land the Mother Balangay is situated. As a result, the intricacies and findings of the research remain incomplete.

“The establishment of such a park, or any museum for that matter, is no easy undertaking: it’s important to present artifacts in a way that encourages viewers to learn more about their historical and cultural context,” Dr. Bolunia said, emphasizing the need for proper authorization and agreement before excavation can begin.

Butuan, a city located in Northern Mindanao, Philippines, is well-remarked for its rich socio-cultural and religious history. Its environmental and historical significance stems from its past interrelations of commerce and trade, often conducted with nearby Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China. These past exchanges established Butuan as a major central hub for maritime travel, transactions, and activities. It is also known as the “home of the balangays,” producing numerous ornaments and artifacts—ceramics, pottery, and bells—that reflect the city’s vibrant heritage. In 2009, Butuan prided itself in the sail of the first balangay replica, the Diwata ng Lahi, sailing across 54 ports from Manila to the city.

“It is the evidence of early Filipino craftsmanship and their seamanship skills during pre-colonial times,” said Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho, head of the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices, in Panay News, emphasizing the significance of balangay boats in showcasing pre-colonial seafaring artisanship.

Regardless of their visible state, these findings highlight the ingenuity and hospitality of ancient Filipino seafarers. The oldest documented trade with foreign neighbors dates back to the 10th century CE. The Song Hui Yao Kao annals recorded Butuan’s trade of goods such as gold, beeswax, and civet with China through the Austronesian kingdom of Champa. Such events marked the Philippines' first documented trade beyond its horizon. Another indicator of early seafaring is the Maritime Silk Road, which connected sea routes across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean. Prehistoric sites, tools, and remains found in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste lands also offer a much more invigorating insight into the artisan sophistry of Southeast Asian peoples in boat-making and navigation of the deep-end seas dating back at least 40,000 years ago.

Despite the current stall in Dr. Bolunia’s excavation efforts, several Filipino historians, scholars, and archaeologists have already come forth to support the project by making clear the probable theoretical and observational information regarding the balangay’s origin and function. These ongoing efforts also prompt openness to diverse historical contexts and possibilities related to the Mother Boat. Ramon Villegas, Filipino curator and art historian, encourages the public to remain attentive to the unfolding developments surrounding the Mother Balangay. Considering the rigorous processes, from radiometric dating to the investigation of boat-building materials—supplemented by existing records and scholarly interpretations—each step is only vital to a fuller understanding of early Filipino seafaring in the meantime.

“Historians have always known there were other large boats. We should expect to find big boats because we know they existed,” said Villegas.

“Everything depends on the construction—on how the boat was built—before you can properly call it a balangay,” explained alongside anthropologist and archaeologist Dr. Jesus Peralta.

Taking into account these factors that inform the ongoing research of the Mother Balangay raises significant questions and strengthens support for the future not only of the excavation project but the preservation of the balangay while it awaits unearthing from the trenches of the Butuan Sea.

“Yes, we can keep the boat in situ. The present status of the balangay—being submerged in water and mud—is actually a form of preservation. We just let the water seep in and leave it at that because it’s more protected than if you dry it. If you expose it without proper conservation, then it will disintegrate,” Dr. Bolunia shared, highlighting the role of natural preservation through water and mud in keeping intact the parts of the boat.

The discovery of the Mother Boat exemplifies the ever-expanding landscape of historical and archaeological research and excavation, reflecting the beauty and importance of new findings. These findings either reinterpret or affirm prior studies, utilizing both similar and distinct methods and techniques. Furthermore, this discovery highlights the significance of maritime research and development, underscoring the crucial role that Filipino seafarers, from prehistory to modern times, have played in the spread and growth of maritime technology. This, in turn, fosters greater cultural awareness and appreciation of Filipino history and heritage for modern Filipinos.

Quotations are primarily excerpted from the news article “Historic Giant Balangay Remains Excavated” by TJ Dimacali, GMA News Online.

Bibliography:

“Ancient Seafarers in Southeast Asia May Have Built Advanced Boats 40,000 Years Ago.” Phys.org, 20 Feb. 2025, https://phys.org/news/2025-02-ancient-seafarers-southeast-asia-built.html.

“Balangay Replica, Crew in Butuan for 'Blessings' of Early Mariners.” Mindanao Gold Star Daily, 20 Nov. 2017, https://mindanaogoldstardaily.com/archives/80779.

“Did You Know? The Butuan Archaeological Sites and the Role of the Philippines in the Maritime Silk Roads.” UNESCO, https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/content/did-you-know-butuan-archaeological-sites-and-role-philippines-maritime-silk-roads.

“Historic Giant Balangay Remains Unexcavated.” GMA News Online, 1 Aug. 2017, https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/science/620423/historic-giant-balangay-remains-unexcavated/story/.

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“Massive Balangay 'Mother Boat' Unearthed in Butuan City.” The Freeman via PressReader, 11 Aug. 2013, https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/the-freeman/20130811/281895885880062?srsltid=AfmBOoofi535s1yEe-31t6j1vISYyT968_M-jhVL-DdHchP-8Q_7WkVb.

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