President Benigno Simeon Aquino III receives a replica of "Balangay", a pre-Hispanic indigenous water vessel, from expedition team leader Arturo Valdez during the courtesy call of the 39-member Philippine Balangay Expedition Team Thursday at the Premier Guest House Lobby Thursday January 20, 2011. The President congratulates the Balangay Team for its triumphant four-month voyage across six countries in Southeast Asia. The expedition began September 2009 with a Philippine leg then to neighboring Asian countries to retrace the early Filipinos' trade routes. The team sailed 12,600 kilometers from Butuan City to Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia using ancient navigation methods, such as charting courses by watching the weather and the positions of heavenly bodies. (Photo by: Jay Morales/ Malacaņang Photo Bureau) |
