Replicas of ancient RP boats reach Singapore

Three replicas of balangays, the ancient Filipino boats, arrived in Singapore last weekend as part of its international voyage. A report from the Philippine Embassy in Singapore said the three vessels arrived at the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club (RSYC) last Saturday. Singapore is the fourth country the crew visited, after Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. "Together with RSYC Commodore Tan Kay Toh, Philippine Ambassador Minda Calaguian-Cruz and other Embassy officials welcomed the 38-member crew as they docked in the city-state," the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in its website. Leading the balangay crew was former Transportation undersecretary and Philippine Mountaineering Society president Arturo Valdez, and Dr. Ted Esguerra. The arrival of the balangays in Singapore was featured on Channel NewsAsia Channel 5's evening newscast. More than two dozen members of the Philippine Dragons and Kalasag, a Philippine dragon boat team and mountaineering club based in Singapore, respectively, also greeted the team. During a brief welcome ceremony at the Yacht Club terrace, Valdez presented a miniature balangay to Commodore Tan who, together with RSYC Honorary Secretary Bala Krishnan, hosted a luncheon in honor of the voyage leaders. During the luncheon, which was also attended by Cruz and other Embassy officials, Valdez presented a copy of "Live the Dream: The Saga of the Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition Team" to the hosts. For his part, Toh then gave him and Ambassador Cruz copies of the RSYC Heritage Book, "Three Burgees." In the afternoon, the balangay crew gave a rousing presentation about their voyage before the Filipino community leaders at the Embassy. The balangays departed Singapore Tuesday morning to continue their voyage to Thailand and Cambodia before proceeding to Vietnam, where the crew hopes to make it in time for the 17th ASEAN Summit on October 28-30. - JA/KBK, GMANews.TV