balangay shrine museum

The Balangay Boat Museum celebrates the rich maritime heritage of the Philippines. The indigenous timber boat found here in 1976 has been carbon dated to 320AD. These boats measuring up to 25 metres sailed throughout the region up to 2000 years ago...and are recorded as having sailed to Japan, China, India and even to Madagascar. These boats were built entirely out of local timber with no metal parts - 100% indigenous wood. Interesting to know this is the origin of the word 'barangay', which is the Filipino name for village given to the over 42,000 districts throughout the country - the smallest administrative unit. And this is why every 'barangay' has a 'Barangay Captain' due to its origin from this ancient boat from the age when Butuan in NE Mindanao was the centre of culture and civilization in the country over 1000 years ago. The small museum is a true gem and the source of great pride for the local people and the Nation.

The museum is not that elaborate, it is quite simple but it is very educational. I was guided by one of the museum staff during my visit and she was really very informative and helpful. Sorry I wasn't able to get her name. This place really let's you know more about Butuan's interesting history.

The place contains many artifacts of boats from very long time ago (~AD500).Would recommend this place to have a review on history.Transportation is via Jeepney (<PHP10) going to Libertad. Drop at Paradise St. and ride a Tricycle (PHP30) going inside.

If you wanna learn the history of the oldest watercraft, then visit the shrine. It was built right where one of the boats was unearthed. Location is near the airport. And the staff-in-charge, Mario Bonglay, is very accommodating.

It is now fully renovated and it's design and drastic value on cultural heritage as by part of the history is making me very proud as a Butuanon.

The place manifests butuan's technology during those days which is far more advanced than the neighboring countries. The boats they built were designed to travel across open waters. It's amazing to know that we are the ones traveling to other countries to trade products and not the other way around. Nice place to see and get to know artifacts-based history.

Please see Mario, the anthropologist, who stays onsite almost all the time from Tuesday-Saturday. One really needs a guide i.e. him :) to get a good appreciation of history and the story behind the very few displays. When I saw what was displayed (only 1 balangay and a few coffins and skulls), I feel pained :( but somehow having Kuya Mario around telling the stories passionately - including some anecdotes (will not spoil what these are) he captured from past visitors - made the experience better :) It was a treat to have him around. He is also kind enough to bring us to his small office/work area and show some ceramics he has restored. He even was nice enough to offer us to play restoration. As of this date, there are still more balangays that are yet to be dug up - a bigger one w/c is probably the largest is still on the burial site. It was also very sad for me to see how dilapidated his work area is which he seems okay as he treats everything with good humor :( Even when we asked him on why this museum has no aircon, he still treats the sorry state with good humor and said "Nature is good therefore we have to keep it this way" :( I really feel bad and hope something can be done.

Very fascinating museum with a lot of local discoveries. Too bad that many of the precious antiquities are no longer there, from what I was told, they are in the capital city of Manila.

From the national highway of Libertad, Butuan City, it is about 20min travel. The road going to the shrine is not well-maintained, and super bumpy, not advisable to visit during rainy seasons or when it rain. When commuting, it is advised to haggle first with the trike bike drivers before proceeding to the area, and the driver should wait for you, as not much public vehicle is available.

great knowledge of history. it was nice to see an actual balangay. very educational!

. . it was nice and very beautiful. . it has so many artifacts. . i cant wait to go back there so that i could see more of those. . .

The quaint little museum is off the beaten path, but can easily be seen by renting a trike and combining a trip the Magellan's Landing. When I went it was a holiday, the Museum was closed but when the grounds keeper found out I had to leave Butuan the next day, he opened the museum for me. A nice display of the Balangays (small boats) they have uncovered there. This is one of several Balangay sites near Butuan. Iam happy I went!

A must visit here,lots of things to do and see,food very good

We stepped into the museum unceremoniously. It's so open, I don't remember seeing any doors, nor security guards. We just registered our names and off we went to the quaint shrine. The preserved balangays are inside sturdy glass encasings. The tour guide said that the stuff there were originally dug out from that very same site.

This small museum is sevral kilometers east of downtown Butuan City where lays the resting ground of the Balangay 1 boat dated 320 A.D. The wooden boats measured an average of 15 meters in length which said to carry the first settlers of Butuan. To date, 9 Balangays have already been discovered in Ambangan, Libertad sites. The museum is just like a small house so you could be out in that establishment in 15 minutes. Aside from the remains of the Balangay boats you would also find the remains of the early settlers found in coffin burials so if you are squeamish about skeletons just don't go there.The Balangay is a cultural heritage that establishes the maritime activities of Butuan long before the Chinese came to the shores of the Philippines. Butuan is protected against any form of intrusion, illegal excavation or vandalism because of a Presidential Order.I hope that the government would pay attention regarding the needs of this national treasure. It really needs a good renovation.