Approaching final stages

The above photograph shows Ray Concha  (24) painting “balaw”, a natural tree resin, on the paraw’s hull. Ray is the nephew of Bernardo and has been part of our team since May, he learned carpentry from his older brother and grew up with sailing small boats in Cagayancillo.

“I’ve known how to sail small boats since I was in grade five. Most people in Cagayancillo have some sailing knowledge. But even when I was a boy there were no more large traditional sailboats. I’m happy to see a big paraw like this and I’m enjoying the work  – I’m learning a lot.” Ray Concha

The paraw is approaching the final stages of construction. We aim to attach the masts and outriggers next week and launch the sail for the first time on January 31, during the new moon.

Inside the cabin, our new carpenter Jaime dela Cruz is working on beds for the guests made out of “ulandeg” wood, which has a beautifully patterned grain.

The construction site now has a resident otter (a short-clawed Asian otter).

Aerial Video by Ivan Sarenas

 

Short Film

Please visit our Facebook page to watch a short film about the paraw launch, shot and edited by Boy Yniguez.

It’s not up on the blog yet, so follow this link:

https://www.facebook.com/palawanparaw

Launch Day

On Thursday September 5, the day of the new moon and the highest monthly tide, the hull of the paraw was launched into a  tributary of the the Babuyan River.

Over a hundred men, women and children came to help push and pull the boat into the water. A film crew came from Manila and others joined from Puerto Princesa but the majority came from the surrounding area of Mauyon.

It was amazing to see true Filipino bayanihan spirit in action. Local villages were all but abandoned during the launch. For those few hours, everyone had left their daily tasks to help get the paraw safely into the water.

The paraw, which had been on trestles, was lowered onto heavy logs, on which the hull could roll. Gener then set up a system of ropes and pulleys around the coconut trees. These ropes kept the boat from tipping to side to side while allowing a great number of people to pull the hull into the water.

It was a nerve-wracking process which took longer than expected. On three or four occasions the paraw leaned dangerously over and everyone rushed to the other side to correct it. The high tide (which peaked at 10am) had actually started to recede by the time the bow of the boat touched the water for the first time. By around noon the hull was afloat and just a small team continued to work to secure its position in the river.

The paraw will remain here for one or two months until it is ready to be fitted with outriggers, masts and sails.

PHOTO STORY

Positioning logs to roll the hull over

Boys roasting a pig for all the launch participants – lechon baboy!

Gener organising preparations

Gener installing the ropes and pullys

Checking the hull

Positioning logs underneath the hull

Rolling logs under the hull

Heaving the boat into the water

Gener making some final checks

Ropes were attached to trees in the coconut grove

Anxious Gener

The bow of the boat – ready to go on water for the first time

The rope and pully system at the bow

Gener and master carpenter Jaime Maltos

Three local girls who turned up to help – thank you!

A long line of people pulling on the main rope

The paraw almost tips over

Readjusting the position of the paraw

Local woman also came to help pull the paraw into the water

Local young men pushing the stern

Over 100 people came to help during the launch

Over 100 people came to help during the launch

Readjusting ropes

Ready to pull

Heave ho!

The paraw tips again, the men rush to prop it up

Gener jumps back in the river to adjust the ropes

Almost in the water

Gener and his two brothers pull on the ropes

Heave ho!

A young spectator

Final pull and the paraw tips again

Final push into the river

The paraw enters the water

Finally afloat

Gener aboard the floating paraw

A Huge Thank You!

A huge THANK YOU to the 102 people who joined us to launch the hull of the paraw:

Jose Yniguez, Alex Reyes, Marcus Swanepoel, Boy Yniguez, Pepito Juanzo, Maritess Juanzo, Noelle Reyes, Rosario Paduga, Christian Kattinger, Bonievie Budao, Zack Seracarpio, Solomon Mendoza, Andy Boehm, Leonisa Delos Angeles, Lorna Gacol, Agusto Vargas, Emma Dela Cruz, Irene Castro, Al Canta, Zaldy Sabanes, Boysi Bosi,Ana Maria Saavedra, Camilla Alaska, Gifford, Claveria, Alvin Solomon, Arnaldo Solomon, Jonathan Alaska, Edwin Pagkaliwangan, Bryan Bundac, Angelo Saavedra, Ryan Gacot, Nolito Monton, Lorna Luna, Chita Castro, Columbus Paguia, Roy Delos Angeles, John Del Sauren, Blas Paduga, Teodoro Senosa, Jun Tabang, Danilo Fantilanan Sr., Martillano Canopin, Candido Castro, Allan Palma, Francisco Agnas, Francismar Badenas, Francisco Villamor, Ronel Corpus, Ian Felizarte, Jay Paduga, M.J Aguire, Amparo Paduga, Romnick Arabi, Manuel Salba, Andrew Arabi, Morahge Canopin, Dhoy Bosi, Jacob Dela Cruz, Phing Alapaguia, Jun Monton, Roberto Bucsit, Armando Abrea, Nestor Dangan, Elmer Magdayao, Larry Launio, Edwen Asya, Incieto Sakling, Dominic Dacer, Jomer Andao, Dexter Rey Pantilanan, Adela Canopin, Lenie Luna, Danilo Pantilanan Jr., Darwin Padrones, Jayboy Dela Cruz, Irish Andao, Vargas Bornok, Ton-ton Vargas, Reymando Delos Santos, Jose Cabildo, Ian Magdayao, Dexter Castro, Ricky Sauren, Marlon Felipe, Ruben Delos Santos, Mark John Delos Santos, Ivan Sarenas, Randy Olorga, Marlon Bacosa, Moreto Bundac, Steven Padrones, Atong Abadiano, Richard Castro, Reymark Evangelista, Reynald Luna, John Carlo Fantilanan, Jerald Monton, Ellen Asya, Effren Asya and Denis Baruga.

Take a look through this brief selection of black and white images. [A colour photo-story documenting the whole day will follow in our next blog post.]

Master Carpenter

Master Carpenter

Master Carpenter

Rolling logs underneath the paraw’s hull

Get the boat afloat!

25 June – the highest tide of 2013

Jaime Maltos points to 25 June 2013

Our team of carpenters are living and working, building the paraw on the banks of the Babuyan River, a tidal river that flows into Honda Bay, on Palawan’s east coast.

Since we will lift the boat into the water by man power alone, it is important that the river is at its highest possible level at the time. So we are planning to lift the hull into the water on June 25, during the highest tide of the year (2.06 metres).

Tidal range on 25-26 June 2013 (source: tides.mobilegeographics.com)

The especially high tide on June 25/26 is due to the effect of a full moon, creating a spring tide, and the summer solstice on 21 June, which also has the effect of increasing tidal ranges.

Moon phases (source: http://www.calendar-365.com)

Once the boat is in the water, work will continue on the cabins, masts and riggings.

We are aiming to finish work by October, ready for the beginning of sailing season in November.