Butuan’s historic ‘Balangay’ featured in ASEAN 2026 PH chairship logo
By Mariesh F. Celedeña
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — At the heart of the ASEAN 2026 Philippines Chairship logo is the image of the ‘Balangay,’ the ancient wooden watercraft that symbolizes Butuan and the country’s rich maritime heritage.
Dating back to the 10th century in the Common Era (CE), the Balangay was used for inter-island travel, trade, and migration, highlighting Filipinos’ advanced seafaring skills and strong regional connections.
The ASEAN 2026 logo brings together key elements, namely: the Balangay, rice stalks, weave pattern, and waves, which collectively embody the theme—“Navigating Our Future, Together.” Just as the Balangay once carried our ancestors across seas to trade and cultivate relationships, the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship seeks to steer the region toward shared progress, unity, and cooperation.
Including the Balangay in the logo symbolizes ASEAN nations moving forward as one: diverse in identity and culture, yet united in the pursuit of peace, prosperity, and ASEAN centrality.
Butuan City holds a special link to this heritage. In the 1970s, eleven balangay or Butuan boats were discovered at the Balangay dig site in Libertad, Butuan City. The National Museum of the Philippines–Butuan continues excavation and preservation efforts of reburied boats, underscoring their archaeological and cultural value. These watercraft also provided strong evidence of the region’s participation in the Maritime Silk Roads, an ancient network of sea routes connecting Southeast Asia, East Asia, India, the Middle East, East Africa, and Europe.
Importantly, the legacy of the balangay lives on today in Philippine governance. The smallest administrative unit in the country, the barangay, takes its name from the balangay. In ancient times, families, relatives, and their chieftain traveled together on these boats to settle new lands as a community, much like how barangays today represent groups of families forming a local community.
“This discovery contributes to Butuan City’s identity as ‘Home of the Balangays.’ This year, the city is gearing up for the 50th anniversary of the Balangay Excavation, and we are preparing various activities for the big event. Decorations featuring the Balangay can now be seen around the city, including in the different barangays, as part of our preparations,” said Michiko M. De Jesus, head of the Butuan City Public Information Department.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the discovery of plank-built, edge-pegged Balangay boats alongside various ceramic wares in Butuan further highlights the city’s key role in ancient maritime trade and cultural exchange.
By placing the Balangay at the center of the ASEAN 2026 logo, the Philippines not only honors its past but also connects Butuan’s Balangay legacy to the region’s shared future, navigating forward together, just as our ancestors once did across open seas. (MFC, PIA Caraga)
