BRIDGING THE GAP
The cultural dimension of boats and boat-building in Panay island
Panay Island has been prominent in the boat-building industry in the Philippines since the pre-colonial days up to contemporary times. The construction of various types of wooden boats was already a flourishing activity in the island long before the coming of the Spaniards. Because of their primary importance in the lives of the people, boats and their cultural representations are assumed to have permeated all aspects of the lives of the people of Panay through the ages.
References to the extensive use and construction of boats in pre-colonial Panay are numerous, both in oral traditions and written accounts. These are indications of the early development of the sail- and paddle-powered boats in the area. This was primarily due to the archipelagic nature of the Philippines, Panay's rich marine resources, the abundance of excellent timber, the prime importance of boats on the lives of the people, and the expertise of the inhabitants in boat-construction. Even in colonial times, the demand for boats continued, for the Spanish and American colonial masters needed boats to advance their political and economic interests in the country. After independence, there was the persistence in the demand for boats for fishing, for transporting people and goods, as well as for leisure and tourism, especially with the remarkable increase in the population.
So, what is the cultural dimension of boats and boat-building in Panay? Because of the dominance of boats in the lives of the people, many places in the island have earned the reputation as centers of boat-building. Certain individuals and families have become well-known because of their skills and expertise in the making of boats. There has also been a diversification of boat designs to cater to certain purposes or uses. Moreover, while boat construction follows certain standards of technical construction, the personal aesthetics or artistic touches of the builder may find their way into the finished boat. Furthermore, there is the persistence of the traditional method of boat construction, despite the advent of modern equipment and materials.
In addition, boats and sailing are mentioned in Panayanon myths and epics. This is a bit puzzling because these epics are those possessed by people in the mountainous sections of central Panay and far from the sea. Is it possible that these people found in the highlands of Panay were formerly inhabiting the coastal part? Boats are also in Panayanon socio-political organization, as in the case of the barangay which is the name for a certain type of a bigger boat. Even in the spiritual realm, there are surviving folk beliefs and practices associated with boat-building, usually dealing with taboos.
In the past, and even at present, terms used for certain parts of a boat were commonly employed as names of places and persons, like Dagpak, Layag, Binaroto, Timon, etc. The making of boats also reinforces certain Panayanon admirable traits and values such as the dagyaw, or the voluntary, collective and reciprocal assistance neighbors extend to each other. Boats and boat-building are further found in Panayanon vocabulary and common expressions. Finally, one can also find the cultural dimension of boats in its uses, not only as a sea vessel but also as a land transport pulled by a carabao, as container in making ginamos or fermented tiny shrimps, as a place to do laundry in rivers, as a napping or sleeping area, and as a platform for drying fish and firewood.
In restrospect, it can be said that the advantageous geographic character and socio-economic position of Panay have produced a maritime people who have relied heavily on boats for fishing and transportation needs since early times to the present. Thus, various elements associated with boats are still evident in the literature, traditional values and activities of the inhabitants, even in areas far away from the coast. This clearly shows how encompassing boats are in the life of the people of Panay.