To the delight of Jagnaanongs, a replica of an ancient Balangay boat named “Diwata ng Lahi” which the first Philippine expedition team to Mt. Everest used to retrace the Filipino ancestors migration route, arrived at the Jagna port on November 16. Measuring 15 meters long and three meters wide, the vessel docked at Jagna port in the afternoon. Local officials of Jagna hosted the Mt. Everest team, who steers the balangay for the last 13 weeks around the Philippines since July 1, this year Mayor Exuperio Lloren together with Vice Mayor Teofisto Pagar Sr. and some Sangguniang Bayan (SB) led by Committee on Culture and the Arts chair, Councilor Alberto Café and department heads joined Jagna Parish Priest Msgr. Orencio Jubac, E.V., officials of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of Education (DePeD) and the Junior and Senior high school students of Jagna with their teachers in welcoming the visitors through a dinner sponsored by the local government at the Capt. Gregorio Caseñas Hall in the evening.

"The boat is always femal, and it symbolizes the spirit of our race," former Transportation Undersecretary and Mt. Everest team leader Art Valdez said during the symposium held at the Jagna gymnasium an hour after their arrival. He further explained the balangay's name which translates as "Muse of the Race" and how the Kaya ng Pinoy Foundation Inc., an organization that pushes for projects that uphold national pride aims to revive the Filipinos maritime consciousness. The only high altitude medical doctor in the Philippines Dr. Ted Esguerra shared to the symposium participants the pains and triumph which the Mt. Everest team experienced on their way to the top of the world. Erwin Emata fondly called “Pastour” from Davao encouraged the students to always aim high and work hard to achieve individual dreams in life.

He likewise asked for more prayers as the team leads the dream mission which he described as far from halfway. “Pastour” was the second Filipino to reach Mt. Everest and holds the record of the fastest climb in Mt. Everest in 2006. Valdez revealed to the LGU officials that the stop-over in Jagna is part of the first phase of the voyage which hopes to cover 75 ports or stops around the Philippines and will take about seven months. He added that the team will only sail during the day and spend two to five days in the nearest community to promote environmental advocacy, organize coastal cleanups and tree planting activities, hold lectures on Philippine maritime history and promotion of local tourism. Valdez said that in certain areas medical missions were conducted. Answering queries on air over Jagna Community Radio, DYJP FM the following morning, Dr. Esguerra and company personally thanked Mayor Lloren and the Jagnaanon in general for the very warm welcome accorded them. The team informed the DYJP listeners that the Balangay is the first wooden watercraft excavated in Southeast Asia and is only found in the Philippines Accordingly, nine specimens were discovered in Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte in 1976 three of which have been excavated hence the Balangay is also called Butuan boat.

Examination and extensive investigation revealed that the extant boats found in the excavation site would date back to 320, 990 and 1250 AD. Known as the youngest mother to climb Mt. Everest and one of three women on the crew, Janet Belarmino-Sardena, when asked on the difference between the Mt. Everest and the voyage of the Balangay experience said that the latter   is different from the former only in terms of form or the face of the adventure but it's the same story of pride and unity of the Filipino people. The team concluded that after the epoch-making journey on Philippine seas the “ lovely diwata” will then proceed to other parts of Southeast Asia in 2010 and on to Madagascar off Africa in 2011 following the migration route of our ancestors, the Austronesian-speaking people. Other equally competent crew of the Balangay included Carina Dayondon, the second Filipina to summit Mt. Everest, the Badjao group and men from PCG. (Gregorio A. Tavera with reports from MPIO)