GMA Network, through its overseas arm GMA International, celebrates Seafarer Month and Maritime Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (MANAMo) this September through a meaningful tribute to the Philippines’ maritime heritage — the Balagangay Exhibit.
Unveiled on September 24 at the GMA Network Center lobby in Quezon City, the Balangay Exhibit was attended by GMA International First Vice President and Head of Operations Joseph T. Francia and distinguished guests led by former Undersecretary and expedition leader of the Balangay Voyages Art Valdez, and Port Chaplain, Director of Stella Maris-Manila and representative of National Seafarers Day committee Fr. Paulo Prigol. The event also featured musical performances by the award-winning Filipino artist Reuben Laurente.
“Filipinos have been global citizens long before the Spanish colonization, with our seafaring ancestors navigating vast oceans and building connections across distant lands,” says Francia in a speech at the event. “They were the original Global Pinoys, paving the way for today’s Filipino migrants and OFWs who continue that legacy on the world stage.”
The exhibit features three Balangay replicas lent by Valdez. As the expedition leader of the Balangay Voyages, his team built and modeled ships after the sea vessel and traced the sea routes on which ancient Filipinos sailed.
“The Balangay is not just a boat. It is a compass—pointing us back to our archipelagic soul, challenging centuries of amnesia, and showing us who we are,” Valdez says. “The Philippines is not merely a collection of islands. We are one maritime and archipelagic nation, bounded and unified together by the sea.”
Besides being a cultural showcase that honors the Philippines’ maritime legacy, the Balangay Exhibit is also a tribute from GMA Network to Filipino seafarers and other overseas Filipino workers who sail far from their homeland to provide for their families. A vital part of the GMA Pinoy TV audience, their stories and enduring connection to the homeland continue to inspire the commitment of GMA International to bring them closer to home.
As GMA Network celebrates its 75th anniversary, it continues to create and produce programs that highlight compelling Filipino storytelling, reaching Global Pinoys across multiple platforms. Through GMA Pinoy TV, which also marks its 20th anniversary this year, Global Pinoys continue to enjoy entertainment and have access to information on the latest goings-on from home, plus highly-anticipated concerts, live showcases, and cultural events bannered by beloved Kapuso stars. To subscribe to GMA Pinoy TV, visit www.gmanetwork.com/subscribe.
