Driving into the center of Bongao, I noticed some grand-looking ships being built. They immediately caught my interest, as I had never seen anything like this being built in the Philippines. Dating back to its precolonial inhabitants, shipbuilding in Sulu has a rich history, with the Sama-Bajau celebrated as skilled craftsmen.
We returned the following day, and realised that everything was being handmade, with what looked like a great deal of hard manual labor. I chatted for a while with some of the men, and they told me that most of the workers here were Sama-Bajau from one particular community. Unique to Tawi-Tawi, the craftsmanship of these vessels was remarkable.
The Sama-Bajau are known as exceptional shipbuilders, having spent centuries building and maintaining their own wooden boats.
All of these wooden prahus ships — vessels that can be sailed with either end at the front — were custom ordered from Malaysia for carrying cargo or passengers, and would sell for anywhere between 15-20 million pesos. The men told us it takes roughly one year to build each ship, all by hand.
Joro runs trips to the Philippines and other remote locations around the world. Get in touch to start your journey.
Words and photos by
Jacob Maentz
Documentary photographer based in the Philippines. I’m passionate about issues related to the human condition, culture, and humanity’s interactions with the natural world.
