TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines –“Rakit,” an indigenous water transport made of bamboos in floats highlighted the opening parade around the major thoroughfares of Sta. Teresita, Cagayan, on Wednesday, March 7.
Aristotel Cabang of Arapang Media said candidates to the Diwata at Prinsipe ng Kalikasan added attraction to the least 13 floats representing the 13 barangays. On top of the bamboo rafts were huts made from bamboos for walls and Nipa for roofing.
All were decorated with lowland and upland flora like the bird’s nest, ferns and other aerial plants. Unlike last year, the barangays will charge ten pesos per person for a 20 minute raft ride at the ‘mouth’ of the Laguna De Cagayan Lake the same area where the Department of Tourism has started a project called the Bangalao Port.
The rafts are docked at Laguna de Cagayan and manned by two individuals from the barangays. Last year during its re-introduction, barangays charge no peso for the leisure ride. Jocelyn Bumatay said the rafts will become a permanent attraction at Bangalao aside from Bakong (Hanguana malayana) and the various migratory birds. Georgina Nicolas/Arapang Media/Northernforum.net
