VINTA FESTIVAL

Photo from: http://retiredanalyst.blogspot.com/2016/02/vinta-festival-in-sulu-aims-to-bring.html

A grand spectacle of colors adorn the seas of Jolo, Sulu as vintas sailed off the island’s coast on February 14 for the Vinta Festival. It was organized by the Joint Task Group of Sulu.

The spotlight was on the Badjaos that showcase vintas donated to them by the Joint Task Group Sulu, the local government and other organizations in Mindanao. Locals of Sulu watched in awe of the spectacle of vintas at sea.

Badjaos who received the vintas said they are happy to start their livelihood with the traditional boats that define their culture and identity. Read More: http://cnnphilippines.com/regional/2016/02/17/vinta-festival-sulu-province.html

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The vinta, together with pearl divers, and the Badjao boat dwellers, form the romance of the Sulu seas. The vinta’s colorful sail decorates many a picture of southern Philippine sunsets beckoning the adventurous at heart to the joys and wonder of riding big waves.

Actually, the vinta is not safe for long ocean travel. It is a very small and unsteady sailboat, used only for short trips on days with normal breezes. Vinta is how the sailboat is called by the maritime people of the Sulu archipelago. Some say it may be a name coined by the Spaniards.

The boat is more commonly known as lepa-lepa or sakayan. The bigger boats used got crossing high seas are the kumpit and sahpit or the Indonesian parao. The sahpit is used as a large houseboat or for transportating cargo. The kumpit is notoriuous as the official carrier of sumgglers in the south and is said to outpace Navy patrol boats because of its powered engine. Except for small fishing boats, most boats in the high seas of Sulu have motors. The parao is fitted with an inboard Volvo engine and is widely known now as “volvo”. Vintas with very colorful sails still abound along some seashores, especially of seaside resorts, for tourists who want a bit of romance and adventure. Zamboanga hosts a vinta regatta each year. A fleet of vintas crosses the close to 23 kilometer wide Basilan Strait. Watching the regatta can be a romantic adventure in itself. Read more: http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Cynthia/Mindanao/mindanao_culture.htm