‘Bangkaripas’ revives toy boat racing tradition in Bulacan town

DOWN BY THE RIVER These children are among the large crowd of residents in Barangay Tibig, Bulakan, Bulacan, who watch the race of toy boats during the staging of the town’s first “Bangkaripas” on Sunday. —Carmela Reyes-Estrope

BULAKAN, BULACAN, Philippines — Colorful makeshift toy boats made from plastic, styrofoam, and other materials delighted locals as they sailed along the river here during the grand launch of the first-ever “Bangkaripas” on Sunday.

The event staged the 30-year-old tradition in Barangay Tibig, when fisherfolk and children held backyard boat races known as “bangka-bangkaan” (toy boat race) in the town’s river, especially during floods.

Seven toy boats competed for the title of the fastest vessel in the inaugural “Bangkaripas,” which was held as part of the village feast that was earlier celebrated on Tuesday.

Christian Pardillo, a 21-year-old welder, won first place with a boat he crafted for his 15-year-old brother Lance. The boat was powered by a motor salvaged from a hair blower, which gave it an edge over other entries that used smaller motors from Tamiya, a popular mini 4WD (four-wheel drive) toy car in the 1990s.

“We used to play this when we were kids. We’d make toy boats and race them in the river or in floodwaters. It was so much fun,” Pardillo told the Inquirer.

Mark Lennon Santos, 15, also reminisced about his childhood memories of the game, which he started playing at 9 years old.

“It’s great that they revived bangka-bangkaan. Back then, our boats were made of paper or Styrofoam and didn’t have motors. Now, they’re faster with the engines, and it’s even more exciting,” he recalled.

The event was organized by Jay Jerome Salvador, a 24-year-old civil engineering graduate and chair of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Tibig.

Salvador and his team conceptualized Bangkaripas to revive the traditional boat race of their childhood while encouraging today’s youth to step away from their gadgets and embrace the village’s cultural heritage.

“This year’s theme, ‘Ang Simula’ (The Beginning), is inspired by the ‘bangkarada’ parade of our fishermen,” Salvador explained.

He added: “What makes Bangkaripas unique is how it reconnects children with our barangay’s traditions and fosters family bonding as older generations teach the younger ones how to make the boats.”

Salvador, who last played bangka-bangkaan at age 10, considered the event the youth of Barangay Tibig’s contribution to preserving Bulakan’s cultural legacy.

Earlier this year, the history and cultural group Kabesera Inc., led by its vice president Patrick Catindig and Councilor Aina Pagsibigan, held a workshop for the 14 SK groups in Bulakan. They challenged participants to propose projects beyond traditional sports like basketball.

Tibig remains a vibrant coastal community in Bulakan, located just 7 kilometers from the site of New Manila International Airport in nearby Barangay Taliptip.