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Lepa and Other Watercrafts: Boat Building Traditions of the Sama of Tawi-tawi

English List

Description	The lepa, the traditional house boat of Sama people of Tawi-Tawi, southern Philippines. This one in the town of Languyan was built for a regatta and festival.
Photographer	Mac Dillera
Place		File Size	12.9MB
Definition	6000x4000	File Format	JPG
Copyright	ICHCAP, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) of the Philippines	-

LIST

VI00000326 Traditional Sama Boat Building
Boats are an important component of the lives of the sama people of Tawi-Tawi in Southern Philippines. The Sama use boats for various purposes including dwelling, fishing, and transportation, and possess many different kinds of boats, including lepa (house boats) and bog-go(fishing boats). Such boats are built with strong wood known locally as lupanga. The boat-building process is followed by a celebration called duwaa, which is performed to pray for prosperity and safety. The increasing prevalence of land-based lifestyles has led to a significant decline in boat-building practice, but it nonetheless remains an important part of Sama life.

26:44
Philippines 2018

DI00000234 LEPA: THE SEA AS HOME
As sea gypsies, the Sama Dilaut of the Philippines are known for living on the sea throughout most of the year. Part of the Sama ethnic group of Southeast Asia, they crisscrossed the islands of the coral triangle until recently when they chose more permanent settlements along the coast.

Jesusa L. Paquibot Project Officer, Intangible Cultural Heritage Unit, National Commission for Culture and the Arts 2016