Bankas

From childhood on a Filipino living near the sea shore will be around the bangka, the classic outrigger "canoe" found throughout the Philippines.

Humans are tool using animals and a bangka is perhaps the most important tool for use in an island country. Like any general purpose tool the bangka comes in many sizes and shapes. Classically the term was used to describe a very narrow hull that was made from a log and balanced with outriggers. More generally the term now includes boats built will all kinds of techniques and sizes but having in common, outriggers.

Large bangkas capable of carrying as many as 100 passengers are used as ferries to outlying islands and are an essential component of the transportation system in this part of the world.




This video was created by itdes

Indeed perhaps one should think of the bangka as a tiny mobile island and then ask, "How does one achieve sustainability on this tiny island, the bangka?"

As with larger real islands the problems are similar. Humans must first of all satisfy certain physiological needs ala Maslow. 

We all need air, water, food, shelter, sleep and sex. Yes sex, even if it can be postponed, chuckle.

So if one is living on a tiny island, a bangka, how does one propose to fill these needs?

An expat westerner has one answer, a native Filipino fisherman another. Since I am an expat I will explore that approach.