There is a legend among seafarers that there is an Ilonggo aboard every ship in the world.
Perhaps this legend traces its roots in the early pre-Hispanic days when the earliest sailors from Panay in the Visayas sailed the seas on board vessels such as the paraw. The paraw is part-outrigger canoe and part sailboat. It merges ancient shipbuilding craftsmanship and ingenuity where materials are concerned. Back then, the paraw was used to transport cargo and passengers.
The paraw has three major elements: the bangka (main hull), the katig (outriggers), and the layag (sails). The vessel can travel long distances. According to some research, these boats are made from Philippine mahogany or lawaan, basa, or molave. However, modern versions already use plywood. The shipwrights bind parts using ropes made of abaca.
There has been an effort in areas like Coron and El Nido to recreate their version of the paraw to encourage locals to embrace their heritage. And from what we are told, the maritime history of Filipinos is rich indeed. In ship
The two katig or outriggers usually made from bamboo or various kinds of wood and served as counterpoise so that the boat would not easily overturn. They are attached to the boat via tarik (akas). The presence of the outriggers negates the need for a heavy keel and therefore reduces the overall weight of the paraw without sacrificing stability.
The layag or main sail may be made of anything from woven mats, cloth, canvas even sack cloth. Traditionally the main sail is similar to a lateen rig or a crabclaw sail and is attached to a vertical and horizontal spar, the sail differs from a traditional lateen rig in that the vertical spar is parallel to the mast and does not suffer from bad tack. The sail’s spar may be as long as the mast, unattached and may appear to be longer than the mast when attached to it. There are no guidelines as to how the main sail is shaped but it may approximate an equilateral triangle. The paraw is also equipped with a foresail or jib and adds to the overall surface area and generated thrust derived from the wind. A variation of the paraw with rectangular sails is the vinta.
The mast, commonly made of bamboo, is secured by lines attached to, among other things, the outriggers, the fore (and sometimes, the aft) and various parts of the boat. Historically, the mast of smaller paraws was a spear or bangkaw and was a useful part of the ship when conducting raids against other seaside villages.
Reference:
Palawan Paraw: A Blog Documenting the Construction of a Traditional Filipino Sailboat, https://palawanparaw.wordpress.com/
Funtecha, Henry F..“Baroto, paraw, batil, barangay, etc: Panay’s maritime legacy”. https://www.thenewstoday.info/2009/02/27/baroto.paraw.batil.barangay.etc.panays.maritime.legacy.html