Florentino Das leaving Kewalo Basin Harbor in Honolulu on May 14, 1955 for his solo trip to the Philippines

Florentino R. Das Commemorative Marker to be Unveiled
by Jun Colmenares

On Sunday, May 14, 2006, at Kewalo Basin Park, an 18" x 24" bronze plaque commemorating the 50th anniversary of the completion of Florentino Das' solo voyage from Hawaii to the Philippines will be unveiled. Florentino Das left Hawaii on May 14, 1955 and reached the Philippines on April 25, 1956. The commemorative event is part of the Filipino centennial celebration and is being sponsored by the Filipino Centennial Celebration Commission, the Congress of Visayan Organizations (COVO) and the Oahu Visayan Council, with support from the Hawaii Community Development Authority and the Office of the Governor.

Background

Florentino Das, then a resident of Maili, Waianae, and with support from the erstwhile Timarau Club of Honolulu, embarked on his dream of crossing the Pacific Ocean on May 14, 1955. He left Kewalo Basin aboard his home-made 24-foot wooden boat named "Lady Timarau," powered only by two 25-hp outboard motors and a canvas sail, and with no modern communication devices or navigational instruments to guide him except a simple compass and the stars. A month into his solo voyage, having encountered several storms and with his boat taking in water, he was aided and towed by a Japanese fishing vessel to Ponape, in Micronesia, where he stayed for several months repairing his boat. While there, he was instructed by his sponsor, the Timarau Club, to abort his journey and return to Hawaii, but he refused because he felt that "Filipino national pride was on the line." He continued with his voyage, passing by Truk and Yap islands, and reached the island of Siargao, off the northeastern part of Mindanao, Philippines, on April 25, 1956. From Siargao, he sailed to Samar, his place of birth, before being escorted by the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard to Manila where a hero's welcome awaited him. For his formidable feat and patriotic zeal, he was received and honored by no less than then Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay who bestowed on him the Legion of Honor and the honorary title of Commodore of the Philippine Navy. He was also given the keys to the City of Manila by then Manila Mayor Arsenio Lacson.

After the initial adulation, however, Florentino Das slipped into obscurity. Abandoned by his sponsors and with no money, Das was unable to return back to Hawaii as he planned. He became ill with diabetes and its complications. Impoverished and without work, Das was admitted to charitable hospitals and was completely blind when he succumbed to uremia on October 7, 1964 in Manila. He was 46 years old.

Florentino Das was born in 1918 in Samar, Philippines. He stowed away to Hawaii on a British freighter in 1934. He married the former Herminia Cipriano with whom he had six children: Florentino Jr., Ronald, Dennis, Justin, Luisa, and Sylvia, all of whom are in the United States. Florentino Das was a fisherman, a prize-fighter, a carpenter, and a former Pearl Harbor shipyard worker.

Das kept a diary of his voyage from Honolulu to Ponape that he sent to his sponsors, the Timarau Club, from whom the Star-Bulletin acquired sole publication rights. In 1990, through the initiative of the Congress of Visayan Organizations (COVO) and then Philippine Consul General Buddy Gomez, with financial support from the City and County of Honolulu, a replica of his boat was constructed and is currently housed at the Hawaii Maritime Museum.

The Unveiling Ceremony

The unveiling of the marker will be held on Sunday, May 14, 2006, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. at the Kewalo Basin Park pavilion. A mini tent exhibit showcasing the replica of Florentino Das' boat, the Lady Timarau, and other memorabilia of his voyage will be held at the site. The Governor, the Philippine Consul General, and the Chair of the Filipino Centennial Celebration Commission will give messages and formally unveil the plaque. A surviving child of Florentino Das will also be invited and honored with a replica of the plaque. Leaders and members of the Filipino community, including the press, are invited. Light pupus will be served after the ceremonies.

The event was selected as a Filipino centennial event because of its historical significance and educational value, particularly to the Filipino youth. In this centennial year, it is a reminder of the unique achievements that members of the Filipino community in Hawaii have accomplished during the past century. It celebrates Florentino Das' "bold dream," his "uncommon valor" and his intrepid journey - a feat that is worthy of adulation and emulation.

Click HERE to see the Commemorative Marker text.