Twenty Austronesian men wearing orange lifejackets pushed a hand-carved longboat into the western Pacific Ocean Wednesday, leaving Orchid Island to reconnect with their ancestral kin in the Philippines — a voyage that hasn't happened in 300 years.
The Tao, an indigenous group that lives on Orchid Island 90 kilometers (56 miles) off Taiwan's southeast coast, are making the journey to re-establish ties with Austronesian-speaking peoples in the Philippines. The boat, carved from a single tree using traditional methods, carries no modern navigation equipment — just the stars, currents, and ancestral knowledge.
"We are going home," one of the rowers said before departure, according to local reporters on the island. The team trained for months, studying traditional wayfinding techniques passed down through generations.
The Tao are one of Taiwan's smallest indigenous groups, with a population of around 4,000. Their language and culture are part of the Austronesian family, which stretches from Madagascar to Easter Island and includes most Philippine ethnic groups. Linguists believe Taiwan is the ancestral homeland of all Austronesian peoples, with migrations beginning around 6,000 years ago.
The voyage is expected to take several days, with the boat stopping at Batan Island in the Philippines before continuing to Luzon. Philippine indigenous groups have prepared welcome ceremonies, including traditional dances and a feast.
Taiwan's indigenous affairs council provided logistical support, while the Philippine government issued special permits for the landing. The trip was originally planned for 2024 but was delayed by typhoon season and the need for additional safety training.
For the Tao, this isn't just a symbolic gesture. The community has long sought to revive traditional navigation skills that were lost when the Japanese colonial government banned ocean voyages in the early 20th century. Elder Tao fishermen taught younger generations how to read wave patterns and identify stars during the preparation phase.
The boat, named 'Pongso no Tao' (Island of the People), is 12 meters long and carries supplies of dried fish, sweet potatoes, and fresh water. Each rower wears a lifejacket, and a support boat follows at a distance in case of emergency.
In the Philippines, the event has sparked excitement among indigenous groups who see it as a chance to strengthen cultural ties. The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in Manila said it would facilitate meetings between Tao representatives and Philippine Austronesian communities.
If successful, the voyage could pave the way for regular exchanges between Taiwan's indigenous groups and their Southeast Asian relatives. Some Tao leaders have already discussed plans for a return journey next year, bringing Philippine indigenous representatives back to Orchid Island.
For now, all eyes are on the small wooden boat cutting through the Pacific swells, carrying 20 men and the weight of three centuries of separation.