Karakoa were large outrigger warships from the Philippines. They were used by native Filipinos, notably the Kapampangans and the Visayans, during seasonal sea raids. Karakoa were distinct from other traditional Philippine sailing vessels in that they were equipped with platforms for transporting warriors and for fighting at sea. During peacetime, they were also used as trading ships. Large karakoa, which could carry hundreds of rowers and warriors, were known as joangas (also spelled juangas) by the Spanish. Panday Piray of Pampanga, Philippines was also known for forging heavy bronze lantaka to be mounted on Lakan's (Naval Chief/Commander) ships called 'caracoas' doing battle against the Spanish invaders and cannons were also commissioned by Rajah Sulayman for the fortification of Maynila. By the end of the 16th century, the Spanish denounced karakoa ship-building and its usage. It later led to a total ban of the ship and the traditions assigned to it. In recent years, the revitalization of karakoa ship-building and its usage are being pushed by some scholars from Pampanga. Etymology Karakoa was usually spelled as "" during the Spanish period. The name and variants thereof (including , , , , , and ) were used interchangeably with various other similar warships from maritime Southeast Asia, like the kora kora of the Maluku Islands. The origin of the names are unknown. Some authors propose that it may have been derived from Arabic (pl. ) meaning "large merchant ship" via Portuguese (carrack). However, this is unlikely as the oldest Portuguese and Spanish sources never refer to it as "", but rather "", "" or "". The Spanish historian Antonio de Morga explicitly says that the name is ancient and indigenous to the Tagalog people in (1609). There are also multiple cognates in the names of other vessels of Austronesian vessels (some with no contact with Arab traders) like the Ivatan karakuhan, Malay kolek, Acehnese , Maluku kora kora, Banda , Motu , and the Marshallese korkor. Thus it is more likely that it is a true Malayo-Polynesian word and not a loanword. Description Karakoa is a type of balangay (Philippine lashed-lug plank boats). It can be differentiated from other balangay in that they possessed raised decks () amidships and on the outriggers, as well as S-shaped outrigger spars. They also had sharply curved prows and sterns, giving the ships a characteristic crescent shape. Their design was also sleeker and faster than other