Here be dragons

Last May 1-2, sports enthusiasts from different countries swarmed to Boracay to take part in the 3rd Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival. Braving strong waves and unpredictable weather, the participants took to the waves to see who would be the fastest dragon boat team on the island. “[The Boracay Dragon Boat Festival is] the biggest annual event in the country, we feel,” says Candy Perez de Tagle, one of the Organizers, “We pull in around a thousand people to Boracay... We are bringing a lot of tourism to Boracay and people are enjoying no matter what.” The opening ceremonies were held the night before the races, the program held under tents instead of the usual open sky because of the hard rain. But it would take more than precipitation to dampen the spirits of the dragon boat teams, some of whom had come from overseas just to take part in this annual event. Included in the roster were the Guardians Rowing Team, the Singapore Paddle Club, the Boracay Bumshells and the Camarines Sur Rowing Team. The competition was divided into two categories, the 500 meters and the 300 meters, and spanned two days. The 500 meter race, held on May 1, was beset by weather that vacillated between rain and sun. The waves were so choppy that it was decided that the teams would have 16 paddlers instead of the usual 22. The weather did not stop everyone from heading out to the beach and having a good time. “Having played in many team sports before, Dragon Boat is the ultimate team sport that you can get into because here, there is no superstar,” says Abegale Clarino from Boracay's Bugsay Blades, “You are known as one team and the strongest paddler can be the weakest if that paddler is not in sync with everyone.” The weather cleared up for the 300 meter races the next day. That's when everyone went all out, cheering for their teams from the shore, building human pyramids in the surf and enjoying the lightly cloudy Boracay weather. “I just love the event. It's really great, and a real credit to the people of Boracay especially,” says Bill Hutchinson, coach of Hong Kong's BGC Stormy Dragons, “I just think it’s great that everyone in the Philippines gets behind them... it’s (a) very popular race in Hong Kong and now as you can see with teams from Singapore coming, it's just a good race and a great place to have it.” The results were announced in a grand dinner held at the Boracay Regency, where everyone dressed up and partied down, with Hong Kong's Llama Dragons and the Gaud Ilonggo team as the life of the party. As for the race results, Camarines Sur bagged four out of six gold medals. But dragon boating isn't all about the winning – it's more about the camaraderie between team members, and how there are no such things as real rivals, and the after party proved that. The results: 300 Meters Mixed 3rd – Boracay All Stars 2nd - PNP Patriots 1st – Bugsay Boracay Winner – Camsur Rowing Team Men's 3rd – Ati Bugsay 2nd - Guardian's Rowing Team 1st – Boracay All Stars Winner – CamSur Rowing Team Women's 3rd – Stormy Dragons 2nd - Singapore Paddle Club 1st – Bugsay Blades Winner – PNP Patriots 500 Meters Mixed 3rd – Bugsay Boracay 2nd – Singapore Paddle Club 1st- PNP Patriots Winner – Camarines Sur (CamSur) Rowing Team Men’s 3rd – Stormy Dragons 2nd - Gaud Ilonggo 1st – Guardians Rowing Team Winner – CamSur Rowing Team Women's 3rd – Stormy Dragons 2nd - PNP Patriots 1st – Bugsay Blades Winner – Singapore Paddle Club Next installment: A close up of the Camarines Sur Rowing Team