Negros town readies heroes welcome for 6 dragon boat rowers

A Negros Occidental town is readying a heroes' welcome for six members of the Philippine dragon boat team for figuring prominently in the biennial 10th International Dragon Boat Racing Championship in Florida. Enrique B. Magalona town Mayor David Albert Lacson said they will honor the six members of the team who he described are "our very own paddlers, our heroes." “We will honor our very own paddlers, our heroes, so their stories and hardships will serve as inspiration to our young Saraviahanons that there’s nothing impossible if you set your mind to it," Lacson said, according to a report Thursday on Visayan Daily Star. Cousins Salvador Sumagaysay (29), Joemar Ocquiana (32), Rico Pradilla (38), Crisanto Pabulayan (30), Junrey Dayumat and Ma. Aileen Padrones are the six dragon boat members that hail from Barangay Latasan. The Philippine team went home with five golds and two silvers after competing in the 10th International Dragon Boat Championships in Tampa, Florida. On the other hand, the Visayan Daily Star report said the six are no stranger to the water since their homes at Latsan village is near the sea and are children of fisherman. The cousins were also engaged in fishing and catching crabs before they went to Manila. Pradilla first joined the team when he was invited by his cousin, Susan Dellomes, to go to Manila. Her employer was the one who recruited Pradilla in 1995. After a year, Pradilla invited his cousins to join him and they have since been winning boat races in the Philippines and abroad. Incentives Lacson also said the town government is giving cash incentives to the six fishermen, who won in the tournament. They are expected to return to E.B. Magalona next week. Also, the E.B. Magalona Sangguniang Bayan on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution authored by Councilor Edgardo Agravante Jr. commending the PDBFT, especially the six Saraviahanon paddlers. "They truly deserve the best from our town," Dioneo said, pointing out that Philippine paddlers had also been champions in the Southeast Asian Games in 2003, 2005 and 2007. Lacson said he will ask Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Board Members Frederick Ko and Patrick Lacson if they can give additional cash incentives to the six "Dragon Warriors." Lack of government support However, the paddlers' parents lamented the lack of government support. Crisanto's mother, Haydee Pabulayan, said she wished the government would help their children since they have brought honor to the country. Pradilla's father, Arsenio, lamented that for four years now, his son has been unable to send them money because the government had not helped their team. He said their house that was constructed three years ago in Latasan, remains unfinished. Rodoldo Ocquiana, father of Joemar, added more of the cousins would have joined the team in Florida but because of lack of money for their plane fare, only six went. "But we're thankful that our mayor (Lacson) will honor our sons soon," Mrs. Crisanto said. - JVP