Foreign tourists cancel Paraw Regatta guesting after Mamasapano clash

ILOILO CITY—Last month’s bloody clash in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao province has affected tourists far away from the carnage.

Several foreign tourists have backed out from guesting in Iloilo’s boat-sailing festival, the Paraw Regatta, this weekend after seeing news reports of the Jan. 25 incident where 44 elite policemen, 18 Moro rebels and five civilians died in a police operation to capture Malaysian bomb terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir or “Marwan.”

Manuel Villa Jr., president of the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Foundation Inc., said 26 Australian tourists who had planned to join the festival withdrew saying the Philippines was “very much in the news” recently.

“The widespread reports of the incident may have discouraged them even as we have reassured them that the country, especially Iloilo, is very much peaceful,” Villa told the Inquirer.

Several guests from Hong Kong have also informed Villa of canceling their plans to guest in the festival.

He said most of the guests planned to experience a new feature of the festival in which tourists could ride for a fee in one of the sailing boats or “paraw.”

The paraws are small and slim double outrigger boats made of indigenous materials traditionally used by Ilonggos for transportation and fishing.

The native boats are faithful reproductions of sailboats that carried the Bornean datus and their followers who settled on Panay Island in the early 13th century.

The tourists can either be one of the passengers or be part of the crew if they have boat sailing skills or experience.

“It’s an experience of a lifetime,” Villa said.

But despite the backing out of some foreign guests, thousands are expected to flock to the annual festival that will culminate in the boat-sailing competition on Sunday along the shores of Iloilo City and Guimaras.

The 43-year-old festival has drawn international acclaim with distinction as the oldest and one of the most colorful sailing events in Asia.

Paraw Regatta is famous for the colorful paraws and the 36.5-kilometer sailing competition along the Iloilo Strait between Iloilo City and Guimaras Island.

The sails, traditionally made from woven matting but synthetic materials usually in striking colors, are more commonly used today. The boats are designed to sail fast at speeds.

About 70 participants are expected to join the boat sailing competition, according to Villa.