Rough seas off Panglao add excitement to boat race

THE SPIRITS were high among the guests and paddlers who attended the 1st Panglao Dragon Boat Challenge in Bohol province despite strong waves that capsized some dragon boats during the race. (See story below.)

PANGLAO, Bohol—Rough seas caused by the southwest monsoon and intensified by Typhoon “Ineng” (international name: Goni)  did not dampen the spirit of the dragon during the first Panglao Dragon Boat Challenge on Saturday on Alona Beach on Panglao Island, Bohol province.

The event thrilled 1,000 guests with 14 dragon boat teams from Manila, Cebu and Bohol competing, according to the Bohol Paddlers Association Inc. (BPAI), the event organizer.

“This event is to really promote Panglao as paddling capital of the Philippines,” said Dominic Aparicio of BPAI. “Bohol has beaches, water dams and rivers perfect for paddling.”

A dragon boat race is an ancient paddling sport with roots in China, according to the International Dragon Boat Federation website.

It is a team sport in which a group of 18-29 paddlers for a standard-sized boat or 8-10 for a small-sized boat use a dragon boat to maneuver or paddle in time with the beating of a drum from the starting line to the finish line with the team to finish the fastest as the winner, the website added.

For Allen Weaver, 45, from Connecticut, USA, the Panglao dragon boat was his first time seeing a dragon boat racing live.

“I didn’t know that dragon boat racing is really fun here,” said Weaver.

What added thrill to the competition was the big waves and sea breezes, said Aparicio.

Another paddler, Benedict Omolon, 28, of the Bohol Island Lions Club, said the big waves added excitement and thrill to the race.

“It’s very exciting and emotional because the waves challenged us to finish the race,” said Omolon.

However, big waves swamped or capsized several boats that sport a dragon head at the bow and a dragon tail at the stern during the race. No one was hurt, according to BPAI.

ROUGH seas caused one of the dragon boats to capsize during the 1st Panglao Dragon Boat Challenge in Bohol province. PHOTOS BY Ric V. Obedencio

In the afternoon, big waves continued to chop and swell that the organizers decided to finish the event in the neighboring Dauis town.

“For safety reasons, we need to transfer because of the big waves,” said Aparicio.

The Paraiso Dauis Wild Dragon took home the gold trophy in the 300-meter dragon boat race, while the Panglao Blue Dragon placed first runner-up; Tubigon Aquagon, second runner-up, and Manila-based Alab Sagwan Pilipinas placed third runner-up.

Panglao Councilor Francisco Montero, one of the sponsors of the event, expressed his satisfaction with the successful event.

“I am happy how the event turned out. I want this dragon boat a yearly event here in Panglao,” said Montero.

Alona Beach on Panglao Island is a popular tourist destination because of its long-stretch of white-sandy beach.