No less than the top honcho of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PBDF) was impressed by the success of yesterday’s first-ever Dragon Boat competition held in Bogo City, northern Cebu.
Four teams competed in the event organized by retired Maj. General Carlos Holganza and Randy Su, who is one of the founders of the Cebu Dragon Boat Association (CDBA).
“Ako mismo tuwang-tuwa sa nakita ko dahil yung mga Cebuano talagang na accept nila ang sport kahit bago sa kanilang paningin at saka hangang-hanga ako sa mga baguhang sumali sa competition kasi ipinakita nila yung kanilang potential sa sport.” said Ailene Padrones, head of PBDF.
Padrones is part of the vaunted PDBF team that won two gold medals in last year’s Dragon Boat World Cup in China. She’s also part of the team that shattered four world records in the World Championships in Tampa Bay, Florida, USA last 2011.
The Bohol Paddlers Association (BPA) emerged as the champions while the neophyte paddlers of Bogo City placed second.
BPA finished the 100-meter race in 50.84 seconds while Bogo City recorded 52.07 seconds, not bad for a team that was only formed a few days before the competition.
The Bogo City team is the beneficiary of a free dragon boat training program spearheaded by Holganza and Habagat’s Randy Su.
The free dragon boat training program is also one of the grassroots development program of the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission in partnership with CDBA.
“Nasimulan na nila ito, sana mas lumawak pa yung information at program na magtuturo sa mga kabataan natin sa dragon boat kasi ang sport na ito hindi nag re-require ng edad at saka height, pwede ang lahat sa sport na ito.” added Padrones.
Holganza said organizers will be bringing the tournament to the southern part of Cebu particularly in Talisay City to stage another friendly tournament and a boat training program for the locals.
“We are on top of the sport so we have to develop more youth to follow the footsteps of those who excelled in this sport,” said Holganza.
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