TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—Calbayog City’s Hibatang Paddlers successfully defended the ultimate dragonboat paddling bragging rights for the Sandugo Festival in Bohol, during a two-day festival type of race that feature non-stop 7 heat endurance races only offered yet in Bohol.
Held at the scenic Miramar Wharf in Dauis and racing along Tagbilaran City Strait, the Bohol Sandugo Ultimate Dragon Boat Festival, is a first time in the Philippine Dragon Boat circuit, which pits paddling teams against each other in non-stop 7 heat endurance races that truly roots out the weak and the unprepared.
But offered the second time this year, Hibatang Paddlers came in with exactly to Bohol in the right frame of mind: defend their 2023 paddling trophy and still give to their paddlers the best time for their training and tune up races.
Trained and coached by Jun Guades, and supported by the city government of Calbayog under the leadership of City Mayor Raymund C. Uy through the City Sports Commission headed by Jaynard Monterona, the team has been both an inspiration and a mission for Boholano paddlers who were first introduced with dragon boating in 2013.
Timed for the annual Sandugo Festival, Bohol’s premier tourism event, dragon boating has been among the most recent sports tourism offers, propping up Bohol as a wholesome tourism destination.
Then ruled by a homegrown paddlers from workshops and trainings handled by Bohol Paddlers Association Incorporated (BPAI), dragon boating in Bohol has since expanded, accepting competitors in standard and long boat competitions.
Grabbing the 2024 Sandugo Ultimate Dragon Boat championship for the Hibatang paddlers however was no cruise.
The team from Calbayog City also placed first in the Masters mixed small boat competition, first in the Open Small boat competition, second in the Masters Open Small Boat, third in the Mixed standard Boat and third in the Women Small Boat categories.
Making waves to grab the First Runner Up is Barangay Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City Dragon Boat Team.
The Mindanao team flew in full mast with their first place finish in the Women’s Small Boat, second place in the Mixed Standard Boat, third in the Masters Open Small Boat, third in the Open Small Boat and fourth in the Masters Mixed Small Boat.
Second Runner Up is a team from across the sea in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
Dumaguete City Yellow Fins ruled the Masters Open Small Boat, Mixed Standard Boat, paddled crazy to bag the second place finish for the Masters Mixed Small Boat and second in the Women’s Small Boat.
Boholano paddlers, generous hosts to the ultimate race placed Third Runner up, putting only competing teams in few events.
The hosts claimed second fastest time in the Open Small Boat, third in the masters Mized Small Boat and fourth in the Masters Open Small Boat.
Another ultimate race participating team from Dumaguete City; Arko Drakon bagged the Fourth Runner Up while a Mero manila Team Sag1 went home with the Fifth Runner Up trophy.
“We are truly honored to have participated in this one-of-a-kind endurance race,” Team Sag1 shared their experience.
“Departing from the usual format, this event challenged us with 4 sets of 200m and 3 sets of 300m race courses, NON-STOP! We commend and applaud the BOHOL Paddlers Association INC., the race organizers, the sponsors, the Municipality of Dauis, and the Local Government of Bohol for their exceptional planning and execution of such a well-organized event. Thank you for an unforgettable experience. We’ll definitely be back!,” the manila based team promised. (RAHC/PIA-7 Bohol)
