ILOILO City – “Fantastic” and “best ever” was how Mayor Jerry P. Treñas described the 50th Iloilo Guimaras Paraw Regatta Festival held over the weekend.
After three years of hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the regatta’s return thrilled not only the Ilonggos and tourists but the racers themselves, he pointed out.
The annual regatta is a race of native wind-propelled double-outrigger boats called paraw.
During ancient times, sailing for travel and trade in and around Panay Island was done through this small boat with two stabilizers.
“We were finally able to hold it. Paraw Regatta 2023 is the best ever, so far. Thank you to the organizers, contestants, sponsors, the people of Arevalo district and the whole city of Iloilo and the whole region,” said Treñas.
Forty-five paraw racers from different provinces in Western Visayas participated in the main sailing event at the Iloilo Strait with the Tatoy’s Manokan and Seafood at Villa Beach, Arevalo as starting and finishing points.
Paraws are fitted with outrigger floats of bamboo to stabilize the boat and prevent the slim main hull from tipping over.
The key feature of its hull is its slim shape, creating a knife-like effect to cut through the water, freeing the boat from displacement constraints.
Originally made from woven matting, the paraw’s sails nowadays are stitched up from synthetic awning materials. The small forward sail, or blade jib, feeds the wind into the powerful, low aspect driving mainsail, the boom of which extends several feet beyond the boat’s hull.
For Treñas, the public’s support to the return of the oldest sailing event in Asia augured well for the programs and activities of the city government in partnership with the private sector.
“Together with the private sector, the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI), we’re making sure that all festivals in Iloilo City will be made sustainable,” said Treñas as he also acknowledged that support of the Junior Chamber International Iloilo, Inc. and the environment advocacy group, Greenpeace Iloilo.
The Paraw Regatta Festival was established half a century ago primarily to preserve the paraw as a significant link to the earliest period of Ilonggo history. Its conception also served as an addition to the booming tourism industry of the city.
But more than just celebrating Ilonggo seamanship and craftsmanship, the festival also reminds the Ilonggo people of their precious heritage. It is the heritage that embodies the fortitude and determination of the Ilonggo to overcome adversity and the courage to succeed against all odds.
Paraw Regatta Festival 2023 chairman John Lex Bayombong, grandson of Honorato “Tatoy” Espinosa of the famed Tatoy’s Seafood and Restaurant and one of those who started the festival, reiterated that the celebration is a way to give back to Ilonggo fishermen and sailors.
“Let us never forget our forefathers who, despite the limitations of their time, became productive, resilient and victorious,” said Bayombong.
He added: “Like the skillful paraw boatmen, the Ilonggos maneuver through different wind directions. As we sail on, we endure, we survive and we safely reach the shore. Progress is the shore. Whatever we do today we dedicate to the Ilonggos of the future.”
For Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo province, the Paraw Regatta is not just a festival but a commemoration of the past.
“It is reminder that our past is the best tourist attraction. What is beautiful about the Paraw Regatta is that the paraw is not just another boat. Para sa aton nga mga Ilonggo nga nagapangabuhi sa kadagatan, the paraw is a way of life,” he stressed.
2023 REGATTA WINNERS
Category A
* 1st Place – Arlyn of Orlando Demetillo Sr. of Camangay, Leganes
* 2nd Place – Amira Fly of Michael Anthony Tangub of Poblacion, Tigbauan
* 3rd Place – LD of Wennie Demetillo Sr. of Camangay, Leganes
* 4th Place – Kokoy of Ariel Gad of Sambiray, Malay, Aklan
* 5th Place – CJ and Princess of Reynaldo S. Aranda Jr. of Calaparan, Arevalo
* 6th Place – Ninia and Isiah of Hector Espinosa of Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo
* 7th Place – Zaccheo 156 of Francisco Aguirre Jr. of Sambiray, Malay, Aklan
* 8th Place – RB of Rogelio Gareza of Guimbal, Iloilo
* 9th Place – Rchelle Marie of Reman Balidiong of Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo
* 10th Place – RP of Paciano Gampay Jr. of San Lorenzo, Guimaras
Category B
* 1st Place – Kiss 2 of Ricardo Gabales of Parara Sur, Tigbauan
* 2nd Place – Marx Karley of Orlando Demetillo Sr.of Camangay, Leganes
* 3rd Place – 2 Angels of Jayde Pauchano Jr.of Camangay, Leganes
* 4th Place – Jolina of Rolando Tajanglangit of Parar Sur, Tigbauan
* 5th Place – Jofman V3 of Nicanor Silvan Gad of Balabag, Malay, Aklan
* 6th Place – RJ of Rogelio Gareza of Guimbal, Iloilo
* 7th Place – Kristine and Kassie of Oscar Espinosa of Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo
* 8th Place – Kiss of Ricardo Gabales of Parara Sur, Tigbauan
* 9th Place – Alexsa May of Efren Aguirre of Sambiray, Malay, Aklan
* 10th Place – Apotat’s of Hector Espinosa of Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo
Category C
* 1st Place – Team Ashley of Teody Belejerdo of Sambiray, Malay, Aklan
* 2nd Place – Boralee of Reynaldo Sejane of Argao, Malay, Aklan
* 3rd Place – Wave Runner of Meriam Cahilig of Cabugao Norte, Malay, Aklan
* 4th Place – Bull Jack of Edgar Pauhano of Camangay, Leganes
* 5th Place – Cheryl of Federico Tantiado Jr of Parara Sur, Tigbauan, Iloilo
* 6th Place – Marjhonic of Hector Espinosa of Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo
* 7th Place – Happy Hour of Ronel Cahilig of Cubay Sur, Malay,Aklan
* 8th Place – Song Fleet of Michelle Delos Santos of Manoc Manoc, Boracay, Aklan
* 9th Place – Antonette of Karl Anthony Demetillo f Baranogay Bigke, Leganes
* 10th Place – Consejo of Hector Espinosa of Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo
The first place winners for categories A, B and C received P40,000; P64,000; and P96,000, respectively while the second placers for the three categories took home, P24,000; P40,000; and P64,000, respectively.
Third placers gpt P16,000, P24,000; and P40,000 for categories A, B and C, respectively.
The 4th to 10th placers as well as all finishers also received prizes.
Wennie Demetillo Sr. of Leganes town (third place, Category A) had been participating for decades.
“Sadyahan gid kami sa pagbalik. Amo na ang amo kalipayan sa baybay…Bisan pigado kami ginatinguhaan gid namon mag intra,” he said.
Paraw racers Benjamin Gordoncillo Jr. of Leganes, Iloilo and Michael Anthony Tangub of Tigbauan shared Demetillo’s sentiments. Both said they were happy to showcase their skill in paraw sailing and help promote Iloilo tourism./PN
