BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO City –– The Iloilo River Dragon Boat Festival 2024 officially begins today, November 22, and runs through November 24, offering an exciting showcase of sportsmanship, culture, and environmental advocacy.
With the Iloilo River as backdrop, the festival is designed to be a celebration of athleticism, sustainability, and the city’s rich cultural heritage. Allan Ryan Tan, president of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc., emphasized the event’s significance.
“The Iloilo River Dragon Boat Festival embodies the spirit of unity, the city’s commitment to eco-tourism and river preservation, and highlights the Iloilo River as a vital cultural treasure. This annual event not only brings together paddlers from across the country but also reinforces our dedication to sustainable development,” Tan told Panay News.
The centerpiece of the festival is the DoubleDragon Boat Race, featuring 11 elite teams from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. This year’s race coincides with the Year of the Dragon, adding a symbolic layer to the event.
Jong Combong-Pijuan of team Velocity 5000 expressed her enthusiasm: “This race will be a thrilling spectacle of speed, strength, and strategy. It celebrates teamwork and determination while showcasing the beauty of Iloilo City’s riverscape. This is an event that everyone will enjoy.”
The participating teams are:
* Boracay Allstars
* Cebu Poseidon Dragons
* Iloilo Paddlers Club Inc.
* Manila Dragons Dragonboat Rowing Team Inc.
* Bruins Racers of the High Seas
* Cebu Pink Paddlers Dragon Boat Team
* Boracay Dragonforce
* Bomba Pilipinas
* Bohol Paddlers x Bugsay San Carlos
* Amateur Paddlers Philippines (AmPPhi) x Manila Klasiko
* PADS Adaptive Dragonboat Racing Team
The festival is not limited to the boat races. It also includes side events designed to engage the community and promote environmental awareness, such as: environmental symposium, trade fair and exhibition, food festival, river cleanup, and the “Hala Bira! Bugsay”./PN
