Asean Dragonboat Race Eyed for Next Year’s Kadayawan

The organizers of this year’s Kadayawan are eyeing an Asean dragon boat event for next year’s festival.

Gatchi Gatchalian, festival director of the 33rd Kadayawan Festival said they are planning for an Asean Kadayawan Dragon Boat Festival next year with teams from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member countries coming to Davao City for the competition.

“I could see the potentials of Filipinos in dragon boat, this is a sport where we can excel,” Gatchalian said.

The Philippines is a world dragon boat power winning several gold medals in international competitions.

Gatchalian said the holding of an international dragon boat event will spur sports tourism in the city.

He cited the success of this year’s Kadayawan Dragon Boat Festival which saw 20 teams coming from Manila, Cebu, Iligan, Surigao del Sur, Island Garden City of Samal and Davao City.

The Kadayawan Dragon Boat Festival was an accredited event last year but become an official event in this year’s Kadayawan Festival.

The City Government started refurbishing the derelict Sta. Ana Port last year which hosted the dragon boat races.

This year’s Kadayawan Dragon Boat Festival is still held in the port facility managed by the local government.

In this year’s Kadayawan Dragon Boat Festival, Philippine National Police dragon boat teams got two gold medals. The PNP Team A got a gold in the open small category while the PNP Maritime Group were the first in the mixed small category.

Kujaw Tiger Dragons won the gold medal in the women’s small category, Polilo Dragons copped the gold medal in the mixed standard and Bugsay Marajao won the gold in the open standard.

The dragon boat event is supported by the Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragonboat Federation. (PIA/RG Alama)