Army Dragon Boat Team to Participate in Japanese Dragon Boat Competition

(PNA) — The Philippine Army Dragon Boat Team will be participating in the Japan International Dragon Boat Team Championship.

The Philippine team will leave for Osaka, Japan by morning of July 17, said Armed Forces public affairs office chief and team manager Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc.

The Japan International Dragon Boat Team Championship is one of the most coveted sports titles in Asia.

Army Staff Sgt. Usman Anterola, 37, Philippine Dragon Boat Team captain, said he and his team are already excited about competing against the athletes of the Japanese Team whom they already consider as personal friends.

He added that four of Japan’s Dragon Boat athletes were sent to the Philippines in 2010 to learn and train from their Filipino counterparts in preparation for the Asian Games which was held in China.

Anterola said teaching the Japanese athletes back in 2010 was a breeze despite differences in language.

“They had a head coach with them who speaks in English. They were with us for two weeks. They were so proud to have been with us during training,” he said.

Anterola added that the Japanese athletes were amazed to learn exercises they had never encountered in Japan.

He disclosed that his team are excited to face their Japanese friends in the Japan International Dragon Boat Championship to be held in Osaka starting Friday (July 17).

The Philippine Dragon Boat Team that will compete in Japan is composed of 28 athletes and officers from the AFP.

The Philippine Army Dragon Boat Team gained prominence when it captured two gold medals during the World Club Crews Dragon Boat Championships that was held in Ravenna, Italy in September 2014.

Despite sharing a bloody history when Japan invaded and occupied the Philippines for least three years during World War II, the relationship between the two countries grew warmer with economic, political and cultural ties with each passing decade.

Recently, President Benigno S. Aquino III was conferred the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (Dai-kun’i kikka-shō), Japan’s highest Order generally conferred on members of the Imperial family and foreign heads of state, by Emperor Akihito during his state visit there last June 2 to 5.

President Aquino is the fifth Philippine president conferred with the order.

Last June 22 to 30, Philippines and Japan took part in the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercises with the United States.

It was held near the West Philippine Sea around the disputed Kalayaan Islands.

In November 2013, when Super Typhoon “Yolanda” struck the Philippines and left thousands dead and wounded, members of the Japan Self Defense Force came to assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and its partner-stakeholders in providing medical help.

Japan brought in its military doctors, nurses and two of its mobile hospitals to Visayas to treat hundreds who were hurt in the storm surge. (PNA) LGI/PFN