FILIPINO paddlers stamped their mark overseas anew as they reigned supreme in the 2010 Taipei International Dragon Boat Championship recently at Dajia Riverside Park in Taipei.

The Philippine Dragon Boat squad, winner of numerous international titles, finished in one minute and 57.8 seconds to edge out three local teams in the Men’s Open Boating Contest.

It was not an easy victory, however, with the Hualien Joint Canoeing Team of Taiwan giving the Filipinos a tough fight throughout the 500-meter race and finishing just under 0.3 seconds behind.

The Dragon Boat Festival drew 213 local and international teams with NT$2 million ($61,650) in cash prizes given to winners, along with trophies and certificates.

The Philippine team bagged NT$400,000 (P600,000).

The competition, held in celebration of the traditional Dragon Boat Festival, took place with crowds cheering loudly despite heavy rains.

Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin attended the evening party on June 12 and spent several hours with the boatmen and spectators, according to Taiwan Today. Ambassadors and representatives from Guatemala, El Salvador and the Philippines were also present.

Other events include a rice dumpling (or zongzi) making competition.

The Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month in the lunar calendar, is an important traditional festival in Taiwan and mainland China. People hold boating contests and eat zongzi to commemorate the life of the ancient poet Qu Yuan and celebrate the arrival of summer.

Reference: Business Mirror

April 23-24, 2010 – The 4th Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival is so far the biggest annual international dragon boat event in the Philippines. This is organized by the Boracay Island Paddlers Association (BIPA), the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) and the Municipality of Malay.

The Philippine Army ruled the championship in the Men’s Event, while the Fleet Marine and Stormy Dragons captured the Gold for Mixed and Women Event respectively.

April 23, 2010 – 500 Meter Race Results

April 24, 2010 – 300 Meter Race Results

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that:

( 1 ) the Deadline of the Confirmed Entry Form and the Accommodation Package deposits approaching ( 3rd May,2010);

( 2 ) the complementary Celebration Dinner Party has to be arranged and confirmed with the relevant Hotel;

( 3 ) we wish to ensure that the total numbers are received, in good time, of the competitors, coaches, managers and the  registered supporters per club. These must to be given to the Macau 2010 CCWC Organizing Committee by the deadline data, so we would urge you to send in these details at your possible earliest convenience.

For your reference, we would like to point out those participants per club who are not registered and whose registration is not received by the Organizing Committee by the afore-mentioned Deadline date will be considered unable to participate in the Celebration Dinner Party.

Trusting all of you understand our situation and the need to finalize arrangements here.

Looking forward to seeing all of you soon.

Macau 2010 CCWC Organizing Committee
08 April 2010

The Organizing Committee of the Manila Ocean Park (MOP) in conjunction with the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) presented its 2nd Manila Ocean Park Dragonboat Regatta held at the Manila Ocean Park, at the back of Quirino Grandstand, on March 28, 2010.  This is in line of MOP’s vision to support and promote the dragon boat sport in the country.

Top teams to beat in the next regattas…

“I would like to thank all teams that paddled in the recently concluded 2nd MOP Regatta. Special thanks to PDBF technical crew for handling everything inspite of limited resources. We would like to apologize if the facilities has not met your standards. We really tried our best. Hope to see you again next year.” – Pepito “Hapi” Maligaya, President of Manila Ocean Park Dragon Boat Team.

::Complete MOP Race Results::

The Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) together with the City of Manila and in cooperation of the Philippine Coast Guard successfully hosted its annual Summer Seasports Festival on March 20 to 21, 2010 featuring the dragon boat races (and bancathon) in Manila Bay.

Thirteen team members of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) raced intensely heat after heat to cup the championship for 300m Open, Women and Mix events.   The best of the best emerged, a sweet victory for the Champion teams having only a few seconds or milliseconds advantage over the runner ups.

Congratulations to this year’s champions – PDRT Fireblades for both the Open and Mix events and the PNP Patriots for the Women event.

This event was supported by Gold Eagle Beer, Caltex, Lipovitan, Alaska, Smart Money, Filinvest, Revicon, M. Lhuillier, My Juice, Wings Detergent, Rhino Herbal Tea for Men, Briggs and Stratton and Cord Marine Epoxy.

::2010 MBC Summer Sea Sports Race Results::

Placer, Masbate Mayor Jay Seachon Lanete organized its First Placer Dragon Boat Festival on February 20, 2010 as part of its fiesta celebration.  In cooperation with and officiated by the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF),  Manila-based dragon boat teams’ Philippine Dragonboat Rowing Team (PDRT) Fireblades, Philippine National Police (PNP) Patriots, Philippine Youth Rowing Society (PYROS), and Triton Dragonboat Racing Team vied in the 250m and 400m Open, Mix and Women Events.  Meanwhile, Masbate dragon boat teams also raced in the 250m and 400m Locals events.  Masbate’s pride teams were Pasyagon, Placer Scruffles, Villa Arman, and V. Casas.

400M EVENTS Winners

250M EVENTS Winners

Reference: Race results prepared by Ma. Cristina Ocba ::download here::

The 2009 Annual Championship / 3rd Leg  COBRA-PDBF Dragon Boat Regatta successfully concluded in January 17, 2010 exclusively sponsored by COBRA Energy Drink.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Overall 2009 Champions and 3rd Leg Winners!

OVERALL Champions:

• Men’s Open

Champion             -   Philippine Navy                                  -    570 points
1st Runner-up     -   PDRT Fireblades                                 -    530 points
2nd Runner-up   -   Drago Pilipinas                                    -    420 points
3rd Runner-up   -   De La Salle University                       -   420 points

• Women’s Open

Champion             -    Triton Dragonboat Racing Team -   230 points
1st Runner-up     -    PDRT Fireblades                                 -    160  points
2nd Runner-up   -    Manila Dragons                                   -    130 points
3rd Runner-up    -    Rowers Club Philippines                 -    130 points

• Inter-Collegiate

Champion             -    De La Salle University                    -    80 points
1st Runner-up     -    UP Dragonboat Team                     -    40 points

3rd LEG Winners:

• Open 300m (22-man team)

Champion           -   Philippine Navy                                  -    1:11.81
1st Runner-up   -   PDRT Fireblades                                 -    1:12.24
2nd Runner-up -   De La Salle University DB Team   -    1:14.72
3rd Runner-up  -   PNP Patriots                                         -    1:16.90

• Women’s Open 300m (18-man team)

Champion           -    PNP Patriots                                        -    1:24.69
1st Runner-up   -    Philippine Navy                                 -    1:25.65
2nd Runner-up -    Triton Dragonboat Racing Team -    1:28.90
3rd Runner-up  -    PDRT Fireblades                                -    1:33.31

• Inter-Collegiate 300m (12-man team)

Champion           -    De La Salle University                      -    1:16.53
1st Runner-up   -    San Beda College                                -    1:18.62
2nd Runner-up -    University of the Philippines        -    1:19.98

COBRA Energy Drink

Thank you to COBRA ENERGY DRINK for sponsoring the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation 2nd Leg Regatta for 2009!

Congratulations to all the winners! All powered by COBRA Energy Drink, which gives all these paddlers “extra energy” for enhanced mental and physical performance during the race.

MEN’s Open 300m
Champion        -     Camarines Sur Dragonboat Team      -     1:13.18
1st Runner-up    -      Philippine Navy                                       -     1:14.13
2nd Runner-up  -      PDRT Fireblades                                      -     1:15.18
3rd Runner-up   -      Drago Pilipinas
WOMEN’s Open 300m
Champion        -     Camarines Sur Dragonboat Team     -     1:25.05
1st Runner-up    -     Triton Dragon Boat Racing Team        -     1:25.39
2nd Runner-up  -      Philippine Navy                                         -      1:25.95
3rd Runner-up   -      PDRT Fireblades                                        -      1:26.79

INTER-COLLEGIATE 300m (5 pairs)
Champion        -      San Beda College                                  -      1:14.16
1st Runner-up    -      De La Salle University                             -       1:14.42
2nd Runner-up  -      UP Dragonboat Team                              -       1:14.73
3rd Runner-up   -      UST Tiger Dragons                                    -      1:16.86

MIXED 300m (non-bearing in the Annual Championship)
Champion       -      Camarines Sur Dragonboat Team    -      1:13.48
1st Runner-up    -      Philippine Navy                                         -      1:15.63
2nd Runner-up  -       Drago Pilipinas                                          -     1:18.10
3rd Runner-up   -      De La Salle University – Team A         -     1:20.00

Team Philippines won Gold in the 200 meter Premier Mixed and 200 meter Premier Open events, and Silver in the 500 Premier Open  in the much coveted 9th World Dragonboat Championship held in Prague on August 26 to 30, 2009.

Once again, our national team proved that Filipinos are world class  athletes this time in the Dragon Boat sports.

The RP Mixed Team got a remarkable lead time of 43.507 seconds against China’s 45.951 seconds. Germany came next at 48.625 time. Macau (49.562), Russia (49.734), and Poland (50.868) placed 4th, 5th and 6th respectively.

Meanwhile, the 200m Premier Open finals was a close heat between the Philippines and China. A sweet victory hovers the determined Philippine team as they advantaged China with a .10 sec, defending their title in the 200m Premier Open. Ranking next are Czech Republic (3rd), Germany (4th), Canada (5th), and Slovak Republic (6th).

Again, Philippines and China closely rivaled in the 500m Premier Open. This time, China topped the race with a 1:54.210 time against the Philippines’ 1:55.575.  Completing the top six are Russia (1:56.594), Germany (1:59.550), Hungary (2:02.263), and USA (2:02.490).

The Philippine Team was led by Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) President Marcia Cristobal, together with Technical Director Nestor Ilagan, Secretary General Judith Hakim, Men’s Team Coach Suhod Hakim and Women’s Team Coach Anabelle Tario.

The  Men’s crew were composed of Alex Sumagaysay, Cresanto Pabulayan, Diomedes Manalo, Jesus Asok Jr, Joemar Ocquina, Jose Ijalo, Joseph Magno, Junrey Dayumat, Perlito Idorot, Ramie Llano, Raymond Morales, Ric Nacional, Ricky Saderna, Rico Pradilla, Rolando Isidro Jr, Romel Donesa, Romy John Dionio, Ronald Tan, Ronniel Rafael, Rupert Sabijon, Salvador Sumagaysay, Usman Anterola.  On the other hand, the Women’s athletes who completes the Mix line up were Amina Anuddin, Ivory Ablig, Josette Deriada, Leonita Banlat, Ma. Ailene Padrones, Noelle Wenceslao, Ruditha Poralan, Stephanie Deriada, Theresa Realizan.

The first World Championship Dragon Boat Racing organized by the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) was in 1995 at Yueyang, China. Since then, it is being held every after two years, a grand event that National athletes yearns among the IDBF members dare not to miss. The 10th World Dragon Boat Racing Championship will be hosted in Tampa Bay, Florida, USA sometime in July-August 2011.

***See the official race results here:

Premier Mixed 200 Meter
http://www.dragonboat2009.com/download/results/090.pdf

Premier Open (Men’s Division) 200 Meter
http://www.dragonboat2009.com/download/results/139.pdf

July 12, 2009 – CONGRATULATIONS to all winners in the recently concluded PDBF Annual Championship Regatta (1st Leg).  Thank you also to all participating teams who made the event a fun and successful one.

MEN’S OPEN 300m
Champion           -     Philippine Navy       –       1:18.76
1st Runner-up   -     Camarines Sur          -       1:19.60
2nd Runner-up -     PDRT Fireblades      -       1:19.97
3rd Runner-up  -     PNP Patriots              -          DNF

WOMEN’S OPEN 300m
Champion            -     PNP Patriots                         -        1:34.66
1st Runner-up    -     Camarines Sur                     -        1:39.22
2nd Runner-up  -     Triton DB Racing Team    -        1:42.22
3rd Runner-up   -     Rowers Club Philippines -        1:51.88

INTER-COLLEGIATE 300m
Champion           -      De La Salle University     -    1:29.60
1st Runner-up   -      UP Dragonboat Team      -    1:41.53

2009 PDBF Race Results (1st Leg)
2009 PDBF Team Ranking (1st Leg)

(by Iris Ocba – Race Secretariat, PDBF)
(photos by Marc Geronimo and Pez De Leon)