By Tarra Quismundo
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines–The cold wind burned their tanned faces and the chill water burdened their arms, but the thirst for the win pushed them to reach the finish line first.

In unfamiliar weather, the 39-member Philippine Dragon Boat Federation clinched the gold medal in the 200-meter race against powerhouse rowers in the just-concluded 8th International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) Dragon Boat Championship at the Sydney International Regatta Center in Australia from September 19 to 23.

The team, composed of rowers from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Army, Navy and Air Force, also placed second in the 500-meter event and took bronze in the 1,000-meter and 2,000-meter races, earning them four medals in all.

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By Maria Congee S. Gomez
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—In his book, “Manila Rows: The story of the Manila Boat Club,” author Allan May wrote that the birth of rowing as a sport in the Philippines came about in 1888.

Most of those involved in the sport, however, were foreigners, particularly early English male settlers who ran commercial houses in the city.

Between the late 1800s and the early 1900s, these gentlemen formed the Manila Club, the forerunner of the Manila Boat Club.

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By Juan Escandor Jr.
Southern Luzon Bureau

PILI, Camarines Sur–Little more than a year into professional racing, the Camsur [Camarines Sur] Dragon Boat Team (CDBT) bagged its second international cup and stole the scene in the 4th Nanning International Dragon Boat Tournament in China, sweeping the gold in all events.

In the open international competition in Nanning City from June 19-20, part of the celebration of the Chinese National Dragon Boat Month, the CDBT blitzed its way to bag all events of the 500- and 800-meter races — both in the standard category requiring 20 paddlers and the 12-rower dragon boat speed race.

In all, the CDBT — made up of farmers and fishermen from seven towns in Camarines Sur — earned four gold medals and six trophies in the Nanning tournament that made them the overall champion in all events.

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