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BY RESEL JOY TIANERO
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Sunday, February 19, 2017
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ILOILO City – This year, the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Foundation is introducing a grander “Lighted Paraw” contest – a much improved version of the competition humbly started last year with only six participants.
Tonight, the Iloilo Straight will be glowing with around 30 paraws, according to Ronald Raymond Sebastian, president of the foundation.
The competition is expected to make the 45th edition of the oldest sailing event in Asia more memorable.
The lighted paraws will be sailing right in front of Tatoy’s Manokan in Arevalo district.
How will the participants deck their paraws to make it glow?
Each one has a secret. It’s like setting up Christmas lights on a Christmas tree, only this time, it’s not a tree but the stately paraw.
But who knows what other gimmicks the participants will have to catch the attention of the judges. Torches perhaps? Or fireworks?
According to Sebastian, power generators may be needed. But it’s the finished glowing paraws that will matter most.
It will surely be a feast for the eyes, he said.
This year, many from Guimaras are joining, he added.
MORNING RACE
For the regatta this morning, there are three categories:
* Category A – sailboats with waterline length of not more than 16 ft
* Category B – sailboats with waterline length of 16.1 ft to 22 ft
* Category C – sailboats with waterline length of 22.1 ft and above.
The foundation expects the same number of participants as last year’s – 60. They are expected to join the race to conquer the more than 20-kilometer course from Tatoy’s Manokan, passing by Jordan town in Guimaras province, and then back.
Also today, several side events will be held such as Pinta Layag (sail painting) and Pinta Tawo (body painting) competitions at the Villa Beach shoreline.
Other side events lined up are the following:
* anglers’ competition
* beach volleyball
* photo contest.
In the evening aside from the Lighted Paraw contest, the foundation is introducing two new activities – Battle of the Bands and Fire Dance. All these will be at Villa Beach shoreline, too.
SECURITY
Around 150 coastguards will be deployed at Villa Beach in Arevalo today.
Seventeen “floating assets” will guard the venue, too, said Lieutenant Commander Ramil Palabrica of the Philippine Coast Guard-Iloilo.
They include five Coast Guard aluminum boats, two vessels from the Coast Guard and another two from the Philippine Navy, one from the Philippine Red Cross, and seven rented motorboats, Palabrica told Panay News.
K9 units (dogs trained to detect explosives and illegal drugs) will roam the area, too, while rescue groups and volunteers will be on standby for possible drowning incidents, he added.
Around 200 police officers will be deployed, especially at the race origin and other refreshment establishments in the evening, according to Senior Inspector Jose Val Ladublan, Arevalo police chief.
There will be an officer in every 15 meters at the shoreline.
This year’s festival theme is, “Showcasing the Philippines as a Maritime Nation.”/PN
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