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[av_heading heading=’ Dragon boat race in Iloilo Aug. 19 ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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IN LINE with its 80th Charter Day celebration, Iloilo City will host the 2017 National DoubleDragon Boat Race Championship on Aug. 19 at Esplanade 2.
According to Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, the annual dragon boat race is a great opportunity to showcase the sports, tourism, economic, and environmental potentials of the Iloilo River.
“We are happy to host this event again this year,” Mabilog said. “We want to show that the Iloilo River is a good venue for water sports recreational activities and entertainment, owing to our collective efforts to rehabilitate and develop it.”
The annual dragon boat race started as the Senator Franklin Drilon Cup in 2012 before DoubleDragon Properties Corp. took over in organizing the event in 2014.
“I am happy that DoubleDragon agreed to adapt and sustain this boat race as one of their major events,” Drilon said. “This is a legacy that I will leave to the Ilonggos, [something] I want to continue for the generations to come.”
Last year, 12 teams participated. Philippine Coast Guard Dragon Boat team dominated the men’s and women’s divisions, while Boracay All-Stars team ruled the mixed event.
“We intend to grow this event year by year by inviting more dragon boat teams to go to Iloilo and compete in this race,” said DoubleDragon chairman and chief executive officer Edgar “Injap” Sia.
“This event is envisioned to promote Iloilo City as a tourism destination, which will further stimulate local economic growth not only in Iloilo but the whole of Panay Island,” Sia said./PN
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