Dragonboat Paddle for Peace in Mindanao held

DAVAO CITY, May 15, PIA--  Davao Dragon Boat Association (DDBA) recently held its Paddle for Peace event last May 15- 16 in Lanang Davao City.
DDBA is a non-government organization that aims to promote sports from all folks in Mindanao through Dragon Boat Race.

The association’s campaign is entitled Bugsay Mindanao 2: Paddle for peace which raises awareness about how Mindanao is striving for Peace and Unity.
 Aside from sports, the association also wants to promote the beauty of Mindanao and its Provinces.

The Bugsay Mindanao 2 racers will compete in the 200 and 2,000 meter class that feature three categories for Open/Men’s Standard Boat of 22 crews, Mixed Standard of 22 crews, and the Women’s small Boat for 12 crews.

There are seven teams coming from different parts in Mindanao competing for Dragon Boat Race.

There are teams from Davao Region, and one team each from Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and  Agusan.

Participants are from the supervision under Davao Dragon Boat Association like Dragon Del Sur, Base Camp Dragon, and Hiraya Minokawa, while visiting teams include Blue Dragon of Butuan, Liseo de Cagayan Dragonoids,  Bakunawa team from Iligan, and Agusan del Sur Dragon Boat Team.

The association is now in the stage of building and producing elite team to compete not only in Mindanao but throughout the country.

Clarise Jane Calolot, Davao Dragon Boat Association President said that Paddling or Bugsay in vernacular language is part of Mindanao lifestyle.

Calolot said that Davao Dragon Boat Association wish to bring the sport to other coastlines around Mindanao to highlight Mindanao’s beaches and to strengthen its advocacy on protecting coastal and marine resources. (PIA-Mary Queenstar Cruz Baltazar, intern)