The Philippine Army Dragon Boat Team FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Brothers in arms, and brothers in sports.
After once again showing to the world that they are the best in the sport, the Philippine Army Dragon Boat Team got some well-deserved praise from their comrades in the Philippine Army.
Amid the downpour during the onslaught of Tropical Storm “Mario” on Friday, Lieutenant General Hernando Iriberri, Philippine Army Chief, honored the 17 men for their success at the 9th International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crews World Championships in Standiana Bacin, Ravenna, Italy.
Iriberri gave the Military Merit Medals to Lieutenant Harold Cabunoc and his men at Fort Bonifacio after the team brought home two gold medals during the 200-meter and 500-meter events of the World Championships.
Lieutenant Colonel Noel Detoyato, Philippine Army Public Affairs Chief, said it is always a great source of pride and joy when soldiers bring honor to the country during sporting events.
“The Philippine Army takes pride in its soldier-athletes that possess world-class skills,” Detoyato said. “For the Army paddlers, the win had been more glorious this year because they carried solely the name of the Philippine Army in a world competition for the first time.”
He also took notice of the Philippine Army Lady Troopers who took the championship of the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Open Conference.
“Their accomplishments continue to bring honor and glory for the Army and the whole country,” Detoyato said.
Technical Sergeant Franco Tinoco, Staff Sergeant Romy John Dionio, Staff Sergeant Usman Anterola, SSgt. Joemar Ocquiana, Sergeant Salvador Sumagaysay, Sgt. Ronald Tan, Sgt. Jomon Ocquiana, Sgt. Rodrigo Tanuan Jr., Private First Class Jose Ijalo, Pfc. Romel Donesa, Pfc. Gerald Dela Cruz, Pfc. Hardy Pabulayan, Pfc. Ramie Llano, Pfc. Jayson Dela Cruz, Pfc. Gil Martin Gonzales, Pfc. Cresmark Dayumat and Cabunoc were the 17 men of the “fastest dragon boat crew in the planet.”
Cabunoc is the team leader with Tinoco serving as the steersman, the one who controls the direction of the boat, and Dela Cruz as the drummer, the one who sets the pace of the oarsmen.
During the World Championships, the Philippine Army Dragon Boat Team clocked 48.7 seconds in the 200-meter race, breaking the three-year-old world record of 53 seconds that they established in 2011 in Tampa, Florida.
Another world record was established for the 500-meter race with the Filipino soldiers outracing 27 other teams and posting a time of 2 minutes and 6 seconds.
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