Unlikely boat race golden prospects

SINGAPORE—He used to gather kangkong (water spinach) in Laguna de Bay for a living while she’s a former boat girl for tourists shooting the rapids in Pagsanjan, Laguna.

Now 18-year-old John Paul Selencio hopes to collect gold medals while Glaiza Liwag, 20, tries to match the feat as steerpersons of the country’s traditional boat race crews competing in the Southeast Asian Games here.

Selencio, who was born in Masbate, said his experience paddling across the murky waters of Laguna de Bay helped him land a spot in the PH team.

He was part of the national juniors team that landed five golds in last year’s International Canoe Federation Dragon Boat World Championships in Poland.

“I hope to win a gold here and make the country proud,” said Selencio in Filipino.

Liwag’s inclusion in the team was a blessing for the PH crews after Singapore officials introduced new rules that allowed the use of a paddle, instead of a  steering gear.

“I’m used to it because I used a paddle to steer bancas in Pagsanjan,” said Liwag, third in a brood of 10, in Filipino.

She used to shuttle tourists upstream to Pagsanjan Falls.

A total of eight golds are at stake in the sport: 200- and 500-meter events for both sexes in six- and 12-crew boats.