Zambales hosts dragon boat tilt, world champs joining

CANDELARIA, Zambales—Zambales will host a two-day dragon boat competition here starting today, the first time that such an event will be held in the province.

Around 12 dragon boat teams will be competing in the First Zambales Dragon Boat Festival, according to Gov. Hermogenes “Jun” Ebdane, who brought the festival here in cooperation with the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF).

Among the teams vying for trophies and medals, as well as cash prizes worth P150,000, are De La Salle University, Onslaught and Blue Phoenix. The Philippine Army Team that dominated the Florida world championships will also see action in the event.

Ebdane added that members of the PBDF Team, who topped the recent biennial International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) 10th World Dragon Boat Championships in Tampa Bay, Florida, will also see action in exhibition races here.

“Dragon boat racing is fast becoming a popular sport, with the recent victory of the Philippine Team in Florida. So we have decided to bring this event to Zambales, because we want to help promote this sport, and also because we have an ideal venue for this event—the Uacon Lake,” Ebdane said.

Ebdane said the 112-hectare Uacon Lake has been adjudged for the past several years as the best inland water body in Central Luzon.

“This is flat water, which is really what you need for dragon boat racing,” he added.