The Paraw Regatta will once again sail off from the shores of Iloilo City and Guimaras this year, bringing more excitement to the public and economic opportunities for the city as it pays homage to the region’s seafaring history.
John Lex Bayombong, chairman of the Paraw Regatta Festival, in a press conference, said that the organization is now 70 percent ready for the festival, which will open on February 23.
He added that the organization already started to coordinate with various concerned agencies, including the Philippine Coast Guard, to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the festival.
This year’s celebration, which will culminate on March 2, is anchored to the theme “Sailing Blue Waters on this Green Earth,” as the festival aims to promote environmental sustainability while celebrating the region’s rich maritime history.
Dr. Roberto Samosa, chairman of the Paraw Sailing Event, on the other hand, said the festival will highlight the Paraw Main Race that will start from the shoreline of Arevalo district and cover over a 30-kilometer stretch going to Guimaras and back to Arevalo.
Samosa said that the total number of participants for the major sailing events, which will come from Boracay Island and nearby coastal towns in Iloilo, has yet to be confirmed.
He also encouraged the Paraw operators to teach young people how to sail the Paraws (outrigger boats) for the festival to further thrive and the tradition to continue despite the challenges of modernization.
To boost the call, this year’s festival will introduce the Juniors Slalom Competition that is open to participants aged 12 to 16. All interested participants must secure parental consent and a medical certificate to compete.
Samosa, however, explained that if the number of participants is below the required minimum of five, the competition may be converted into a demo presentation, which he still believed to be an opportunity for young people to discover and learn the tradition of sailing the paraws.
The Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) also approved the purchase of three paraws to boost the city’s tourism and preserve the legacy of the festival that is considered Asia’s largest and oldest sailing event.
Meanwhile, other exciting events for this year’s Paraw Regatta Festival include the Sinamba sa Regatta, Paraw Lechon Contest, Pinta Layag, Pinta Tawo, Slalom Race, and food festival, among others.
There will be 10 to 12 entries for the Lechon contest with the dishes to be offered free to the public after the judging, while there are already six confirmed groups that will participate in the Sinamba sa Regatta. AAL/JNH/PIA Iloilo
