Petron is major sponsor
Ilonggos celebrate Iloilo Paraw Regatta

posted 19 March 2007

ILOILO CITY– Fair winds and clear skies favored once more the successful staging of the 35th Iloilo Paraw Regatta here last February 18, drawing not only scores of competitors from all over the region but also tens of thousands of spectators who lined the beaches of Iloilo and Guimaras to watch the event as well as to frolic in the clear waters of Guimaras Strait.

The Iloilo Paraw Regatta, so named after the sailboat locally known as paraw, has been around for 35 years, celebrating the famed Ilonggo seafaring skills and paying homage to the paraw which remains intrinsic to the life of coastal villagers who use the wind-driven boat to transport goods as well as to fish for food and leisure. Over the years, the Iloilo Paraw Regatta has grown in popularity and repute and is now considered the oldest traditional craft event and the largest sailing event in the Philippines.

The regatta was also launched as a clarion call for energy conservation and environmental protection. Petron Corporation was a major sponsor of this year’s event, in full support the theme: Nurture Our Marine Heritage.

Though essentially a race among sailboats and testing the skills of seafarers in navigating a 30-kilometer out-and-back course plotted along the length of Guimaras Strait, the Iloilo Paraw Regatta has metamorphosed from a half-day event in its early years into a full blown multi-event festival that is also now considered one of the city’s tourist attractions.

With a sailboat painting contest rendered part of the event, the paraws have been transformed from drab monotones to a blazing kaleidoscope of colors and surrealist paintings. On the beach, while spectators wait for the sailboats to come back, such events as beach volleyball and beach football competitions were held as well as a Samba de Regatta (percussion group) Contest to add more excitement to the event. For glamour, there is the Miss Paraw Regatta beauty pageant with the winner acting as the event’s ambassador of goodwill.

But of course, the Iloilo Paraw Regatta remains essentially a race among sailboats and, this year, the veterans once more bested the competition.

Multiple winner Orlando Demetillo of Leganes, Iloilo ruled Category A (for sailboats with waterline lengths of 16 feet and below) for his seventh first place finish since joining the race some 20 years ago. Demetillo and his sailboat ARLYN took home the cash prize and trophy. Alejandro Elemento (BLUE ANGEL) of Sibunag, Guimaras and Jorge Elemento (NONOY GEO) of Bagumbayan, Villadolid, Negros Occidental prevented a clean sweep by the Ilonggos of the top ten money winners by placing 7th and 10th in the catregory, respectively.

Other Category A winners were: 2nd - JOSEPH 1 - Rogelio Gareza of Guimbal, Iloilo; 3rd - PRINCESS MAE - Pablito David, Jr. of Camangay, Leganes, Iloilo; 4th - PIRANHA 3 - Victor Gordoncillo of Camangay, Leganes, Iloilo; 5th - KAREN & KEVIN - Oscar Espinosa od Sto. Nino Sur, Arevalo; 6th - JOSEPH 2 - Rogelio Gareza of Guimbal, Iloilo;. 8th - BEACH COMBER - Jerry Toroy of Parara sur, Tigbauan, Iloilo; and 9th - BRYAN - Jayde Pauchano of Camangay, Leganes, Iloilo.

Another Leganesnon emerged as this year’s first place winner in Category B (for sailboats with waterline lengths of 16 to 22 feet). Ulysses Torino’s DIN DIN AND KENT sailed home with the championship trophy and a cash prize. Torino was also the event’s champion in 2005.

The rest of the winners in Category B were: 2nd - KRISTINE - Oscar Espinosa of Sto. Nino Sur, Arevalo, Iloilo; 3rd - ANGEL ROSE - Jimmy Gange of San Isidro, Sibunag, Guimaras; 4th - JUSTINE - Danny Diomon of Jardeleza Subd., Leganes, Iloilo; 5th - NENE ESAY - Melvin Minerva of Sto. Nino, Arevalo; 6th - SEA ANGEL - Jayde Pauchano of Camangay, Leganes, Iloilo; 7th - MARJHONIC - Honorato Espinosa of Sto. Nino Sur, Arevalo; 8th - SUPER X - Concepcion Panes of Parara, Tigbauan, Iloilo; 9th - BLUE ANGEL - Alejandro Elemento of Alegria, Sibunag, Guimaras; 10th - JONEL - Nelson Guzman of Parara Sur, Tigbauan, Iloilo.

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