MANILA, Philippines?Labor Day weekend in Boracay is like a gateway to unbridled chaotic glee. From station to station, various events from extreme games, concerts and the usual summer activities littered the world-famous beaches of the island. Nestled at the beach front of the Boracay Regency and Convention Center, the Fila Boracay International Dragon Boat Festival became the biggest international sporting event to be held at Boracay. 50 teams from as far as Australia, Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong, the United States and the Philippines came to the summer party capital of the country to paddle it out in a Dragon Boat Race battle. Over 1,000 paddlers made up the international festival.

Organized by the Boracay International Paddlers Association, in cooperation with The Department of Tourism, The Philippine Dragon Boat Federation, and the Municipality of Malay, the Dragon Boat festival was a grand display of sportsmanship. By the beach, one could witness the power and unity of each team as they raced for the fastest time. But while the spectators saw a competition, for the paddlers, it?s an entirely different story.

A social gathering

?It will not necessarily be a serious race,? explains Race Director Nestor Ilagan. ?Some of them are not here to win. They are here to be in Boracay for the sand and the beach and for the camaraderie of the Dragon Boat.? Surprisingly, the Dragon Boat race, anywhere in the world, is more of a gathering. It?s a community of people with similar interests and the competition is more of an excuse to get together and party.

?It?s part of the tradition,? expounds Ilagan. ?In the 70s, it was a cultural thing, not a competitive thing.? Philbert Chin, coach of SNP Fair Dinkum, a team from Hong Kong says, ?It?s very good fun. It hasn?t reached a level where it is too competitive. That?s why everyone wants to enjoy themselves.? So while the race schedule has been set, every night, there is a party where everyone gets to interact. ?I?ve been paddling for 13 years in Australia, Taiwan and Hong Kong and everyone is very friendly,? says Chin. ?Everyone is always willing to help out if you are short of paddlers. They are always willing to teach you. I think that?s why people are so willing to join the Dragon Boat.?

When not in competition, members from different teams rest and cool off in the beach and watch the other teams race. They cheer and take pictures. They dance to the music coming from the speakers. The community is a living entity enjoying each other?s company. The race just becomes an excuse for everyone to have a good time.

?Most important is we came for a party,? laughs Chin. ?I think for us, paddling is second but the party is first.? His statement became most evident during the opening party where, during a song number, the whole team of SNP Fair Dinkum began to do an impromptu modern dance interpretation, cheered on by their competition.

Still a race

While the party spirit was strong in-between races, when a team was ready to begin their round (or heat, as they call it), it was all serious business. Ilagan explains that the race started to become serious sometime in 1995, ?when China started the circuits. You would go to a place and there?s a series of 5 races in different cities,? he shares. ?We expect a competition amongst the locals, especially the ones from Camarines Sur.?

The teams from the Philippines are highly regarded as fierce competitors. The National Team broke the record at an international competition in Sydney last year and now our teams have been ?marked,? as Ilagan explains.

Of the 50 or so teams competing, the De La Salle University Dragon Boat team is probably the youngest, but by far, not the most inexperienced. ?That?s our pride in this race,? explains Renzie Ongkiko, the captain of the DLSU team. ?We are the only university team that is competing against these guys who are club teams and sponsored teams.?

The DLSU team trains every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 5:30 in the morning until 7 because, as Ongkiko explains, ?some have class at 8. That?s the student/paddlers life.?

Of the teams expected to do well, Camarines Sur and Bugsay Boracay, which won most of the trophies last year, were the teams to beat.

We are the champions

But as each team battled it out, some teams rose to the top. For the 300-meter race Tribu Camarines Sur won the championship for Men?s and Mixed while the Stormy Dragons of Hong Kong won for the Women?s Division. For the 500 meter race, the ladies of Bugsay Boracay won the Women?s Division, the Philippine National Police Patriots won the Mixed Division and the Wann Sea Dragons of Germany won the Men?s Division.

Prior to the final race, the Wann Sea Dragons already predicted their victory by making their way to the boat while playing Queen?s ?We are the Champions? and wearing gold robes and waving their team?s flag. Other teams laughed and took more photos and loudly applauded when they won the close match.

Sponsored by Fila, Seair, First Metro Securities, Smart, Rush Fitness Water, Mentos Iceblast Chewing Gum, Coconut of the Body, Asian Spirit, Hidden Spring, Sun Life Financial, Euro Motor Corp., GNC, Lemon Cafe, Zuzunis, Andok?s, and the Boracay Strand, it was no question that the spirit of competition, camaraderie and fun pervaded the festival. Already, next year?s festival is already in the works. As expected, another year of paddling and partying awaits.

For more information, visit www.boracaydragonboat.ph.