Cebu City Dragon Boat festival unfolds today

CEBU, Philippines — Thirteen dragon boat teams will vie for supremacy in the first edition of the Cebu City Dragon Boat Festival today at the Il Corso, Citta de Mare in South Road Properties.

Representing Cebu are Sugbu Mighty Dragons, Poseidon Dragon Boat Team, Cebu Fireblade and Black Manta Warriors.

Providing challenge are visiting squads from Dumaguete, Bohol, Iligan City and Tacloban that include Hilera Dragon Boat Team, Metro Dumaguete Paddlers, Tambobo Bay Dragonboat Team, Umagu Dragonboat Team, Dumaguete Yellowfins, BPA Bohol Paddlers Association, Pundok Amila, Bakunawa and Tacloban Bay Breeze.

Organized by Kabya Bisayas in partnership with the Cebu City Government, the race features the 300-meters small boat event for men, women and mixed class.

"There is no perfect event but we are doing our best to make this one successful and I can say we are a hundred percent ready for the event also with the support of our partners, the City Government, PNP Maritime, Coast Guard for the safety of our participants, as well the City of Naga who was very kind to us for lending us their boats for this event," said race director Paultom Paraz of Kabya Bisayas.

Cash prizes, medals and trophies await the top three finishers in each category.