PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan | Team Pating, composed of personnel from the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force and Philippine Coast Guard who are members of the Philippine National Dragon Boat Team, captured a gold medal in the 500-meter race and a bronze medal in the 200-meter event at the 5th Puerto Princesa International Dragon Boat Festival 2026, delivering two podium finishes in the international competition.
The team announced its victories following the races held from October 30 to November 1 at Puerto Princesa City Baywalk, where Filipino and foreign paddlers gathered to compete in the annual sporting event.
Team Pating’s gold-medal finish in the 500-meter category and bronze-medal performance in the 200-meter race reflected the athletes’ strength, endurance, discipline and coordination. Bringing together personnel from three uniformed services, the team competed under one identity, demonstrating the value of teamwork beyond their respective military and maritime responsibilities.
In its announcement, Team Pating credited its achievements to the countless hours of training, personal sacrifices and strong camaraderie developed among its members. The team also expressed gratitude to those who supported its participation, emphasizing that the medals represented the collective efforts of the athletes and their supporters.
Dragon boat racing demands synchronized paddling, with every crew member contributing to the speed and stability of the boat. Even a strong individual paddler cannot compensate for poor coordination, making discipline, timing and teamwork essential to a successful performance.
The festival was organized with the involvement of the Philippine Paddling Federation Inc. (PPFI) and the City Government of Puerto Princesa. During the November 1 closing and awarding ceremony, Mayor Lucilo R. Bayron reaffirmed the city’s commitment to developing Puerto Princesa as a training center for dragon boat athletes.
Bayron highlighted the PPFI’s efforts, led by its president, Coach Leonora Escollante, to establish a training area along the Iwahig River. The facility is envisioned as a training destination for local and international paddlers, while the city also plans to strengthen grassroots development by encouraging young people to take up the sport.
The mayor stressed that discipline and coordination are as important as physical strength in dragon boat racing, noting that paddlers must move together to achieve their objectives. He also invited participating teams to return for the next edition of the festival.
Puerto Princesa’s growing involvement in the sport builds on its successful hosting of the 2024 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Dragon Boat World Championships from October 31 to November 3. The event brought together national teams from around the world, with the Philippines topping the medal standings with 11 gold medals, 20 silver medals and eight bronze medals, according to official ICF results.
The city is scheduled to host another major international competition, the 2027 ICF Dragon Boat Club Crew World Championships, from October 28 to 31, 2027. The event is expected to further strengthen the country’s presence in international paddling and attract athletes and visitors to Palawan.
Dragon boat racing has a growing history in the Philippines. According to the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation, the sport was introduced to the country in the 1980s after Filipino rowing pioneers participated in races in Hong Kong. Its popularity led to the establishment of the federation in 2003, helping organize and develop the sport locally and internationally.
One of the country’s most significant achievements came during the 2005 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines, when the national dragon boat team swept all six gold medals in the competition. The team continued its international success with world-record performances in the men’s open 200-meter category at the 2007 World Dragon Boat Championships in Sydney, Australia, and the 2009 championships in Prague, Czech Republic, where it recorded 40.02 seconds.
Team Pating’s latest achievement adds to this history of Philippine excellence in dragon boat racing and highlights the contribution of uniformed personnel to the country’s sporting accomplishments.
For the team, the two medals represent more than victories on the water. They stand for the discipline, perseverance and brotherhood developed through shared challenges, with members from three services united by one purpose.
Team Pating’s performance underscores the continuing contribution of the country’s uniformed services to Philippine dragon boat racing and its growing presence in international competitions.
DC Alviar
Professor DC Alviar is a tenured associate professor at National University (NU) Manila and a steering committee member of the Philippine International Studies Organization (PHISO). He has contributed to NU's community extension initiatives that introduced the five disciplines of a learning organization (Senge, 1990) to communities within a local government unit. He writes and edits local reports for Mega Scene. He graduated with Master of Development Communication (MDC) and Doctor of Communication (DComm) degrees from the University of the Philippines (UP) Open University in Los Baños and was awarded with a Commission on Higher Education (CHED) SIKAP grant. He previously served as editor-in-chief of The Adamson News and his high school publication Ang Ugat.
- DC Alviar
- DC Alviar
- DC Alviar
- DC Alviar
