Philippine Festivals

Iloilo Paraw Regatta Synopsis

Posted on February 20th, 2007 by mvg.
Categories: Features, History.

THE Iloilo paraw (sailboat) Regatta, instituted in 1973, is a race among native outriggers in the strait between the island province of Guimaras and Iloilo City.

Called “paraw” in the local dialect, these native outriggers faithfully copy in materials and design sailboats that carried to Panay in 1212 A.D. the first settlers from Borneo who were in search of a peaceful home. The sailboats survived the centuries and became a vital part of the Ilonggo seafaring life.

The First Iloilo Paraw Regatta was organized by the Department of Tourism. The City of Iloilo, the municipalities of Oton, Jordan, Buenavista, Philippine Coast Guard, Negros Navigation, the late Antonio de Oyteza, Iloilo Boat Club, Panay Amateur Radio Club, the Iloilo Jaycees, Anhawan Beach Resort and a host other, readily welcomed the project and lent a helping hand. Since then, the Iloilo Paraw Regatta has grown both in size and renown. The race has become more exciting, colorful and inevitably a challenge to manage.

This year, the Iloilo Paraw Regatta is among the domestic tourism promotional; program of the Department of Tourism.
The primary objective of the regatta is to help develop local tourism industry and preserve the paraw as the legacy from the earliest period of Ilonggo history. In these time of energy crisis, the paraw becomes more relevant since it does not need fuel and is practically pollution-free. The race aims at the development of the spirit of sportsmanship.

The regatta has undergone dramatic transformation. From its humble beginnings, the race has become a festival of sort. Every year, hundreds of thousands line the beaches of the 36.5 km. race route from Tatoy’s Manokan to Fort San Pedro, to St. Rosario in Buenavista to Puting Balas in Jordan to Morobuan, Jordan ad back to Tatoy’s Manokan for the finish line.

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