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Sunday, July 30, 2006
Rowing to the beat of the drum
By Jinggoy Salvador
DRAGON Boat Racing, originated in along the banks of the iconic river, Yangtze, of China. This was during the same era when the games of Ancient Greece were being established at the Olympia. Dragon boat racing as the basis for annual water rituals and festival celebrations, and for the traditional veneration of the Asian dragon water deity, has been practiced continuously since this period.
Due to the long history of dragon boat racing in China, participants in cultural and racing events there number some 50 million people, the sport of dragon boating has gradually spread beyond Asia to Europe, North America, Australia and Africa, becoming a popular international sport. Today, dragon boat racing (sport and festival) is among the fastest growing of team water sports.
In Boracay, the fever has caught on. An international event has been hosted for the past years and this year has enticed more teams, national and international, to join the race.
The teams were Manila Blazing Paddlers, PNP, Bugsay Blades, Dolphins, UP, La Salle, San Beda College, Drago Pilipinas, Aqua Fortis Camarines Sur, Fire Blades, Llama Ladies, Boracay Sun Paddlers, Philippine Navy, Rowers Club of the Philippines, 1925 and the international contingents were the Killer Koalas, Singapore Barbarians, Liechtenstein Princely Navy, Sea Gods HK.
It was going to be another busy time for the island when the team from all over trickled in and waited for the big day. The competition was slated on the day one of the area's fiesta. In the history of the island, the day of this festival is said to usher the Habagat period and it never failed to rain.
The prediction was true. On the competition date, the rain was pouring and of course, this caused the delay of the race. But this didn't dampen the spirit of the athletes. The race was relocated from the White Beach to the Balabag Beach and while waiting for the contest to officially start, there was merrymaking, dancing and singing. It was to keep the spirit alive on the gloomy day perhaps, but it was infectious enough to spread from one team to another. Before you know it, the whole area was partying under the downpour.
Let's meet the crew of the dragon boat. The standard crew of a contemporary dragon boat is around 22, comprising 20 paddlers in pairs facing toward the bow of the boat, one drummer or caller at the bow facing toward the paddlers, and one steerer or tiller at the rear of the boat.
The drummer or caller or "cox" may be considered the "heartbeat" of the dragon boat, and leads the crew throughout a race with the rhythmic beating of a drum to indicate the timing and frequency of paddling strokes. The caller may issue commands to the crew through a combination of hand signals and voice calls, and also generally exhorts the crew to perform at their peak.
The paddlers sit facing forwards, and use a specific type of paddle. The leading pair of paddlers, or "strokes" or "strokers", set the pace for the team.
All other paddlers synchronize their strokes to the stroke paddlers only.
The steerer, also known as the coxswain, helm, steersman, sweep, or tiller, controls the dragon boat with a steering oar similar in function to a tiller which is mounted at the rear of the boat. The steerer may work with the drummer to call out commands during a race and has the power to override the caller at any time during the race if the safety of the crew is threatened in any way.
Seeing the Boracay team row everyday to prepare for this much-awaited competition (and defend the title) makes you want to join them. Not for the competition but the for the health benefit you gain when doing this sport.
The race has to go on. Even with the weather not cooperating, teams went on water and competed in their respective heats. But this race I totally missed. I was soaking wet, the rain was not about to let up and I had to take care of the borrowed camera I was holding. But good news, the all women team of Boracay was crowned champion, again. And the Bora mixed team grabbed the third spot over-all. I can't help but be proud (feeling a local).
It was Hong Kong for these Bora dragon boat rowers to compete. I wonder how they fared. I will let you know.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (July 30, 2006 issue)
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