THIRTEEN teams from the different parts of Visayas and Mindanao are expected to compete on the first Kagayhaan Gold Cup 2016 dragon boat competition as part of the Higalaay Festival celebration on August 19 to 20, 2016.
“During our Junior Chamber International (JCI) team building, we used the dragon boats from Liceo de Cagayan University in our activity. It was from that event that we conceptualized the idea of this dragon boat competition. We realized that the river has so much potential yet it is also feared especially right after the tragedy of Sendong. We want to put up an event that would promote the river but with respect of it power,” said Paul Andro Subere, 2016 Local Organization President JCI Kagayhaan Gold.
Subere added that the event aims to bring the theme of friendship, peace and environmental awareness to Cagayan de Oro River.
“It is significant since have the theme of friendship, the environment and also peace since Cagayan de Oro City is known as the City of golden friendship. To promote protection and conservation for our environment and hopefully with different teams from all over Mindanao and other parts of the country we would promote peace. All of these are in line with JCI’s brand of influencing creative positive chance in the community,” said Subere.
Owen Jaen, race director further explained that rationale for the competition.
“The Kagayhaan Gold Cup 2016 dragon boat competition is meant to create an avenue for people to gather and foster relationships, build peace through sport and create a better environment since we have pocket events prior during and after the main event such as river cleanup, fingerling release and tree planting,” said Jaen.
Jaen added that, “We want to promote Cagayan de Oro River as a playground for water sport aside from white water rafting. And hopefully bring in more people towards the river. And since the event is part of the month long Higalaay Festival, and the celebration St. Augustine August 28 feast day, patron saint of the city; we hope it will become an annual event for the fiesta season,” said Jaen.
Jaen enumerated the 12 teams that has confirmed to join the dragon boat competition: Bohol Paddlers of Bohol, Father Saturnino Urios University Blue Dragons of Butuan City, Cebu Security Dragons of Cebu, Liceo Dragonoids of Cagayan de Oro City, Liceo Junior Dragonoids of Cagayan de Oro City, Team Kugtong of Cebu, Base Camp Dragons of Davao, Dragons Del Sur of Davao, Hiraya Minokawa of Davao, Kampilan Dragon Boat Team of Davao, Team Bakunawa of Iligan, Tacloban Saltwater Dragons of Tacloban City and a team from Dipolog City.