From an accidental beginning to a global stage, the Siargao Dragons are proving that even small drip can make the biggest waves.
On June 21 to 22, 2025, the homegrown dragon boat team from Siargao Island will carry the Philippine flag at the China-Asean Dragon Boat Festival in Teng County, Guangxi.
Competing against elite paddlers across Asia, this will be their first-ever international race outside the country, an achievement they once thought was impossible.
An accidental beginning
“Actually, this thing started by accident,” Coach Alvin Bobadilla, founder of the Siargao Dragons, shared.
A real estate broker for many years, Alvin was in Siargao in May 2023 for a business transaction when he heard of an upcoming local dragon boat competition. Curious, he asked around whether Siargao had a team. It turned out there was none, despite the fact that the island is widely known for its love of water sports.
“So maybe I thought, what if we form a dragon boat team dito?” he said.
His first recruit was a local surfer, Vince Chua, whose father introduced him. Vince became the starting point of what would eventually become a full team.
“The first question I asked Vince is, ‘Do you have friends who can also be part of this forming team for Siargao?’” Alvin shared.
What began as informal shore training quickly evolved into a serious pursuit. “We started from that, and then I formed a group chat. Whoever wants to be part of this, just let them in,” Coach Alvin recalled.
Three days before their very first race, their dragon boat finally arrived. “We were not really in sync. But who cares? It’s just for fun. Yeah, just for fun.”
But that fun soon turned into commitment.
“That fun developed into interest, that interest became a passion, the passion became a challenge. Then later on, we’re competing. And now, we are winning.”
“That fun developed into interest, that interest became a passion, the passion became a challenge. Then later on, we’re competing. And now, we are winning.”
Coach Alvin
In just four months, the Siargao Dragons won the overall championship in a race in Palawan. By February 2024, they made headlines again by clinching the top prize at the Bugsay Mindanao Race in Cagayan, taking home the perpetual trophy for the 200-meter open division. That victory earned them an official invitation to represent the Philippines at the China-Asean festival.
Coach Alvin, who first paddled with the Manila Dragons back in 1993, described this as a full-circle moment. “This is our Season 8. It’s our first outside-the-Philippines dragon boat race. We were picked. We submitted a video of our win and China approved it. Siargao Dragons can race.”
Paddling with purpose
For Vincent Chua, now team captain, the ocean has always been home. But this time, it's personal.
“I love the ocean, it became my passion… Yung goal din namin na ma-represent yung isla tsaka yung Pilipinas (Our goal is also to represent the island and the Philippines),” he said.
“Sa akin, isa tong malaking pagsubok… bilang local dito, bihira lang ang nabibigyan ng chance na ma-represent ang isla at ang bansa. Para na rin sa mga kapatid at pamilya namin dito (For me, this is a big challenge… as a local here, few are given the chance to represent the island and the country. This is also for our siblings and families here).”
Co-captain Mary Grace Secadron shares the same heart.
“Excited, super! Hindi ko naisip na magiging athlete ako. Yung locals talaga yung inspirasyon ko dito (Super excited! I never thought I would become an athlete. The locals are really my inspiration here),” she said, beaming.
“Yung makita sila na masakay ng plane, yung mga ganun, sila talaga ‘yung reason why I want to represent the Philippines (Seeing them ride the plane, things like that, they are really the reason why I want to represent the Philippines),” she adds.
Both captains agree on what makes the sport so special: unity.
“Unity, iisa kayo ng sagwan. Dito, unity kasi magkakakilala kami, family (Unity, you paddle as one. Here, there is unity because we all know each other, like family),” Mary said.
“Family, yun ang nagustuhan ko dito (That’s what I liked here),” added Vincent.
And now, the whole team shares a new first, flying long-distance for the China race. “Excited kami kasi first time naming lumipad for long hours (We’re excited because it’s our first time to take a long-hour flight),” Vincent said. “Sana manalo, kasi binigyan kami ng opportunity to represent the Philippines (Hopefully we win, because we were given the opportunity to represent the Philippines).”
Newest wave of the team
Among the 31 official delegates is Lenzci Jhalen Ersan, a Dabawenya who moved to Siargao more than a year ago. The China-Asean race will be her first international appearance.
“It’s really a great pleasure… para to sa mga locals (This is for the locals). The opportunity na makapunta sa ibang bansa, ma-represent ang Siargao (The opportunity to go to another country and represent Siargao),” she said.
More than anything, she values the sincerity and joy of the team.
“Isa rin sa reason na nagustuhan ko dito ay napaka-genuine ng people. Kahit small things lang, sobrang saya na nila. Napaka-grateful nila sa lahat (One of the reasons I liked it here is that the people are very genuine. Even with small things, they are very happy. They are very grateful for everything).”
Carrying island pride
The Siargao Dragons may be new on the global scene, but they are armed with grit, humility, and the island pride that moves oceans. Since June 21, 2023, their very first training day, they’ve trained not just to win many races, but to inspire people.
Their journey is proof that sometimes, the most powerful beginnings are the unexpected ones. With every stroke, they remind the world that champions can rise from anywhere, even from the quiet shores of a surfing paradise.
As they head to Teng County in Guangxi to join one of Asia’s most prestigious dragon boat festivals, they carry with them not just paddles, but the dreams of an entire island.
Para sa Siargao. Para sa Pilipinas. KBP