Paddles up for 1st International

glow-in-dark dragonboat races

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—It’s paddles up, for Bohol’s first International Glow-In-The-Dark Dragonboat race as the local organizing team readies its core for the first stroke of the race events.

During the coordination meeting at the City Hall Atrium, April 11, 2026, a week before the international dragonboat race takes to the Tagbilaran City Strait, race management executive committee and all working committees had the first look of what to do and expect during the two day races, April 18-19, 2026.

Planned before the Middle East conflicts started, the first international night paddle racing is now threatened by the global effects of the on-going war.

But still, the innovation in dragon boating race was all too good to be turned down by a Canadian team and a spill-over of extra crew willing to paddle with Bohol’s elites, according to race management committee head, Dr. Theodore Dumaluan.

Offered by the Bohol Paddlers Association Incorporated, a member of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation, the night racing format is just one of the innovations in the dragon boat races which BPAI introduced in dragonboat festivals.

Other than the glow in the dark night racing, BPAI has also successfully conducted the Ultimate Dragonboat Festival Race which breathes new blood into the centuries-old dragonboat popularized in China.

“We already have the Canadian team among the confirmed participants,” confirmed event operations manager Chrystel Mariz Dumaluan, during the briefing.

This late, the race committee has also confirmed the participation of two national teams from the Philippine National Police (PNP), SurviveOars Leytenos Paddling Team, Sugbo Mighty Dragons, plus a host of Bohol teams including Taloto Wild Dragons, and the BPAI.

With still a week before the races, organizers are still hoping for those international teams who initially intimated their intent to join and enjoy the hospitality and tourism of Bohol, to be reeled in.

Dragon boat teams usually do not just come with a lean crew, in fact, the past races have proven that a participating paddler brings in a family, and a support crew, something that tourism stakeholders can look forward to, adds deputy race director Aster Pocot.

Coming in at a time when the crisis has seeped into the tourism sector that even the local tourism office confirmed drastically reduced arrivals and cancelled bookings, organizers have had so much at stake to call things off.

A lot of teams have backed out, owing to the economic crisis, but we have to stand firm, adds race secretariat head Lourd Pocon.

Among the events set up to boost Bohol’s bid as an emerging sports tourism destination, dragonboating in Bohol has since assumed other roles, from the vessel to shape youth discipline and camaraderie to disaster rescue and response.

In fact, BPAI’s races proceeds have sustained the training of young paddlers who wish to try and build the discipline, teamwork and camaraderie critical for a synchronized crew paddling in dragonboats.

For the past disasters like the 2013 earthquake, paddlers volunteered to give free passage across Abatan River when the bridge fell, and twice, dragonboat crews proved critical in the search and rescue of residents of Loboc, whose houses were inundated and braving the ravaging waters was too risky. (PIAbohol)

REEL THEM IN. Bohol Paddlers Association Inc president Dr Theodore Dumaluan is still hopeful that teams who have also been affected by the economic crunch caused by the Middle East crisis can still join the exciting glow-in-the-dark dragon boat races this weekend. (PIABohol/BPAI)