PAOAY, Ilocos Norte – Following the declaration that the Paoay Lake Water Park is safe for water adventure activities, the local government unit (LGU) of Paoay, in collaboration with the provincial government of Ilocos Norte and the Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragonboat Federation (PCKDF), successfully hosted the 3rd Paoay Lake Dragon Boat Festival here.
Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc said on Friday, May 5, that the festival, which was held from April 28 to 30, is an initiative to bring back more attractions in the province this post-pandemic summer season.
“We’re very happy to welcome sports tourism once again. And I'd like to commend also the municipality of Paoay for hosting, and the PCKDF for involving the local community, we appreciate you guys that you make an effort to teach our locals and make sure to give back to our community, we thankfully have living proof that, we now have three national athlete team members from Paoay,” said Manotoc.
In a report from the Communications and Media Office of Ilocos Norte, the three-day competition sought to boost sports tourism in the province by promoting dragon boating, including new water sports activities in the lake, such as canoeing and kayaking.
Ten teams from the inter-agency category, as well as from secondary and primary schools in Paoay, competed in the dragon boat race.
Meanwhile, three cousins from Paoay, are competing in the ongoing Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
Carla Joy Cabugon, 15; John Carl Cabugon, 16; and Charmaine Mae Cabugon, 19, from Barangay Nagbacalan, are now in Cambodia with the other members of the national dragon boat team.
The Communications and Media Office of Ilocos Norte said the Cabugons joined the national team in 2017 after they were scouted by one of the coaches.
They compete in dragon boat races, traditional boat races, and solo events here and abroad.