PUERTO PRINCESA - No less than less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will lend his prestige to the opening of the ICF Dragon Boat World Championships by being the guest of honor of the opening ceremony Thursday, Oct. 31, of the grand sports event at the Puerto Princesa Baywalk here. 

“I never imagined that no less than President Bongbong Marcos would grace our opening ceremony and, of course, our event. He fulfilled his promise to yours truly so this is truly amazing,” noted Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragon Boat Federation president Leonora “Lenlen” Escollante. 

“Well, it is truly an honor that the Chief Executive is coming over. I was shocked when the Office of the President confirmed it last Monday. Now event Puerto Princesa City government officials informed me confirming that he, indeed, is coming over,” Escollante added. 

“It is our great honor and privilege to have President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. to be our featured guest at the opening ceremony of the ICF Dragon Boat World Championships,” echoed Puerto Princesa City Mayo Lucilo Bayron. 

“His presence at the start of this big international dragon boat events truly enhances the city’s status as premier sports tourism hub in the Philippines,” Bayron stressed. 

The President earlier paid tribute to the blue-ribbon meet also serving as a highlight of the centennial anniversary of the International Canoe Federation in issuing Proclamation No. 699 in declaring annually the last week of October as “Moving Forward Paddling Week Philippines.” In issuing the decree, Marcos Jr. noted “paddling forward symbolize unity and strength in navigating the challenges towards achieving progress as a Filipino nation,” while promoting the sport throughout the Philippine archipelago. 

Escollante disclosed that House Speaker Martin Romualdez and his wife, Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez, will also be attending the opening of the global dragon boat sports showcase also serving as the main qualifying meet for the World Games in Chengdu, China next year. 

“Speaker Romualdez and Congressman Yedda have been staunch supporters of the PCKDBF and dragon boat in the Philippines so we are also grateful that they will be present to at our opening on Thursday,” she said. 

She also said that ICF president Thomas Konietzko of Germany entire board of the Philippine Sports Commission board by chairman Richard Bachmann and commissioners Edward Hayco, Matthew “Fritz” Gaston, Olivia “Bong” Coo and Walter Torres will also around for the inaugural rites. 

“Last but certainly not the least, we will also have Sen. Pia Cayetano to join the opening day festivities,” according to Escollante. 

The top PCKF official said that the 2024 edition of the competition has already drawn a record-breaking number of 27 countries and close to 2,000 paddlers from all over the world. 

“India alone is fielding a 140-strong contingent of paddlers while the Philippines has 200 entries,” Escollante said.