ZAMBOANGA CITY - More than 200 vintas sailed off the coastline of RT Lim Boulevard here on Sunday, Oct. 5, in a yearly spectacular race known as the Regatta de Zamboanga.
Thousands of residents and visitors witnessed 235 vintas sail in a heart pounding race touted as one of the highlights of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival.
Leading the list of VIP spectators was Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino and Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Olaso and other city officials.
Boat No. 51 from Barangay Rio Hondo won P52,000 in cash and P15,000 worth of gift certificates for winning first place.
Other winners were Boat 126 from Santa Cruz Island, Boat 205 from Kasanyangan, Boat 231 from Mariki, and Boat 37 from Pangapuyan.
The event was followed by the "Wow Sardinas" Festival, a culinary competition participated in by the city’s sardine and canning factories.
Aquatic Food Manufacturing won first prize, pocketing P30,000, followed by Universal Canning, and Mega Fishing Corp., winning P20,000 and P10,000 respectively.
The event was capped by a sardine tasting event participated in by thousands of residents and visitors.