Boracay, Malay paraws shine in Iloilo Paraw Regatta fest

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Though not dominating, paraw sailors from Boracay Island and  the towns of Malay and Nabas still shined in the 45th Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival against the best outrigger boats from TIgbauan, Leganes and Guimbal  in Iloilo,  Arevalo in Iloilo City and Guimaras province.

                                                               PHOTO FELIX DELOS SANTOS

Fourteen woven-matted sails from Masboi Sailboat Multi-purpose Cooperative (MSMPC) headed by Manny Casidsid joined the competition with the support of municipal government of Malay through the Municipal Tourism Office.

In Category C (sailboats with waterline length of 22.1 feet and above), entry Ashley of Jesybel Quinton (Sambiray, Malay) settled for third place while the entry Boralee owned by Reynaldo Sejane (Argao, Malay) grabbed 4th place.  Quinton received P50,000 and Sejane took home P10,000.

Other winners in Category C from Sambiray, Malay were entry Aldy of Jesybel Quinton  for 6th place (P8,000); Deding of Francisco Aguirre  for 7th place (P7,000) and Vaughn of Ariel Gad for 8th place (P6,000).

Entry Love Song owned by Policarpia Delos Santos from Boracay Island, Malay also got P5,000 cash prize for 9th place.

In Category A (sailboats with waterline length of not more than 16 feet,   entry Kokoy of Ariel Gad from Balabag, Boracay Island, Malay bagged 6th place with P5,000 cash prize.

Native outriggers from Barangay Sambiray in Malay and Barangay Union in Nabas also took the second and third spots in Category B (sailboats with waterline length of 16.1 feet to 22 feet) behind champion entry Kiss of Ricardo Gabales of Tigbauan, Iloilo.

Jofman V3-2 of Nicanor Gad from Sambiray, Malay brought home P50,000 for second place and Mega Paraw of Jay Ryan Maming, from Union, Nabas landed in third place for P20,000. Other winners were Discovery of Joecelen Prado of Cubar Sur, Malay for 6th place (P10,000); Hugpayon I owned by Efren Aguirre of Sambiray, Malay for 7th place (P9,000) and Warrior of Alberto Ascano, also from Sambiray, Malay for 8th place (P8,000).

Other activities slated from February 12-19 were Paraw Regatta photo exhibit, Diutay nga Paraw (miniature paraw contest), Bayluhay Dance Drama, Miss Paraw Regatta,  Pinta Layag, Pinta Tawo, Zumba Paraw, Iloilo Paraw Regatta Duathlon Race, Angler’s Fishing Competition, Slalom competition, Iloilo Paraw Regatta National Women’s volleyball, and Dragon Boat Exhibit/Paddling (Slalom).