Paddles up! Hiraya Minokawa Dabaw dragon boat team leads race to save the environment

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Women’s month of March was welcomed by the unleashing of the dragons through the friendly race among the dragon boat teams of Davao, namely: the Base Camp, Dragons del Sur, Kampilan, and Hiraya Minokawa Dabaw (HMD).

Paddles up! Hiraya Minokaw Dabaw dragon boat team paddles from its lair in Bonguyan beach to Sitio Malamboon, site of its adopted mangrove area.(Photo courtesy of Bunsoy Espina)

The fun race dubbed as “Paddle for Life: Save Davao Gulf” was held last March 8, 2015, Sunday at the Baywalk in Matina Aplaya, Davao City.

HMD prides itself as the 1st dragon boat team of Davao, representing Davao in the May 2014 Rody Duterte cup and reigning over-all champion of Northern Mindanao in the Bugsay Mindanao held in Cagayan de Oro last December 2014.

In the friendly race last March 8, HMD emerged champion of the 200 meter mixed category and 1st place in the 200 m-open (men’s) category and 1st place in the 200-meter women’s category. The time records of 1:01:41 for mixed, and 59.74 seconds for Open and 1:16 for women’s is a bar that HMD has set for itself to further challenge its team members to come close to, if not overcome Philippine records.

Philippine paddlers are known to be the fastest boat crew in the world. In the recent 2014 World Championship race held in Italy (9th International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crews World Championship – Open), the Philippine Army Dragon boat team finished 200-m at 43.87 seconds.

It was a dream come true for HMD to paddle alongside the dynamic dragon boat community of Davao and to organize its first solidarity planting at its adopted mangrove area in Bucana (nursery of CENRO/City Environment and Natural Resources Office). The solidarity planting was undertaken a week after the race, on March 14. Base Camp gave its all-out support and planted 667 Piapi (Avicennia marina) with the HMD family.

Dream come true. Solidarity planting at the adopted mangrove area of Hiraya Minokawa Dabaw on 78th Araw ng Dabaw, March 16, 2015. (Photo courtesy of Base Camp dragon boat team)

“We are competitors only during the race, but outside the waters we are one with HMD in its advocacy to protect the rivers and oceans,” was the line heard from the Base Camp members present in the activity.

Majority of HMD members/founders are Ateneans (faculty, college students, alumni, parents) who live out the mission of the Ateneo for the environment through dragon boating and ocean/riverside protection. Regular trainings also include coastal clean-ups and post-race activities like mangrove/tree planting. One of the goals of HMD is to clean up Bangkerohan River and work with riverside communities to bring back the health and integrity of the river.

“We are paddlers not just for our personal love of the sport, but for our team’sadvocacy – in sports/youth development, for the environment, and for peace,” said Team captain John Buno (Ateneo alumni and San Beda paddler) about HMD.

Hiraya is a term that connotes the wishes, dreams, aspirations and desires of every member of the team, shares Michelle Mari Mercado, drummer/paddler and Ateneo de Davao Grade School guidance counselor.

She adds: “In HMD, we are not just a team, we are family. As a family, we are united by our shared identity and common purpose. Each paddle is a slice for Life.”

Hiraya Minokawa Dabaw is back to its weekend training at the Bonguyan beach in preparation for the 2nd Bugsay Mindanao to be held on May 15-16. This time, Davao will be hosting this event through the Davao Dragon boat Association (DDBA).

Ten (10) dragon boat teams across Mindanao (including Boracay, Manila and possibly Malaysian/Singapore teams) will come together to paddle for peace.

HMD is one among the other dragon boat teams in its Call for Volunteers in the conduct of this event. Individuals are encouraged to join as program committee, marshals, photography team etc. Partner companies/institutions will be allowed to join the exhibition race.

For more information, kindly visit the Facebook page/s of Hiraya Minokawa Dabaw and DDBA (Davao Dragonboat Association) or send an email to: hirayaminokawadabaw@gmail.com.