Iloilo’s Paraw Regatta Festival kicks off
Major activities in line with Iloilo’s 37th Paraw Regatta Festival officially kicked off Monday.
The Iloilo Paraw Regatta Foundation, Inc., organizer of the largest and oldest sailing competition in the Philippines and even in Asia, disclosed that three major activities commenced Monday afternoon as part of the official launching at the SM City here.
These included the opening of the photo exhibit of the Paraw Regatta Festival through the years by the Photo Artists League of Iloilo (PALI), opening of the Miniature Paraw-Making Contest and presentation of the candidates for the Miss Paraw search.
Foundation chairman Manny Villa Jr. said in addition to these three major events, spectators would also witness many other special events such as the ‘Samba De Regatta’ Torch Parade, Mardi Gras and Music Competition, rowing and padding competition, Paraw Regatta Slalom Race, Rapid Chess Tournament, Beach Volleyball and Football, Angler’s Competition, Pinta Layag, Reggae-Ta’ beach party and food festival and Luces by the Sea.
Last Sunday, however, the organizer had already hosted a fellowship breakfast at the Tatoy’s Manokan in Villa Beach after the 7:30 a.m. mass at the Villa Church simultaneous with the start of the Mini Paraw Sailing Qualifying Rounds.
The main activity will be the sailboat competition on Feb. 22 that will be participated in by more than 60 paraw’s from various parts of the region.
These sailboats will have to depend on the "perfect wind" for their sailboats to take off from the starting line in front of the Tatoy’s Manokan, sail towards Jordan, Guimaras and back to the finishing line still at the Tatoy’s Manokan. (PNA)