The City Government of Davao lauded the Ricspeed Dragon Boat Davao for bagging multiple awards in the recently concluded 44th Penang International Dragon Boat Regatta 2023.
During a courtesy call on Thursday, Hon. Vice Mayor J. Melchor Quitain Jr. – along with other city councilors – extended their congratulations to the team for bringing pride and honor to the city.
Before the engagement, the team also spoke with the city mayor on Wednesday, during which, he also congratulated them.
“Gahapon, nagpacourtesy call si Mayor, didto mi sa Arcadia tapos girefer mi niya diri kay para ma-acknowledge daw mi, pasalamat kaayo mi [Yesterday, we also had a courtesy call with Mayor, and he suggested another courtesy call today (with the city council) to acknowledge our team’s win, and we are very grateful (to him)],” Mr. Nenito N. Neneria Jr., Head Coach of Ricspeed, said in an interview with the City Information Office.
The team competed in five categories against 63 teams from 16 countries and bagged two gold medals for the Women’s division and the 400m mixed relay. They also won two bronze medals for the mixed and open categories.
Ricspeed is composed of 38 paddlers from different parts of Davao. Out of these 38 paddlers, 20 were students since the team has members as young as 14 and as old as around 55 years old.
The team has been in the industry for around five years and has only competed in local and national dragon boat competitions before the Penang International.
According to Neneria, their members went through rigorous physical training to ensure that they were prepared for the competition.
Ms. Leouie Lyn Rabago, Ricspeed’s team manager, explained that it is necessary for the members to not only be physically but also mentally prepared to perform well in the competition.
Rabago expressed her gratitude to their team owner, Mr. Ricardo Floirendo, for his full support to the team. She also said that they got financial support from the local government during the competition.
The team also encouraged those who are interested in getting into the dragon boat to pursue their interest since the sport is open to all, regardless of age and status.
“The good thing about dragon boat is wala’y ginapili kung unsa ang imohang estado sa kinabuhi ug ang imohang edad as long as you are willing and you have the strength, pwede ka [The good thing about dragon boat is that the person’s status in life or age doesn’t matter, as long as you are willing and you’re physically fit, then you can join],” Rabago said. CIO
