Iloilo Paraw Regatta 2014

Written by Jonathan Grant

Now on its 39th year, the Iloilo Paraw Regatta is the oldest traditional craft event in Asia, and the largest sailing event in the Philippines.  The Iloilo Paraw Regatta Foundation currently organizes the activities, with leading support from the Iloilo City and Provincial Governments and the Department of Tourism, along with private sector donations.

Activities have been expanded to spread over a week.  On the Saturday of the climactic weekend there is slalom racing on a course by the beach to facilitate crowd participation.  On the Sunday, the thirty-kilometer distance race is sailed on a course in the Iloilo Strait, running up the coast of Panay and then down the coast of Guimaras, before returning to the finish at Villa Beach.  Participant exposure to the events is in the tens of thousands.

The geophysical shape of the Iloilo Strait provides year round breezes.  Thus the working sailboat still predominates.  In these times of high fuel costs, and polluting oil spills, one can appreciate the simple ecology of the traditional paraw.  Nevertheless, the skills needed to sail are far more complex.

The objective of the Regatta is to celebrate the skills of the paraw sailors, and bring a fiesta spirit into their lives.  And with the colorful painted sails, this spirit is brought into the lives of participants and tourists as well.

2014 Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival – 42nd Edition SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES February 15, 2014 (Saturday) 6:00 AM Annual Iloilo Paraw Regatta Foundation Villa Beach Clean-up Drive Villa Beach Shoreline 5:00 PM Opening of the 2nd Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival Seafood Festival JM Basa St. February 16, 2014 (Sunday) 7:00 AM Annual Iloilo Paraw Regatta Foundation Traditional Mass Offering Villa Parish Church 8:30 AM Foundation & Iloilo City Gov’t Fellowship Breakfast Tatoy’s Pavillion 9:30 AM Slalom Competition (Short-distance Sail Competition) Tatoy’s Shoreline 2:00 PM Start of the Paraw Regatta Festival “Pinta Layag” Painting Contest Tatoy’s Parking Area 5:00 PM Last day of the Iloilo Paraw Regatta – Seafood Festival JM Basa St. February 17, 2014 (Monday) 2:00 PM Opening of Photo Artists League of Iloilo Photo Exhibit “Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival Through the Years” Robinsons Place 4:00 PM Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival Miniature Paraw-Making Contest A Re-cycling Art Competition Exhibit SM City – Iloilo 4:00 PM Presentation of Candidates 2014 Miss Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival Robinsons Place Fountain Area February 18, 2014 (Tuesday) 5:00 PM Miss Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival 2014 Talent Competition SM City – Iloilo Activity Center (Tentative) February 19, 2014 (Wednesday) 5:00 PM Miss Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival 2014 – Festival Costume Competition – Swisuit Competition Robinsons Place – Fountain Area February 20, 2014 (Thursday) 4:00 PM Miss Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival 2014 – Evening Gown Competition – Public Speaking Competition Robinsons Place – Fountain Area February 21, 2014 (Friday) 7:00 PM Miss Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival 2014 Coronation Night WVSU Cultural Center February 22, 2014 (Saturday) 6:00 AM Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival Deep-Sea Fishing Competition Mass and Send-off Fort San Pedro 9:00 AM Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival Rapid Chess Tournament Joe III Garden 9:00 AM Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival National Beach Ultimate Exhibition Games (Frisbee) Joe III Garden 9:00 AM Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival National Invitational Women’s Beach Volleyball Joe III Garden 9:00 AM Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival Mens Beach Football Joe III Garden Open Schedule Media Partners and Sponsors Day Suggested Events – Drum & Bugle Competition – Disco Derby – Reggay “Ta Concert/Band” – Musical Variety Show – Bikini Open – Body Building Competition Villa Festival Grandstand February 23, 2014 (Sunday) 6:00 AM 42nd Iloilo Paraw Regatta Main Event Final Registration & Technical Requirements Villa Festival Grandstand 6:00 AM Start of the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival Photo Contest Villa Beach Shoreline 6:00 AM Start of Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival “Pintawo” – Body Painting Contest Villa Festival Grandstand 6:00 AM Judging of the Pinta Layag Villa Beach Shoreline 8:30 AM Formal Opening Program & Declaration of Race Villa Festival Grandstand 9:30 AM Grand Take-off – 42nd Iloilo Paraw Regatta Villa Festival Grandstand 9:30 AM Entertainment Presentations – JBLFMU Cultural Dance Troupe – Presentation of the “PINTAWO” Body Painting Models – Sinamba Presentation from West Visayas State University – Sinamba Presentation from JBLFMU Villa Festival Grandstand 9:30 AM Paraw Regatta Festival National Beach Ultimate (Frisbee) Finals Joe III Garden Area 9:30 AM Paraw Regatta Festival National Invitational Women’s Beach Volleyball Joe III Garden Area 12:00 NN Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival Deep-Sea Fishing Competition – Arrival Villa Festival Grandstand 2:00 PM Awarding Ceremonies Villa Festival Grandstand