Many of us might recognize Rachel Lobangco as the bodacious beauty who graced the silver screen from the late 80’s to the 90’s. Today, she works an inspiring second career as Boracay Island’s Queen of Fire Dancing, when she’s not tooling about in her photography studio or paddling with the Boracay Bumshells and the Manila Dragons. We caught up with her, stunning as ever, to tell us a little bit about her new life as a free-spirited artist, athlete, and dragon boat mom.
How did you get started in dragon boat?
I got into dragon boat around six years ago, when I was living full-time in Boracay. I started paddling with the Boracay Bumshells, an all-women’s crew, when they were just starting out. I was with them for three years until I moved back to Manila to work for my mom
How did you end up in Boracay in the first place?
Paano nga ba? I fell in love, actually, not just with the island, but with somebody! I bought a place there and thought, “This is where I’ll settle,” because I was that in love! Makulit pa ako nung mga panahon na ‘yon. I also wanted to be an island girl, to feel like I was really from there. Sobrang itim ako noon, ka-kulay ko ‘tong lamesa na ‘to [laughs and points to dark wooden table]. I felt like I lived for the island, especially when I learned how to fire dance and how to paddle.
I spent seven years living in Boracay. Since I returned to Manila two years ago, ang daming nagsasabi, “Ang puti-puti mo na!” It’s ironic because my mom is in the skin care and whitening business, while my skin is dark. Parang, sinasabotahe ko ba ang negosyo ng nanay ko [laughs]? Actually, I can’t be be pale all the time, because I’m always under the sun. Also, when I’m pale and I’m fire dancing, it hurts. Mas delikado. Hahayaan ko munang balat-kalabaw ako [laughs]. Siguro habang hindi ko pa nabibitawan ang apoy, hindi muna ako magpapaputi.
I could never let go of the island, not just because I have a house there. Every time I go home—I still call Boracay home—it’s like I’m renewing my vows, because I feel like I’m married to my career as “the Fire Queen”. For me, while I’m still “wearing that crown,” I try to go back and do shows at least once or twice a month—makauwi lang ako once a month, masaya na ako. It’s just that I’ve had to divide my time between there and Manila because I feel like it’s time to help out with the family business. Plus, my daughter is studying here.
But here in Manila, I’m still paddling, at least. Hindi mo talaga maaalis yung flavor ng isla sa akin. Yun lang, we don’t have the luxury of clear water in Manila Bay. Pero madumi o malinis, it doesn’t really matter—ganoon ko kamahal ang dragon boat.
So Manila Dragons is your official team now?
Yeah, nagpaalam naman ako ng maayos sa Bumshells. Even if I wanted to stay with them—isa ako sa mga nagbuo ng team, at ang dami kong kaibigan na solid doon—it’s just that majority of the time, I’m here. So, Manila Dragons muna ako. But in the summer, if Manila Dragons is not competing in Boracay, the Bumshells can “borrow” me. Cool naman yung Manila Dragons, alam naman nila na doon ako galing.
We’ve seen your daughter [Leona, 14] compete in races with you. How did you get her into dragon boat?
Paddling in Hong Kong, June 2013, beside daughter Leona
Thank you for asking that question! She’s actually a natural athlete. She’s a varsity tennis player, and she’s tried kiteboarding, surfing, and skateboarding—iba-iba. I’ve told her that while she’s still young and has a lot of energy, I don’t want her to miss out on sports. It’s been my frustration, because I only started being athletic after I had a baby.
One summer we moved to Boracay, I told her, “Since you’re not competing in tennis this summer, what do you want to do for the next two months? You don’t want to be sitting there just watching me while I do my fire shows and paddling. Why don’t you train in dragon boat with me? Batakin mo lang katawan mo.” At first, sasakay-sakay lang siya, pero pinilit rin siya ng Bumshells mag-ensayo kasi kulang talaga kami. When she got serious about training, she really improved. In fact, she’s become a really good pacer. Whenever I pace, ayaw na nila sa akin, mas gusto nila yung pacing ni Leona kasi tama yung distribution ng effort—nakakahinga sila.
I’m happy that she’s paddling. I love that she loves something I do, because we can share something together. Ayaw naman niya mag-badminton, yoga or mag-mountain bike, so at least with dragon boat, nagkikita yung mga mundo namin. But she’s not with the Manila Dragons because she doesn’t want to paddle in the dirty water. Nagkaka-pimples daw kasi siya, bata pa kasi [laughs].
Tell us more about your other sports.
I try to play badminton every day from 7 to 9 in the morning, then I go straight to my Bikram yoga class from 9:30 to 12—my schedule is really hardcore. Pagdating ko sa opisina, mahaba na yung mukha ko kasi pagod na pagod na ako. But I compensate by making sure that I get a long night’s sleep.
I still book shows for fire dancing, most recently in Boracay. And as much as I can, I make sure that I paddle at least once a week, but I have a confession to make: I haven’t been paddling since June. My last competition was in Hong Kong, with the Bumshells. But that summer, my God, yun nalang yata yung ginawa ko, parang naka-ilang competitions ako—like three with the Manila Dragons, three with the Bumshells, the Boracay Dragon Boat Festival, Hong Kong—sunod-sunod! I’ll probably go back to training around January, after I’m finished with all my photo shoots.
Career-wise, what else keeps you busy aside from fire dancing?
Aside from working for my mom, I also have the Leq’s Eye View Studio. I produce workshops and open shoots for photographers, including hobbyists and beginners. It’s like a mini-school of photography. Right now, I’m a photographer-slash-model-slash-stylist-slash-yaya [laughs].
What would you say to encourage paddlers, particularly women, to get into dragon boat? What made you love the sport?
There’s a perception that it’s a men’s sport, di ba? Well, what I’d say to anyone interested in dragon boat is, Challenge yourself. It’s a fun game and a unique sport. Sana naman, tulad ng basketball, kilalanin din naman tayo kasi malalaki din events natin. Kung ‘di pa tayo nababalita na may nanalo sa dragon boat abroad, ‘di pa tayo mapapansin.
For me, ‘di naman ako tatagal ng almost seven years as a paddler kung hindi siya challenging. It also built my self-esteem—naisip ko, kaya ko pala ‘to, kahit hindi ako marunong lumangoy! I’m still here despite my fear of the water. At matututunan mong makisama sa napakalaki na team. Twenty-four paddlers ang kasama mo, at matututo ka pang makisabay sa kanila.
Basta, just try it. Masarap naman siya eh [laughs]. Ang lakas ng arrive, in fairness.
(Featured Image, Top: Pez De Leon)
