Team of the Week: Rowers Club Philippines

Every week, we’ll feature one or two dragon boat teams affiliated with either the Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation (PCKF) or the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF). Our goal is to give readers a look into the numerous clubs that make up the Philippines’ diverse dragon boat community. Our first team profile features the Rowers Club Philippines (RCP), one of Manila’s oldest club teams.

Thanks to Ms. Carla Eusebio for this write-up! 

Rowers Club Philippines Sea Dragon, Inc. (RCPSDI) is commonly known as RCP or Sea Dragon. RCPSDI was founded on July 11, 1997 by Rommuel Celestino with Christian Joffrey Mariano at the Philippine Navy Headquarters. Mainly composed of students from Pamantasan ng Lungson ng Maynila, RCP’s original members were a breakaway from the school’s dragon boat team. The team was originally called Rowers’ Team, and was formally recognized by the Amateur Rowing Association of the Philippines (ARAP) on August 1, 1997.

At present, RCPSDI emerges as one of the top amateur dragon boat teams in the country, actively competing in local and international races. Last year, the team participated in the Lee Kum Kee 8th IDBF Club Crew World Championships (CCWC), the second largest dragon boat competition in the world. It was held in Hong Kong last July 2012.

The team had participated in numerous invitational races by the first half of 2013. We joined the 2nd Zambales Dragon Boat Festival in Candelaria on April 13-14. Here, the Women’s and Mixed Crew both won 3rd Place in the 400-meter category; the Women’s Crew also won 3rd Place in the 200-meter category.  After two weeks, on April 29-30, we raced in the 2nd Cobra-PDBF Club Crew Challenge in Bohol where the Women’s Crew placed 4th in the 500-meter category. On June 2, 2013, during the 2nd Leg of the PDBF-Cobra 2013 Regatta, the Women’s and Mixed Crew proudly won 2nd Place.

Besides the races, the team also holds outreach activities. The most recent was a Back-to-School Outreach Climb in the province of Benguet last May 26-27, 2013.

Joining our team is easy since the sport is for all ages and  for any athletic background. All you need is to come on the scheduled training with the interest, determination and patience to learn this extraordinary sport.

We meet every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 4:15 A.M. at Manila Ocean Park, near Hotel H20. Just wear a yellow top and good rubber-soled footwear, bring a liter of water, P25, a ready smile and friends to join!