Team of Filipino Domestic Workers Enters Finals of HK Dragon Boat Festival
PHOTO: The Filipino Dynamo Dragon Boat Team, the first ever all-women team comprising household service workers (HSWs) in Hong Kong, celebrate their qualification in the finals of the Sinopec Cup Open Race and Ladies’ Race, together with Deputy Consul General Roderico C. Atienza (in a suit, center), at Tai Pak Wan on the 29th edition of the Discovery Bay Dragon Boat Races & Carnival on 17 June 2018. (Hong Kong PCG photo)
HONG KONG 28 June 2018 – The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong lent its support for the first-ever dragon boat team composed of Hong Kong-based 51 Filipino women household service workers (HSWs), in notching a milestone of making the finals for the first time in two races it joined on 17 June 2018 on the occasion of this year’s Dragon Boat Festival.
The Filipino Dynamo Dragon Boat Team, one of over 40 teams from all over Hong Kong to compete in seven races, qualified for the finals of the Sinopec Cup Open Race and Ladies’ Race held at Tai Pak Wan on the 29th edition of the Discovery Bay Dragon Boat Races & Carnival. They eventually finished sixth out of seven, and fifth out of six teams, respectively.
“I’m so impressed our women have gone far on their first outing this year despite the handicap they faced,” said Deputy Consul General Roderico C. Atienza, who attended the final races on Sunday afternoon, praising all the team members for their grit, can-do spirit, and ability to have fun in the process.
“We’ve done well, considering our competition have more experience, better resources, and could dedicate themselves in training for several times a week, in stark contrast with our members,” said team captain Liza Avelino, a local adventurer who formed the team in January 2018. Their second race will be in Stanley Bay on 30 June 2018.
Avelino is an HSW who has climbed the top peaks in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and Japan, before challenging herself to summit at Island Peak in the Himalayas in 2015 and Mount Kilimanjaro in 2017.
The team, whose members come from all over Hong Kong, trained every Sunday for 13 weeks to prepare for its debut race. They paid membership fees and secured funds from friends, well-wishers and a French baby food sponsor to pay for their coaches, equipment, the rental of a dragon boat and paddles, as well as participation fees
They were coached by veteran paddlers in Hong Kong: Edwin Hou of the Stanley Dragon Boat Association, Peggy Leung and Sing Wong of Bearable Sports Club, Jacky So of the Hong Kong Fire Department Dragon Boat Team, Gordon Sanders of the Royal Yacht Club X Dragon Boat Team, as well as volunteer Jed Patron of the Stormy Dragons Team.
Apart from the two races sponsored by China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), the other prizes in the Discovery Bay Dragon Boat Races are the COC Cup, the Mixed COC Plate, the COC Bowl, the COC Youth Races and the Community Race.
Dragon boat racing is believed to have originated in southern China more than 2,000 years ago. In Hong Kong, the Dragon Boat Festival is called the Tuen Ng Festival, which is traditionally held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the traditional Chinese calendar. This year, the holiday took place on 18 June 2018. END
The Filipino Dynamo Dragon Boat Team paddles off on one of their qualifying heats for the Discovery Bay Dragon Boat Races and Carnival, held at Tai Pak Wan on the southern side of Lantau Island on 17 June 2018. (Hong Kong PCG photo)
The Filipino Dynamo Dragon Boat Team take its position before the final heat of the Sinopec Cup Open Race at the 29th Discovery Bay Dragon Boat Races & Carnival at Tai Pak Wan on the southern side of Lantau Island on 17 June 2018. (Hong Kong PCG photo)
For more information, visit www.hongkongpcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinHK/.