PH Dragon Boat Alliance Calls on PH Consul General in San Francisco

Consul General Henry S. Bensurto Jr. (left, inbarong), who presented about the Consulate General’s Spark*Connect*Empower* Movement beside him is the President of the Dragon Boat Alliance Mr. Nick Fontanilla (right). (San Francisco PCG photo)

OAKLAND 11 October 2019 — A composite team of Filipino dragon boat enthusiasts from various parts of the world called on Consul General to San Francisco Henry S. Bensurto Jr. ahead of the Northern California Dragon Boat Festival on 28-29 September in Lake Merritt.

Consul General Bensurto lauded the group’s efforts to raise the profile of Filipinos and the Philippines by way of competing and winning dragon boat races abroad. He introduced the Spark*Connect*Empower* Movement of the Consulate to the group and underscored the need to spark the love for Philippine culture and heritage, connect Filipinos wherever they may be, both to one another and to their Filipino roots, and empower them to become positive agents of change in their communities. 

“It is noteworthy that members of the dragon boat team, mostly Filipino expatriates, come from various parts of the world and engage in the sport. Whenever you compete, you always carry the flag of the Philippines,” Consul General Bensurto said. 

Philippine Dragon Boat Alliance and Philippine Dragon Boat Federation President Nick Fontanilla led the Philippine delegation in San Francisco for the competition. Some 100 Filipino Dragon Boat enthusiasts and paddlers from eight countries, including the Philippines, Macau, Singapore, Canada, United Arab Emirates, United States, Qatar, and various groups, such as the Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation comprises the Philippine Dragon Boat Alliance. 

“[We have observed that overseas Filipinos excel in dragon boat racing in countries where there’s a sizable number of Filipino expatriates,” Fontanilla said. He added that the Philippine Dragon Boat Alliance or “Team Philippines” had won several 200-meter and 500-meter dragon boat races in various international competitions, such as in Egypt, Japan, and Shanghai, China. The group is slated to compete in Madrid and Prague in 2020. 

At the end of the call, Team Philippines proudly and loudly chanted the Spark* Connect* Empower* Movement battlecry, “Pinoy Ako, Proud Ako.”

Team Manager and former Philippine Dragon Boat Federation President Marcia Cristobal, California Dragon Boat Association Board member Marynka Rojas, and Filipino paddler Mr. Chris Albert Beltran from the Bay Area were among those present in the call. END

From left: Filipino American and Board member of the California Dragon Boat Association Marynka Rojas (leftmost), Team Manager and Former President Philippine Dragon Boat Federation Marcia Cristobal (second from left), and President of the Philippine Dragon Boat Alliance Mr. Nick Fontanilla (rightmost) present Consul General Bensurto (second from right) with a shirt of the dragon boat alliance. (San Francisco PCG photo)

Philippine Dragon Boat Alliance calls on Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. (center, front row). (San Francisco PCG photo)

For more information, visit https://www.sanfranciscopcg.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippinessanfrancisco.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSF/.