The Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) continued its international winning streak with a silver medal and five other strong finishes at the 2025 Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races held at Victoria Harbour.
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The PDBF women’s team secured a hard-fought silver in the 500-meter Women’s International Championship, marking the third consecutive year the Philippines reached the podium since the race’s post-pandemic return.
“This wasn’t an easy win. We trained for months, pushed through injuries, and sacrificed time away from our families. But when we were out there, all we thought about was making the country proud,” said Atty. Jay Pee Villanueva, PDBF President.
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The team also earned third runner-up finishes in the Women’s Grand Championship, Mixed International Championship, and Open International Silver Cup. The consistent performance across categories highlighted the depth and discipline of the Filipino paddlers.
The regatta gathered over 4,500 athletes from 12 countries and transformed Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront into a celebration of sport and culture, featuring fast-paced races and lively crowd festivities.
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PDBF’s connection to Hong Kong goes beyond competition. “We didn’t even have dragon boat athletes back then — just Olympic rowers. But we fell in love with the sport. Hong Kong even donated our very first boats. That’s how far our friendship goes,” Villanueva recalled, tracing the sport’s roots in the Philippines back to the 1980s.
Now a fixture at the annual event since 2006, the Philippine team views each race as a symbolic homecoming. Villanueva added, “We want to keep showing the world what Filipino paddlers can do. We hope this win inspires more Filipinos to pick up a paddle, join a crew, and see where the water takes them.”
As the PDBF returns home, the team brings with them not only medals but also stories of perseverance, unity, and national pride. The athletes capped their Hong Kong journey with a celebratory visit to Hong Kong Disneyland.
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