Paraw Regatta pays tribute to ‘Tiyo Tatoy’

By Emme Rose Snatiagudo

Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI) named Honorato “Tiyo Tatoy” Espinosa as chairman of the steering committee of the Paraw Regatta Festival as a tribute to his contributions to the sailing festival.

IFFI president Jobert Peñaflorida said he was first offered the position but he opted to nominate “Tiyo Tatoy” as he wanted to give honor to the rightful father of Paraw Regatta.

“More than that, I want to give honor to Tiyo Tatoy. Siya ang amay sang Paraw Regatta. I was told siya lang maka-determine kon ano kag san-o lang ang tsakto nga paghuyop sang hangin for the sailing,” Peñaflorida said in an interview Tuesday.

As the new organizer of festivals in the city, Peñaflorida said IFFI believes in shared leadership.

“Kami sa Board of Trustees gapati kami sa shared leadership. I may be the president but there is no monopoly and we feel na it is an honor that Tiyo Tatoy truly deserves,” he said.

Tiyo Tatoy, the owner of the famous Tatoy’s Manokan Restaurant in Arevalo district, has been part of Paraw Regatta since its inception.

Tatoy’s Manokan serves as the venue for the main program of Paraw Regatta Festival held every third weekend of February.

“Part ako sang Paraw Regatta for 48 years and first time ko ini nga mangin chairman. Ang Paraw espesyal gid para sa akon,” Tiyo Tatoy said.

On Tuesday, the IFFI together with the city government and JCI-Iloilo Inc. signed a memorandum of agreement for the holding of the 48th Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival.

Themed “Ilonggo sailing tradition to the next level,” Mayor Jerry Treñas said they want to level up the celebration of Paraw Regatta in the same way with Dinagyang 2020.

“We want Paraw Regatta celebration to also level up in the same way that Dinagyang 2020 has leveled up. This year, the city government will be partnering with IFFI para suportaran ang aton mga festival kay gusto naton tanan naton nga festival ma-level up diri sa city,” he said.

Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival is considered the oldest sailing event in Asia and the largest in the Philippines.

The annual festival features a sailboat race of Paraw, a Visayan double outrigger sailboat