SAILING THROUGH TIME: 52nd Paraw Regatta Honors Maritime Heritage, Sustainability

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The 52nd Paraw Regatta Festival set sail with the theme “Sailing Blue Waters on This Green Earth,” celebrating Iloilo’s maritime heritage while promoting environmental sustainability.

Touted as the largest traditional boat sailing event in the country and the oldest in Asia, the festival featured various cultural and sporting events celebrating the paraw, a traditional double-outrigger sailboat.

Main Race Competition

The Main Race Competition on March 2 featured 44 colorful hand-painted paraws navigating a 30-kilometer route from Arevalo district to Guimaras and back.

Participants competed in three categories based on boat size:

• Category A: 24 to 25.5 feet (17 participants)
• Category B: 29 to 30.5 feet (17 participants)
• Category C: 38 to 40 feet (10 participants)

Since its inception in 1973, the Paraw Regatta has evolved from a half-day race into a month-long celebration featuring various events, including Pinta Layag, Pinta Tawo, Aquathlon, Slalom Race, and the newly introduced Juniors Slalom Competition for participants aged 12 to 16.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas underscored the festival’s role in cultural preservation, community engagement, and sustainability.

“Our commitment yesterday and today to the Paraw Regatta Festival and all our initiatives will pave the way for future generations to embrace and love our local culture and history. We must come together as one Ilonggo community to ensure the celebration of our shared history goes on,” he said, adding that collective efforts will help achieve sustainable development and environmental stewardship.

The festival’s highlights attracted both locals and foreign tourists.

Mahoto, a 26-year-old tourist from Japan, described the event as a unique and memorable experience, sharing that his name in Japanese means “sail”, making the festival feel even more special to him.

“It was a great experience. I also loved the design of the paraws,” he told Daily Guardian.

Yen Salazar, a 45-year-old local, shared that she had long heard about the beauty of the Paraw Regatta and finally decided to attend. She enjoyed capturing photos and videos, describing the colorful paraws as a stunning sight.

Meanwhile, Feliciano, a 75-year-old pulot vendor from Mandurriao, Iloilo City, said his sales doubled as visitors flocked to try the muscovado-based delicacy, traditionally served in bamboo containers wrapped in banana leaves.

Sinamba sa Regatta

The festival’s cultural segment, Sinamba sa Regatta, held on March 1, crowned Grupo Ilonggo De Saltatores of Jalandoni Memorial National High School as champion, besting four other groups.

The team will represent Iloilo City at Aliwan Fiesta 2026, following the postponement of this year’s edition due to the midterm elections.

The Iloilo Festivals Foundation Inc. (IFFI) earlier confirmed that Paraw Regatta will replace Dinagyang Festival as Iloilo City’s official entry to Aliwan Fiesta, a national competition of festivals organized by the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) Media Group.

The shift aims to highlight Iloilo’s maritime heritage on a national stage, while Dinagyang shifts its focus to international invitations.

Preparations for Paraw Regatta’s Aliwan Fiesta debut will be led by the IFFI artistic team.

With its growing prominence, the Paraw Regatta Festival continues to serve as a symbol of Iloilo’s maritime legacy and commitment to sustainability.