CORTES, Bohol, Feb. 7 (PIA) -- In a bid to reclaim and reassert its dominance in the water sports of dragon boating, local officials and civil society representatives dug in their paddles to revive dragon boating for physical fitness and tourism here on Jan. 22.

Led by Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado represented by Provincial Executive Assistant Atty. Antonio Amora Jr., private sector representatives, and Modala Resort Vice President for Operations Rommel Gonzales, Bohol Paddlers Association Inc. President Dr. Theodore Dumaluan, former police general Arturo Evangelista and community leaders participated in simple ceremonies symbolic of awakening the dragon in the Chines New Year’s year of the water rabbit.

Dragon boating as a sport started in Bohol, said Dumalu-an who recalled that at those times, Bohol has hosted national and international races.

He said when a dragon boat team came to introduce the sport, local enthusiasts insisted that they build their own boat so they can hold independent races without bothering their Manila trainers.

As the private sector during that time saw the potential for sports tourism, the Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants decided to fund the building of one dragon boat, while the provincial government also paid for the building of two more dragon boats.

“Those times, we transport our [dragon] boats to Cebu to organize their races, while we had regular domestic tune-up races, the schools, local government units and large business establishments creating their paddling crew,” Dumaluan said.

Gonzales said he saw how dragon boat crew and their families can easily fill up hotel rooms during competitions, and did not think twice in lending his company’s support and resources to the water sport.

However, local officials found it hard to provide suitable billeting as Bohol still has limited rooms to host events like dragon boating which entails a crew of at least 10 to 22 and their families.

As the popularity of Bohol’s dragon boating surged, the pandemic hit Bohol and sports activities, as dragon boating has to be regulated or stopped.

During those times most hotels and resorts were closed to tourists, while some investors in Bohol found it as the chance to retrofit and build additional rooms to cater to the tourists during the reopening of the borders.

“There are thousands of dragon boat teams out there just waiting to be invited,” said Dumaluan.

He said now is the perfect time to “reawaken the dragon” and use it as a means to ferry Bohol to a faster economic recovery while instilling physical fitness, mental health and team spirit among Boholanos.

Bohol is hosting a national dragon boat race in July, the first of these races after the pandemic. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)