Cebu Pink Paddlers bask in glow of golden double
The Cebu Pink Paddlers, the country's first dragon boat team composed of breast cancer survivors and patients, proved that are stronger than any battles in life.
This after the spirited all-female paddlers bagged two gold medals in the twoday 2017 Keelung International Dragon Boat Festival that came to an end yesterday in Taiwan.
Janice Kintanar, the team's drummer, said they gained the highest spots for the two small boat races: the 500-meter on the first day and the 200-meter the following day.
"All our hardwork paid off. This is for all breast cancer survivors, the fighters and the taken. This is for the Philippines," Kintanar shared in an online message.
Aside from Kintanar, the other members of the team are Anne Georgia Solante, Mirasol Vinas, Mary Ann Bojos, Eleanor Mercado, Aida de los Reyes, Marichu Dumaran, Ma. Liberty Ronoa, Rosalie Cobre, Sara Jane Villegas, Judith Beltran, Eden Paluca and Nonie Percy. Levi Abelides served as the steersman.
The 14-man contingent from the Queen City of the South bested other contenders from the United States, Hong Kong and host Taiwan who competed in the Breast Cancer Survivors category.
Philippine Sports Commissioner Ramon 'El Presidente' Fernandez was on hand to lend moral support for them.
Significantly, the two gold medals are the first that the Cebu Pink Paddlers have earned.
Since their inception in January, they have joined three competitions within the country and raced with regular dragon boat paddlers in the Cebu Dragon Boat Fiesta last April, the Triton-Philippine Collegiate League Dragon Boat Cup in July, and the 2nd Kagayhaan Gold Cup Dragon Boat Competition last August.
But they failed to garner any award.
This time, they were hailed victors, on the international stage at that.
And what a sweet way to live by their battlecry:"We paddle for hope! We paddle for life! We are stronger than cancer! We are survivors! We are Cebu Pink Paddlers."