MBC Manila Bay Sea Sports Festival 2014

MBC Manila Bay Sea Sports Festival is an annual event hosted by Manila Broadcasting Company and the Manila Boating Club. The 11th MBC Summer Sea Sports Festival happened last 8-9 March 2014. It was a 2-day celebration which started by a boat parade along Manila Bay and a mock race of dragon boat teams last Saturday, 8 March 2014. The second day, Sunday, 9 March 2014, was all about the highlight of the festival which is the dragon boat race. 

The intense dragon boat race was composed of huge number of participating crews. Twenty-three (23) Open Crews, Eighteen (18) Mixed Crews and Ten (10) Women's Crews. My team Onslaught Racing Dragons participated in all entries:  two entries on Opens Crew and one entry on both Mixed and Women's Crew.    

ORDs Women's Crew

With Ma'am Mel, my recruit!

Due to my left shoulder injury I was not able to join the event. I was advised to undergo another three sessions of therapy and need to rest my shoulder so I can easily recover. It was already late afternoon when I went to the race venue to show support for my team. While on my way to the venue, I was happy to get the news that our Open's Crew (ORD Team A) already got their spot for the Finals. At that moment, I was really eager to be at the race venue so that I can catch all the intense actions as the Mixed and Women's Crew is waiting the heat for the Semis to get their final slots too! Lucky enough to arrive on time, I was able to see the Women's Crew on the loading area for their Semi-finals Heat and I took some pictures with them. 

Waiting for Open's Crew Finals!

With my visitors: Jempi and Michael

Trailing behind just by a milliseconds, our Women's Crew failed to get the 2nd spot in order for them to get their slot for the Finals. Triton B clocked-in 1:52:23 while we clocked-in at 1:52:76. Wattah race! Our Mixed Crew suffered the same fate wherein they did not advanced for the Finals. 

Having able to reached the Finals and ranked 4th Place for Open's Crew, is already a great achievement for my team. Just imagine, we are the only club crew to reach the Finals competing against the giants: Philippine Army, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Air Force. My team was able to achieve this through consistent hardcore training before the competition and I do believe that we will be better the coming races.

I was not able to watch the awarding ceremony because me and my friend, Michael, attended the Sunday Mass at Malate Church. We had dinner together and when we decided to go home, the party was still on going, we went there for a couple of minutes to watch some of the presentations. MBC Sea Sports Festival was indeed a great way to start the summer. 

Night Party!

Seafair 2014 200m Dragon Boat Race

Seafair 2014 Dragon Boat Race was held last 22 February, Saturday, in CCP Bay Terminal. Sadly, I was not able to join the race because of the injury on my left shoulder that happened during the Chinese New Year Dragon Boat Race. I was advised to undergo therapy and needed to rest my shoulders. I followed the physician's advise not to attend the training so I can easily recover. I may not be on the boat during the race but still I support my team by going there during the race day.

Onslaught Team A prepping for Semis

Seafair 2014 is the Biggest Yacht and Marine Lifetsyle Exposition measuring 6,000 square feet including more than 20 yachts plus Tied a Knot Fashion Show and Regatta and Dragon Boat Competition. The dragon boat competition includes Men's Open Crew, Mixed Crews and Women's Crew.  

Lane 3: ORDs Team A

Men's Open Crews (11)

Crimson Dragons, Maharlika Drakon, Manila Ocean Park Team A, Manila Ocean Park Team B, NTMA Dragon Boat Team, Onslaught Racing Dragons Team A, Onslaught Racing Dragons Team B, Philippine Airforce, Rogue Pilipinas, Triton Team A, Triton Team B.

Mixed Crews (7)

Crimson Dragons, Maharlika Drakon, Manila Ocean Park, Onslaught Racing Dragons, Philippine Airforce, Rogue Pilipinas, Triton Team.

Women's Crews (4)

Maharlika-Rogue, Onslaught Racing Dragons, Philippine Airforce, Triton Team.

Cool Down...

While waiting for the result of the semis and while my team is cooling-down, I went around the race venue to take some pictures of the other teams. It is not the race I usually attended, tents for competing teams was not provided by the organizers. Instead of tents, tables were provided for the paddlers. Some teams even brought their tents to secure their belongings. I only noticed that the organizers provided tent for the Secretariat booth.

Finally the results are in and to my dismay, my team was not able to reach the finals. That's plus 5 seconds on the time recorded because of the violation committed. My team did not crossed the finish line on our own lane and that sealed the fate of our team during the semis. We were not able to reach the finals. Lesson learned in every mistake. After the result of Open's Crew, they took their lunch feeling low because of what happened. On the other hand, our mixed crew still reached the Finals.

Lunch time!

After having lunch, me and my friend, Maybelle, decided to stroll along the race venue and checked what's on the activity area. We took some pictures as many as we can and enjoyed the moment even if the weather is hot. Never knew that my friend loves cars! She was fascinated with the displays. I also got a chance to take picture with TV5 news reporter, Renzie Ongkiko, who covered the event. The event lasted only for a half-day.

With Maybelle Rose

With idol: Renzie Ongkiko of TV5

While having bottles of beer, Jimmy, who happened to be with the Airforce Team informed Leigh that we were 2nd Runner-up for Women's Crew! Without expecting an award, we were all happy to get the news, Maureen and Yvette went on the awarding venue to get the trophy! For the second time our Women's Crew got their second trophy on dragon boat race. Great job ladies, you are Onslaught! By next race, I know that my shoulder will be fully recovered and I am sure that I am ready for hard core training once again. I just miss the my playground, the Manila Bay. 

2nd Runner-Up Womens 200m Small Boat

With Leigh, Maureen, Yvette and Rogie