PCFI Rallies with Tampa Bay Community to Support Philippine Dragon Boat Team
The week of August 4 to 9, 2011 will forever be etched in the memories of both the Pinoy Dragon Boat Warriors and the Tampa Bay community. The 2011 World Dragon Boat Championship Races were held in Tampa Bay and, being the current defending champions of the sport, our Pinoy Dragon Boat Warriors defied all odds to come and defend their title. Little did they know that in the hearts of the Filipino community of the area, the bayanihan spirit and a strong sense of unity, which Filipinos are well known for, is deeply and unconditionally ingrained in the hearts of us all.
On Tuesday, August 2, 2011, the Opening Ceremonies for the races were held and a handful of Filipinos and Filipino- Americans, including Roger L. Caculitan, Chairman of the Board of PCFI, were in attendance. It was here where everyone learned of the Warriors’ pathetic story- how they came here with lack of support from the Philippine government, with absolutely no budget for their meals and snacks. That same evening young Filipino-Americans went to work, buying groceries, taking rice cookers and other cooking utensils to the delegates’ hotel and providing meals for them that evening and the following day, Wednesday.
Roger Caculitan committed to work together with Gail Hernandez Gutierrez, the Warriors’ local contact person.. He immediately mobilized the PCFI Board and asked for commitment from some of PCFI ‘s 14 member organizations. As expected an overwhelming show of support came from members of the Tampa Bay Sports Club, Ilocano USA, Bicol Association of South Florida, the Sampaguita Ladies, Pilipino American Association of Tampa, Ang Kaliwat Bolanon sa Florida, Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay, the Philippine Choral Group, the Philippine Nurses Associations of both Tampa Bay and Gulf Coast, the Philippine Medical Society and the Philippine Medical Society Auxiliary. Members for these organizations donated meals (which always included rice, per request of our athletes ), cases of soft drinks, Gatorade and other sports drinks, energy bars, fruit and native desserts. The Pinoy Warriors were the most well-fed delegation and undoubtedly the envy of the other participating Dragon Boat Teams. Some other groups and individuals from outside the PCFI Board also came to show their support, bringing food, contributing cash to the grassroots drive, “ Support the Philippine Dragon Boat Team Federation Trip to Busch Gardens and Training Support Funds “ initiated by Gail Gutierrez. Members of Sto. Nino passed the hat during their First Friday fellowship at St. Paul’s Church on August 5; Joey Omila led an impassioned call for cash and PDBT shirt purchases for the Warriors’ trip to Busch Gardens on Tuesday, August 9 during the PAAT Barrio Fiesta held at the Bayanihan Arts and Events Center and meals and cash contributions were solicited at the ABS- CBN Fiesta in Kissimmee on Saturday, August 6. A separate account of this event appears in this issue.
Everyday during the races throngs of Filipinos, sporting the very colorful PDBT shirts they bought to benefit the Philippine Dragon Boat Team Federation, proudly waving Filipino flags and banners and braving the sizzling summer heat and occasion drizzle, filled the game stands. Emcees for the races kept repeating the fact that there was an unmistakably huge support team of Filipinos for our Warriors among the crowd and this undeniably bolstered the Pinoy Warriors’ morale a hundred fold.
The closing ceremonies on Sunday, August7, was an emotional one, filled with pride for being a Filipino, for both our athletes and the Filipinos and Filipino Americans in attendance. As the title of the 2011 World Dragon Boat Races Champion was announced and everyone was asked to stand at attention for the raising of the Filipino flag to the wonderful rendition of our Philippine National Anthem by Cara Gutierrez, 10-year old Filipino-American, many Pinoys in the crowd shed a tear or two, in jubilation for and pride in our athletes.
On Monday, August 8, Ann Bartlett and Ferdian Jap, led a group of young Fil-Ams in honoring the World Champions with a sumptuous luncheon buffet at the Bayanihan Arts and Events. On hand were members of the PCFI Board, as well as supporters from the Tampa Bay Filipino community. Plaques were awarded by Roger Caculitan to the members of the Philippine Dragon Boat Team, to Gail Gutierrez for her incredible work of meticulously tending to the athletes’ daily needs, leaving no distraction on their part and devoting 100% concentration on their races, and to Ann Bartlett and company for the luncheon buffet in honor of our athletes. The luncheon was followed by a short program. PAAT presented a check for the team’s trip to Busch Gardens the next day, Tuesday, and Gail Gutierrez presented the team her cash collection from groups and individuals , which provided for cash of $200 for each athlete for their shopping and pocket money. After the luncheon and a brief tour of the Philippine Village at PCFI , Roland and Clem Lazaro, took the athletes shopping in their ALF bus , together with some PCFI Board members. The athletes immensely enjoyed shopping for themselves and buying pasalubong for their families back home. That evening Roland and Clem Lazaro hosted, together with help from nine couples from within and from outside the PCFI Board, a celebration steak dinner at their residence. A small group was hosted a the same time by Jon Amador and friends at Hooters and it was here where this group pledged to each athlete a custom carbon fiber paddle! The following day, Tuesday, was the very much awaited trip to Busch Gardens graciously paid for by PAAT and their lunch donated by Rocky and Emma Barrido, with help from Lucy Bautista. Again, the Lazaros provided their transportation. After getting rained out at Busch Gardens, the group went to the International Mall for more shopping and were later treated to a delicious dinner at the Yummy House, courtesy of Dr. Jonathan and Cynthia Alvior.
The team’s extra day stay at their hotel was paid for by local and out of town members of APO ( Alpha Phi Omega ). After ten days of experiencing first hand the memorable hospitality and bayanihan shown by the people of Tampa Bay and the Philippine Cultural Foundation, Inc. our Pinoy Dragon Boat Warriors boarded their flight home. Show of support from various groups, the president of the Philippines, and the Philippine Congress, among others, have been showering on our PDBT since their arrival. In the words of Roger Caculitan, in his letter of gratitude to the PCFI Board and the Tampa Bay community, “I hope that the support for the Philippine Dragon Boat Team will continue indefinitely. I would like to think that our impressive show of support and unity here in Tampa Bay started the ball rolling and that this cascaded into the Philippines . . . We did it again, Tampa Bay, and we should be proud of ourselves!”