Jan-Anne Ocampo, Shangri-La Boracay’s director of marketing communications and an avid dragon boat paddler, envisioned a program that would promote community involvement, youth development, guest engagement, and employee participation.
To Ocampo, dragon boating is a sport and a vessel of life lessons. Her personal commitment to the discipline fueled a desire to share its profound values of teamwork, discipline, and unity with the community she calls home. “Paddlers of Tomorrow” realizes that vision, a testament to the power of sport to transcend competition and become a force for cultural and social good.
To Ocampo, dragon boating is a sport and a vessel of life lessons. Her personal commitment to the discipline fueled a desire to share its profound values of teamwork, discipline, and unity with the community she calls home. “Paddlers of Tomorrow” realizes that vision, showing how sport can transcend competition and become a force for cultural and social good.
On the sun-drenched shores of Boracay, the rhythmic beat of a drum and the powerful, synchronized splash of paddles mark the awakening of a centuries-old tradition in the hearts of a new generation.
On Nov. 20, Shangri-La Boracay launched “Paddlers of Tomorrow,” a transformative two-part program designed to reignite the cultural spirit of dragon boating, weaving together threads of heritage, community, and youth development into the vibrant fabric of the island.
The day’s significance is rooted in a 2,000-year-old tradition. Born from a ritual to honor the poet Qu Yuan, dragon boating has evolved into a global sport that remains, at its core, a powerful practice of unity. Shangri-La Boracay champions this living heritage not as a relic, but as a dynamic symbol of collective strength.
The program’s morning session, held in collaboration with the Boracay Dragon Boat Association led by Hannah Fernando, brought together a diverse group of participants. Youth from the local community, students from Lamberto Tirol National High School, Shangri-La Boracay colleagues, and curious resort guests all gathered at the water’s edge. The session was designed as an immersive introduction, beginning with a discussion on the sport’s origins and its enduring cultural importance.
The morning session quickly moved from learning about dragon boating to experiencing it firsthand. After a guided warm-up, participants joined an open-air paddling clinic, where they learned proper paddling form, the importance of synchronization, and basic safety protocols. The session ended with a friendly race between two boats, showcasing the teamwork and community spirit at the heart of dragon boating.
In the afternoon, students attended a detailed workshop at Lamberto Tirol National High School. They explored the sport’s evolution, modern racing formats, competition structures, advanced safety measures, and paddling techniques. The session highlighted the importance of keeping dragon boating alive not only as a sport but also as a cultural tradition for future generations.
The participants learned why dragon boating continues to thrive and adapt on a national stage. The combined support of the PDBF and the Boracay Dragon Boat Association created a powerful and authentic learning environment, fostering meaningful opportunities to inspire and develop the true Paddlers of Tomorrow.
Through the synchronized efforts of its organizers, participants, and champions, “Paddlers of Tomorrow” did more than just teach a sport. It planted a seed—a seed of cultural pride, communal responsibility, and personal discipline that promises to grow, ensuring that the ancient rhythm of the drum continues to echo across the waters of Boracay for generations to come.
