THE Club Balai Isabel held a press conference in Talisay, Batangas, to save the Taal Lake and promote local tourism in the Philippines and around the world as a world-class international sports destination and getaway sanctuary that can be visited all-year round.

The Sagwan Sagip Taal Lake Dragon Boat Festival press conference was organized and headed by the owner of Club Balai Isabel Nelson Terible, in collaboration with the Philippine Canoe, Kayak and Dragonboat Federation (PCKDF) head Borgz Pelias, R&A Event Specialist Ricci Ang, Sagip Taal Lake, and the LGU of Batangas.

“This is our first big major event and I strongly believe that it will help bring more awareness about the situation of Taal Lake and it will help boost the tourism industry of Talisay, Batangas” said Terible.

The three-day event on October 7 to 9 will be filled with live music and entertainment, media and guest speakers. Visitors will also enjoy booths from sponsors and invited merchants. The main highlight of the event is the dragon boat competition happening on October 8 followed by a huge party celebration.

“Dragon boating is a fun-filled, adrenaline pumping, water sports activity. There will be four lanes for the race, 20 paddlers/teams both men, women and mixed genders competing for the championship. Crews of up to 20 people sit in pairs and paddle to compete in races over distances of around 250m. Each boat has a

drummer beating time to keep the paddlers in unison, and a professional helmsperson in the stern to guide the boat,” said Pelias.