Published October 10, 2022, 7:03 AM
ZAMBOANGA CITY — More than 200 boat operators participated in this year’s Regatta de Zamboanga, an exciting race of colorful vintas or the traditional outrigger boat from Mindanao held along waters fronting RT LIm Boulevard on Sunday, Oct. 9.
Crowds of Zamboanga residents and visitors came in for the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival, forming a long line at the boulevard to witness the traditional boat racing event.
Participants are mostly fishermen who come from Zamboanga city’s coastal barangays who have practiced for several months prior to the race and who have decorated their boats with attractive sails representative of the vintas.
An undefeated champion for several years, Danny Ladja and his assistant from Barangay Sinunuc won this year’s grand prize of P50,000.
Four other winners from the barangays of Sinunuc and Mariki took home cash prizes ranging from P35,000 to P10,000.
This is the first Regatta de Zamboanga held after a two-year hiatus brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
