Coast Guard team wins Talacogon's first dragon boat race on the Agusan River
Eleven teams, including Gladiators Davao and Samal Dragons, competed in the two-day invitational held during Talacogon's Pangadu Festival.
The Philippine Coast Guard Dragon Boat Team was named overall champion of the 2026 Talacogon Pangadu Festival Invitational Dragon Boat Race, the first dragon boat competition ever hosted by the municipality of Talacogon in Agusan del Sur, according to Mindanao Times.
The race was held on the town's stretch of the Agusan River on November 12 and 13 as part of the Pangadu Festival. Eleven teams with a combined 219 rostered paddlers took part. They came from Iligan City, General Santos City, Cagayan de Oro City, Siargao Island, Samal Island, Butuan City, Davao City, Manila and Talacogon itself.
Over the two race days, organisers completed 36 races in three 300-meter categories: DB12 Mixed, DB12 Open and DB18 Mixed.
The Coast Guard team finished with 260 points. The Hamlet Dragons of Iligan City placed second with 190 points, and BXU x CGY Oro Dragons were third with 180 points. Barangay Carmen Dragon Boat Team was fourth with 160 points. RMMC Bluefins and Ricspeed both scored 140 points and placed fifth and sixth, respectively.
Gladiators Davao, Siargao Dragons, Samal Dragons, Talacogon Dragons and Kagay-an Golden Paddlers made up the rest of the overall standings.
In the category events, the Coast Guard won the DB12 Mixed 300M in 1:53.17 and the DB18 Mixed 300M in 1:46.30. RMMC Bluefins took the DB12 Open 300M title in 1:49.44.
The local government of Talacogon organised the event. Thousand Paddles and Bugsay Mindanao officiated, and OTX Flow by One Tadhana Inc. provided digital workflow support. A crew of 25 technical officials came from Manila, Cebu, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan and General Santos City.
Mayor Pauline Marie R. Masendo thanked the teams in a public message. She said their participation helped residents better appreciate "the beauty and potential of our river." She added, "We hope to welcome you back to Talacogon again!"
Why it matters for Davao
Davao City and Samal Island teams competed in the race, and the event adds another regional venue where local paddlers can race against teams from across Mindanao and the rest of the country.
This article was written by the DavaoNews desk with AI assistance, using reporting by Mindanao Times. Facts come from the original report, which we credit and link below. Our editorial policy
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