Paraw Regatta in times of coronavirus

“Fear, left unchecked, can spread like a virus.” 

― Lish McBride, Necromancing the Stone

By Alex P. Vidal

WHEN the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival 2020 finally unwraps on April 1-5, the entire planet may still not be totally safe from the rampage of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

COVID-19 may still continue to grab headlines and the talk of the town.

By that time, death toll may have risen globally (so far the virus has killed over 3,000 people worldwide, the vast majority in mainland China and there have been more than 80,000 global cases, with infections on every continent except Antarctica), but no one can tell if the virus will disappear.

No one can tell either if Ilonggos, who are expected to march to the city beaches to support and cheer for their paraw, originally a native-style outrigger sailing boat constructed from wood and bamboo, and is comprised of a single hull flanked by two outriggers for stability, are safer if the event was held on its original schedule on February 23-March 1.

Would the threat against the health of Ilonggos (joining the crowd to watch the event) lesser on April 1-5?

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Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas confirmed the new schedule over the weekend as decided by officials of the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc. (IFFI) who met recently.

IFFI officials may have decided to push through with the popular festival—next to the Dinagyang Festival in January and Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria de Jaro in February—sooner or before the COVID-19 goes out of control and cripples whatever chances left to hold the festival during summertime.

Only one month separates the original from the new schedule.

Even if the coronavirus will be nipped in the bud this month, there is no guarantee that spectators watching the boat festival on April 1-5 won’t come home coughing and sneezing.

Since the coronavirus is feared to continue to wreak more havoc as it rapidly spreads globally, the Paraw Regatta Festival 2020 will fall within the period where people worldwide struggle to avoid if not overcome the virus’ deadly assault.

Now on its 48^th year, it will be a Paraw Regatta in times of the coronavirus.

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SOME political figures who fought tongs and hammer against the embattled Panay Electric Company (PECO) since wayback in the 90’s went to the social media to express their “relief” that “finally, the battle (against PECO) has been won.”

This was after Iloilo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Emerald Requina-Contreras recently issued a writ of possession and was implemented by the Iloilo City Sheriff’s Office, paving the way for MORE Power to take over PECO’s multi-million distribution assets in Iloilo City.

The political figures also took potshots at some of their fellow politicians who supported PECO during the latter’s halcyon years.

“Where are the politicians who once backed you?” one of these “victorious” political figures boomed. “What have they done to help you?”

These politicians who once openly supported PECO are, of course, still very much active in public service; many of them even regained their powerful seats in government in the recent elections.

But they have become sitting ducks in this issue; they have no more power and influence to wield since PECO’s woes against the MORE Power were already beyond the ambit of grandstanding, politicking, influence-peddling, and arm-twisting.

It’s now the court that dictates the tempo of the game, and it is the final arbiter of the dispute, not anymore the politicians.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)