Marjorie Duran: Woman Power In Dragon Boat

For Marjorie Duran, PDBF Premier Elite Women's Team member and spokesperson, the 16th IDBF World Championships will be her first participation in what is considered the Olympics of dragon boat. In an exclusive interview, Marj speaks of her excitement and firm resolve to give her best for the country in the upcoming world championships. 1. How did you get involved with dragon boat? Paano ka nagsimula? May nakita lang akong poster online. As in, no idea about the sport. Gusto ko lang magkaroon ng sport that suits me. So, sabi ko, try ko dragon boat, baka sakali. Lo and behold, after several years, nandito pa rin ako sa dragon boat. 2. How did you become a part of the PDBF Premier Elite Women's Team? Actually, meron kaming try-outs. Months ago, PDBF announced among its clubs na it is forming its premier elite teams that will compete in the world championships in Thailand. So, nag-try-out ako together with some of our teammates. Luckily, I was accepted and we started training for the competition. 3. Mahirap ba ang training ninyo? It is hard kasi hindi lahat kami full-time athletes. We have work, that is the first challenge. Pagod ka na sa work but you still have to train. We practice six times a week. May boat training, weight training, swimming and boat paddling. 4. What are your expectations as you compete in Thailand? We hope to bring trophies and medals for the country. Personally, wala akong expectations dahil this is my first time to compete in the world championships. But we will do our best and give everyone a good fight. 5. Are you getting ample support from government and private sector? Government, I am not sure. Walang allotment from government so far. So, we are trying to get sponsors from the private sector. Actually, limited talaga ang fund namin. We can't sponsor everyone in the team. 6. How must does it cost per paddler to go to Thailand? The initial assessment is forty-five thousand pesos. Tipid na yun. 7. What countries do you expect to give your team stiff competition? Syempre nandyan ang China which has full government support. Thailand is very strong too. Singapore as well. 8. Anong message ang gusto mong iparating sa ating mga kababayan? Ang message ko lang na sinasabi ko noon pa is thank you. Yung mga kababayan natin continue to inspire us to do well. Makita lang namin ang ating mga kababayan na sumusuporta, it motivates us to represent them well.

JM DE JESUS: ANG BAGONG MUKHA NG PDBF PREMIER ELITE TEAM

Lumipas ang panahon. Wala na ang mga dating world champions. Mga bagong mukha na ang pumalit. Subalit nananatili ang matinding kagustuhan na makapag-uwi ng karangalan para sa bansa.

Isa si JM de Jesus sa bagong mukha sa PDBF Premier Elite Team na kalahok sa 16th IDBF World Championships sa Pattaya, Thailang sa Agosto. Sa isang exclusive na panayam sa kasalukuyang team captain ng PDBF Premier Elite Team, inilahad ni JM ang ginagawang paghahanda ng kanyang koponan para sa prestiyosong torneo.

1. Paano ka napabilang sa PDBF Premier Elite Team?

Nagsagawa ng try-outs ang PDBF noong February ngayong taon. Sumailalim kami sa land and boat trials para malaman kung sinu-sino ang pinakamalalakas at mabibilis na atleta ng PDBF. Kinuha ng PDBF ang top 22 sa mga nag-tryout. Luckily, isa ako sa pumasa.

2. Ilang taon ka ng paddler?

Dalawang taon pa lang po. Ito po ang una kong pagsali sa World Championships.

3. What are your expectations at the IDBF World Championships?

We expect stiff competition from China, Thailand and Canada. China dahil sa kanila galing ang sport. Thailand dahil nag-level up sila. Malalaki at matatangkad ang paddlers ng Thailand. Canada dahil mahahaba ang biyas nila. Lately, ang Macau scored a major breakthrough sa sport kaya expect din naman na lalaban sila.

4. Malaking pondo ang kailangan para makasali sa IDBF World Championships. May suporta ba kayong natatanggap?

May mga suporta kaming natatanggap from individuals and organizations pero hindi sapat para makumpleto yung program namin. Meron kaming natatatanggap pero sobrang konti. From the government, travel tax exemption ang maaaring makuha namin na makakatulong pa rin. That is why, namimigay kami ng letters asking for financial support.

5. Merong ka bang medal projections fpr your team?

Sa Open, apat na medals ang inaasahan ko sa apat na events. Kasali kami sa dalawang short at dalawang long distances. Sa 200 meters, may pag-asa tayo sa gold.

6. Bilang pagtatapos, ano ang mensahe mo para sa ating mga kababayan?

Siguro ang message na gusto ko iparating sa ating mga kababayan ay suportahan, panuorin at mag-cheer para sa team. Kailangan namin ang suporta ng bawat isa. Opinyon ko lang, yung mga sports na hindi tayo nananalo, yun ang napapansin. Pero yung mga sports na marami tayong magagaling na atleta, napapansin lang after sila manalo. Sana maisip at makita ito ng ating mga kababayan para patuloy na makapagbigay ng karangalan sa bansa ang ating mga atleta. We have to determine and more importantly support, the various sports where we can excel in order  to produce truly world-class athletes.