Push Admin

Article (news)

Atty. Joy Dimapawi

Jeck Batallones

ABS-CBN News

<div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1719155906360viber_image_2024-06-23_21-58-53-312.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Atty. Joy Dimapawi. Jeck Batallones, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Atty. Joy Dimapawi. <em>Jeck Batallones, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">MANILA -- Seven years after being diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer, Atty. Joy Dimapawi is actively participating in a dragon boat racing team.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dimapawi was 53 when he was diagnosed. Now in his senior years, he says that joining the dragon boat team has helped him cope and recover from the disease.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Na-curious ako. Gusto ko rin i-try,&quot; said Dimapawi, who learned about the sport by accident, when he saw a group of paddlers walking along the Bay Walk of Manila Bay. &quot;At the age of 53, I was diagnosed. Upon my recovery from cancer the next year, I joined the team.&quot;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;If I&#x27;m not physically fit I think I&#x27;m already dead,&quot; he said.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The sport is inclusive regardless of gender or age. Eleven-year-old Meljon joined the Laguna Lakeside Boat Club after growing up beside Laguna Lake.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Sanay na po kasi ako eh, at masaya maraming nakikilala,&quot; he said.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Meljon&#x27;s teammate, 22-year-old Fatima, is also a member of the boat club that is mostly composed of kids who live by the bayside. She said the sport presented something different, which caught her attention.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Di po siya common. Unique po siya. Di siya nakikita sa ibang sports. Para sa akin, bago po siya sa paningin ko,&quot; she said.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1719139334590062324_dragon boat.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The racers of the Triton Dragon Boat Racing Team. Jeck Batallones, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The racers of the Triton Dragon Boat Racing Team. <em>Jeck Batallones, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Their coach and founder, Harley Beltran, introduced the sport to bayside kids since there are no other sports venues in the area. He also thought it would be an advantage since they live near the lake.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Maintroduce yung discipline sa mga bata especially ngayon summer vacation marami silang time para maglaro,&quot; he said.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Attorney Dimapawi and the bayside kids participated in the second leg of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation regatta in Manila Bay on Sunday morning. They paddled for the Triton Dragon Boat Racing Team.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">There were over sixty races and 26 participating teams in the whole-day event. The event will determine the top teams who will qualify for international competitions.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dragon boat racing in the Philippines has grown significantly since its introduction in the 1980s. Initially a niche sport, it has expanded in popularity, with numerous clubs and teams forming across the country. Philippine teams have achieved international recognition, consistently performing well in global competitions. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Philippine Dragon Boat Team has won multiple medals at the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) World Championships.</span></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Seven years after being diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer, Atty. Joy Dimapawi is actively participating in a dragon boat racing team.</p>

Seven years after being diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer, Atty. Joy Dimapawi is actively participating in a dragon boat racing team.

Lawyer joins dragon boat team to help recover, cope with cancer

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Sports

Lawyer joins dragon boat team to help recover, cope with cancer

Jeck Batallones,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 23, 2024 06:48 PM PHT

Read More:

dragon boat

Triton Dragon Boat Racing Team

Laguna Lakeside Boat Club

Laguna Lake

cancer

Philippine Dragon Boat Federation

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.