Competitive Rowing On The Pasig River

Image Courtesy: Martyn Willes

The Philippines is slowly becoming the recognized venue for international sporting events and in particular, water sports events. For example: in December 2012 the holiday resort paradise of Boracay Island hosted the windsurfing RS:One World Championship; in 2013 the waters off Boracay's famous white-sand beach will be the venue for the Asian Moth sailing championships.

A lesser known water sport in Asia (particularly in the Philippines) is the sport of rowing. For the first time in its 70+ year history, the Philippines has been chosen as the 2013 venue for the ARAE-FEARA Regatta ("Amateur Rowing Association of the East" - "Far East Amateur Rowing Association"), running from 13th to 20th of January 2013 at Paoay Lake, Laoag, Ilocos Norte. The host organization for the event is the Manila Bo

Image courtesy Max Makowski

The Manila Boat Club – The Philippines' oldest water sports club - will offer eight people the chance to go moonlight rowing on the Pasig River in support of Obscura Day – a somewhat obscure day of international participation where people offer insights into the World's local wonders, curiosities and esoterica.

Moonlight rowing on the Pasig River is your chance to obtain a visual perspective on Manila that very few people know exists. It is a most striking experience to travel through one of the busiest and noisiest cities in the World, yet hear only the sounds of lapping water, children laughing on the banks nearby and the occasional evening stroller throwing you their

Photo courtesy Martyn Willes

The Manila Boat Club (the Philippine rowing club) opens it doors to all in January and offers indulgence in a fascinating piece of history on the banks of the largely misunderstood Pasig River.

The Manila Boat Club is the oldest sports club in the Philippines. Originally an integral part of the Manila Club, the Manila Boat Club was formed in 1895 when the Manila Club relocated inland from their former Manila Bay-front location and left the rowing section high-and-dry. The Manila Boat Club finally found a permanent home in the Santa Ana District of Manila City, on the Pasig River,