Can’t go wrong with Barong: Filipino resilience, spirit gain spotlight at dragon boat races

Members of the Alliance of Masters Dragon Boat team pose in their Filipiniana-themed costume at the Fancy Dress Competition of the 2026 Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races.

Philstar.com / Adrian Parungao

HONG KONG — What is the Barong Tagalog?

For some, it may be the national costume worn only at the most solemn of events, perhaps donned by government officials as well as those holding important offices.

But for members of the Alliance of Masters Dragon Boat Club, who were seen wearing the Barong and the baro’t saya at the recent Fancy Dress Competition of the 2026 Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, the national costume is more than just an outfit to be worn once in a blue moon.

“Pinili po namin ito kasi nirerepresent po ng Alliance of Masters yung resilient spirit at bayanihan characteristic of the Filipino, given na ito nga po ang national attire po natin, pinakita po namin here in Hongkong what is like to be a Filipino,” Alliance of Masters team captain Azaak Diancin said.

Diancin added that all the team members unanimously agreed to wear the country’s national costume at the competition’s category held on Sunday even after seeing other teams come up with wacky costumes.

“It's also a nice way of showing that this is us as Filipinos, and this is the right stage to show what we truly are,” the 18-year-old rower added at the sidelines of the tilt.

Diversity in dress

Apart from the Philippines, other delegations also came in their traditional costumes, including the Philippines’ “SEAblings” Indonesia and Malaysia.

Others, for their part, drew upon pop culture, with some teams dressing up as the characters from the video game “Super Mario Bros.”, the movie “Minions”, as well as the show “Baywatch”.

There are those who also incorporated cultural and historical elements, with one team dressing as the tiles from mahjong, and another with a Chinese opera-theme, while two other teams rocked an Egyptian-history motif.

Later, the Hong Kong Maxim’s team landed in first place in the category tilt, with the Hong Kong Yanbu Dragon Boat Sports Association and the MTR Dragon Boat team placing second and third, respectively.